Lee Bowyer left disappointed that Charlton Athletic contract not sorted yet
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Lee Bowyer admits he is “disappointed” that Charlton Athletic’s hierarchy have not resolved his contract issue.
The Addicks manager was initially offered a deal which he described as “incentivised” and held talks with Lieven De Turck – based in the UK by owner Roland Duchatelet to conduct takeover talks – in which he asked for a more standard proposal.
Bowyer has led Charlton to the League One play-offs for the second campaign running – and amassed 100 points quicker than any other boss in the club’s history since it became three points for a win in the 1980s. But his current terms only run until the end of June.
Asked if he was frustrated at the delay, he replied: “I’d say more disappointed.
“If we weren’t in the play-offs then we’d have two games left in the season. I like to think me and the rest of the staff have done a good enough job for this to be resolved long before now.
“I understand how football clubs work but I’m disappointed it ain’t sorted out before the end of the season, so we all know where we stand. That is the thing that disappoints me.
“We’ve worked hard to improve the football club and it’s a much better place now – so I think we should be rewarded for that.
“It shouldn’t have taken until now to try and negotiate something when you have got 10 days left of the normal season.”
Bowyer is not the only member of the backroom team who is in the final couple of months of his contract. That also applies to assistant boss Johnnie Jackson and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall.
Joe Aribo, Patrick Bauer, Igor Vetokele, Tariqe Fosu and Jonny Williams are in the same boat on the playing side.
PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD
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If Lee Bowyer, Jacko and all the guys we want to keep are lost because the Belgian Bun fails to issue acceptable contracts immediately he had better go into hiding.
IF the latest rumour that the long awaited Buy-Out is genuinely about to go through
the new owners won’t want to risk losing our ace manager and half the team.
What a way to run a business…….
Another symptom of the terrible mismanagement of this club under Roland. He should be embarrased and ashamed – but I fear not at all. He seems to be moving from apathy to belligerance with a strong stink of greed. This does not bode well ofr the club I have supported for five decades. As someone with flemish ancestors I feel even more aggrieved. Roland out
PS the coverage of my, and indeed our local rivals, by SLP is fantastic