Charlton manager Lee Bowyer laughs off claim from Gillingham boss Steve Evans that Addicks have a £10m budget
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Lee Bowyer has laughed off claims from Steve Evans that Charlton have a budget of £10million to work with.
In the build-up to Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Priestfield, the often-excitable Gillingham boss had told Kent Online: “Lee Bowyer has put a wonderful squad together, he has had difficult times but it isn’t so difficult with a £10m budget than the one at Gillingham.”
The Addicks have been cash-strapped in recent months, potentially just days from administration before Thomas Sandgaard completed a takeover at The Valley in September.
There is some history between the pair – Bowyer once had a public snipe at Evans after a defeat two seasons ago.
When the then Peterborough United manager’s side won via a controversial late penalty at The Valley, Bowyer referred to Evans as “this big geezer standing on the side and bullying the fourth official – constantly hammering the fourth official.”
Evans is known for his outbursts at officials and opponents in the dugout but there was no animosity between the two on the touchline on Saturday – although Bowyer admits he was confused by Evan’s comments pre-game.
Bowyer explained “I’ve got nothing but respect for him. I respect everyone that I stand alongside in the dugout. Steve Evans is no different.
“If anything, I think he just needs to know the facts of like when he goes to talk about in the press, he said that we had a £10million budget. I don’t know where he got that number from.
“Maybe he got confused with that’s how much we’ve brought into the club [through player sales]. We certainly didn’t have £10m. If you cut it in half, then that’s what we had in the Championship last year. I would love to have had £10million, I can tell you. So, he’s completely wrong there.
“But apart from that, he’s okay. He’s passionate, isn’t he? Everyone has got their way of doing it and that’s his way. I have nothing but respect for everyone I come up against.”
PHOTO: KYLE ANDREWS