Charlton boss asked if Championship status required to re-sign Thierry Small on new contract

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has responded to a question about Thierry Small’s future – and whether promotion to the Championship is needed for the former Everton and Southampton player to re-sign.

The Addicks signed the 20-year-old in February 2024 when he was a free agent on a short-term deal until the end of that season.

Charlton wanted Small to pen a longer-term contract but activated a clause to extend his stay for the 2024-25 League One campaign.

Since then there has been no updates on whether the South Londoners are close to securing the pacey defender on fresh terms.

Small will be out of contract at the end of June but compensation would need to be paid to Charlton, whose surge in form has lifted them to fifth in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Birmingham City.

“It would be wrong of me to speak about anyone,” Jones told the South London Press, when asked about Small’s situation. “But all our players need to see that their careers are moving forward, regardless of where that is.

“If there is a ceiling if you are in League One for the next few years, then obviously players will be ambitious and want to play at a higher level. But we don’t envisage that being the case.

“So what we have got to keep doing is making sure everyone at the football club is moving forward – because when you feel you are doing good work, and players are playing well, then everyone is in the spotlight.

“What we have to do is make sure everyone buys into what we want to do and we only let players go from this football club when it is the right thing for Charlton Athletic. That is the position we’re in at the minute.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD