Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer heading into finals months of his Valley deal – and so is assistant Johnnie Jackson
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Charlton Athletic owner Roland Duchatelet (pictured left) has not opened talks with Lee Bowyer over a new contract – meaning he has less than four months to run on his deal.
Addicks assistant manager Johnnie Jackson is in the same situation.
Bowyer, 42, has a 54 per cent win-ratio in League One and easily has the best victory percentage of any boss during Duchatelet’s reign.
The former Addicks midfielder initially took the job in a caretaker capacity in March 2018 and turned around their fortunes to reach the play-offs, where they narrowly lost to Shrewsbury Town.
And Charlton are right in the mix again for a top-six finish – although Duchatelet’s decision to sell Karlan Grant to Huddersfield has depleted their forward option.
It has become fairly standard procedure that the Belgian tycoon has allowed prized playing talent to leave SE7. But now it could be that a young and successful boss – working under tight constraints – could slip away too.
“As it stands, me and Jacko are out of contract in June – that’s a fact,” Bowyer told the South London Press. “But my job is to tie down players for this football club, that comes first.
“Whatever will happen to me, will happen to me.
“Before I had been on a rolling deal. So it is a different conversation between myself and the owner.
“The fans seem to be happy with what they are watching and hopefully that carries on. We have got a long way to go – 15 games. Who knows where that is going to take us come the end of the season?
“I’m sure something will get sorted out somewhere along the line, hopefully sooner rather than later – so we know where we stand.”
Bowyer is confident that goalkeeper Dillon Phillips and midfielder George Lapslie will pen contract extensions.
“Dillon is very, very close,” he said. “It could happen any time now.
“I spoke to Steve Gallen last night [Wednesday] and he said it was near enough done.
“I think that’s going to happen.
“George Lapslie, that’s close as well.
“Joe Aribo, we’re going to pick that up again and try and get that one done soon. Once we get Dillon and George done, hopefully Joe will follow.”
Bowyer is still hoping to bring in a free agent striker to give Charlton the firepower needed to maintain their promotion push.
One name in the frame is former Wolves striker Joe Mason.
Plymouth manager Derek Adams has confirmed they have made an offer to the 27-year-old, who has been released by Wolves.
Ex-Cardiff attacker Mason spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Portsmouth.