Dean Holden hands midfielder George Dobson the Charlton Athletic captaincy
New Charlton Athletic boss Dean Holden has stripped Jayden Stockley of the club captaincy – instead handing that honour to midfielder George Dobson.
Striker Stockley was awarded the armband at the start of the season by former manager Ben Garner but has struggled for form this campaign and was left out of Holden’s first Addicks starting line-up against Peterborough on Boxing Day.
He didn’t take the armband off Dobson when introduced as a second half substitute against the Posh and his new manager has confirmed that he has decided to make the change permanently.
Holden explained: “George is the new captain. I made that decision. I spoke to Jayden prior to the game [against Peterborough on Boxing Day]. For Jayden, he’s had a season where, obviously as a striker he’s judged on goals, creating goals, and working hard for the team. Being a brilliant teammate. He doesn’t necessarily need the armband for that. It’s about him focusing on what he can bring to the team as a forward player and really concentrating on that. Not having to worry too much about other things away from that. It’s as much of a release for Jayden as it is for Dobbo.”
Dobson, 25, was voted player of the year for the South Londoners last season and has played more League One minutes than anyone else at the club this season – starting all bar one of their league fixtures.
“Dobbo is a captain type,” Holden added.
“Again, he doesn’t need the armband. He’s not going to perform any differently with the armband on his sleeve. But he encompasses everything that a Charlton Athletic player is, so that’s the reason.
“George is a player I worked with before at Walsall, a long time ago now. I know exactly what he’s about as a character. As a personality. He’s infectious. He’s one hundred per cent every training session, every game. That can’t be doubted at all. There’s a number of other players as well who could have taken the armband but I just felt that George was the right option.”
Charlton travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United tomorrow evening.
Yes a good decision and perhaps, just perhaps, Jaydon will start performing and scoring a few goals now the pressure of being captain is no longer his problem. Strangely enough, I thought when he came off the bench on Monday, he seemed to be playing better or was it my imagination!
It is nice to see Dean Holden making this type of decision nice and early, all we need now is a win tomorrow night – please !!