Exclusive: Charlton boss Lee Bowyer gives his reaction to takeover deal being agreed by East Street Investments

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Lee Bowyer has welcomed takeover developments at Charlton Athletic – and reckons East Street Investments taking control of the Championship could would only be “all positive”.

News broke this morning that ESI had agreed to purchase the Addicks off Roland Duchatelet.

The final stage is to get EFL approval for the takeover. Charlton could be under new ownership before the end of 2019.

The South London Press broke the news that ESI are keen to secure boss Bowyer on a new improved contract. He had been the subject of approaches from Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City this season already.

Bowyer – speaking exclusively to the South London Press – said: “It’s positive – it’s a step forward.

“Until it gets EFL approval I don’t want to get too carried away, because you don’t know what they might say.

“But for the football club moving forward – and the talk that is being said at the moment – it is all positive. And that isn’t something we have heard for a long, long time here – in terms of off the pitch.

“If it all comes off it can be exciting times for everybody.

“On a personal note, they’ve said they’d like to tie us down and give us proper contracts. As staff we have worked so hard to get the club to where it is at, so that is nice to hear – that we are part of their plans going forward. It’s a great club, it means a lot to us.

“If they come in, back us and get behind us – help us a little bit – it can only be all positive.”