Nigel Adkins: I didn’t want to drop to League One – but Charlton Athletic was exciting opportunity

Nigel Adkins felt Charlton Athletic was too exciting a challenge to turn down after ending his absence from management today.

The former Southampton and Scunthorpe boss – who won two promotions apiece at those clubs – has been appointed as Lee Bowyer’s successor.

Adkins’ last job was at Hull City. He choose to leave in the summer of 2019 after keeping them in the Championship.

He said: “You’ll find me as I am. I’m quite an enthusiastic guy. I love my football. I could’ve gone back to several clubs before. I could’ve stayed at Hull City.

“This situation has presented itself very, very quickly and it’s really exciting. Although I didn’t want to go back into League One – and I could’ve waited – this is an exciting opportunity.

“I’m thinking ‘what are you waiting for? Let’s get back in and see if we can drive it all along’.

“While I’ve been out I haven’t just been sat on my hands not doing anything.I’ve been very busy and active in helping a lot of things. It’s been my choice.

“I could’ve come back a hell of a lot earlier. But I don’t want to do something just for the sake of it. I want to be somewhere which has got a vision and wants to do something – to strive to move on. I’m going to do the best I can to help everybody.”