Defender’s desire to play first-team football praised after Charlton Athletic transfer exit

Sam Lavelle’s desire to be playing first-team football has been praised by Charlton Athletic boss Dean Holden.

The 26-year-old centre-back moved to Carlisle United at the end of last week.

Lavelle spent the second half of last season on loan at Burton Albion.

The former Morecambe defender signed for Charlton in August 2021. He made 41 appearances and scored three goals.

“He was outstanding from day one, since I came to the job, in terms of the way he behaved, on and off the pitch,” Holden told the South London Press. “He gave everything, every time he played.

“He scored the winning penalty against Brighton which got us that wonderful night at Old Trafford.

“Good luck to him. He has got a great family as well, I got to know his old man. It was the right thing for us and the right thing for Sam.

“He’s at an age when he needs to be playing and he wanted to be playing. Fair play to him, he didn’t want to be sitting on a contract – that shows the mark of a man.

“We’re looking for a different type of profile in our centre-backs, we’re looking for ones who can play higher up the pitch and get on top of the game. If we lose the ball, we want to be high up the pitch to win it back. I just felt I wanted a different profile, that’s the only reason we allowed Sam to go.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS