Charlton boss expecting fringe players to move on as part of January transfer window dealings

Dean Holden believes Charlton Athletic are “ahead of the game” with what is needed in the upcoming January transfer window.

The Addicks boss has also confirmed that he expects fringe players to depart The Valley this upcoming window.

Along with Holden being handed the managerial role with the South Londoners, Andy Scott was also brought in as the club’s new technical director to work alongside director of football Steve Gallen.

“Work has already started,” Holden told the South London Press. “We have had a number of recruitment meetings already this first week – we’re on the phone every day with different representatives and managers.

“We like to think that we’re ahead of the game in terms of what it is we’re looking at to bring in.

“Yes, we would like to be active in the market in terms of incomings. There probably will be some fringe players who will move on, but until you get the deal done, it’s never as easy as people think – there are all types of factors involved.

“I would never put a limit on how many players we’re looking to bring in or a time frame, but we’re certainly looking to be active.”

Holden took charge of his first match on Boxing Day, the Addicks ending a run of three straight defeats in League One as they picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with Peterborough United.

The Addicks travel to Oxford this evening and then face Portsmouth away on New Year’s Day.

Speaking on the importance of stopping the losing streak, Holden added: “This team hasn’t won for a couple of months, has it? It’s not been used to winning in recent times. What happens at that point is confidence levels start to drop a little bit.

“It’s about bringing people together, you build on performances, and you build on your training sessions – we start to get a way of working we’re all comfortable with.

“We go into two big away games [in the space of] fours days, really looking forward to them.

“We’re looking at this Oxford one as a game where we can go and implement our style on them and try to come back to Charlton with the three points.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS