Forward-thinking plan helped sell Greg Docherty on Charlton Athletic move as he talks about Hull City exit

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

There were a number of factors that led to Greg Docherty joining Charlton Athletic this summer – not least the fact that he will be playing in a more advanced midfield role.

The Scot, 27, scored six goals in all competitions when Hull won the League One title in 2021, including some smart finishes from the edge of the penalty area.

Addicks boss Nathan Jones has handed the captaincy to Docherty, who has made 330 senior appearances in a career that has taken him to Rangers, Hamilton, Shrewsbury, Hibernian and the Tigers.

“When I spoke to the manager he made it clear I’d be playing a little bit further forward than I had been in the last two-and-a-bit seasons at Hull,” Docherty, who made his debut for Charlton in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic, told the South London Press.

“I enjoyed the deeper-lying midfielder role, but I feel like I’m at my best when I’m able to push forward and hit the box.

“He challenged me when I first met him. It wasn’t just ‘you’re really good at this and really good at that’ it was ‘you can be better at this – and I’ll make you better at that’.

“I came away from that meeting thinking ‘wow, this guy believes in me and wants to make me better, as well as achieving my own goals’. My own goals are scoring more goals – so that is why we are so aligned. I think we’re going to be a good fit and have togetherness.”

Docherty could have been a free agent 12 months ago but Hull activated an extension option in his contract.

He featured 17 times in his final campaign on Humberside.

“Don’t get me wrong, I loved being part of that dressing room,” said Docherty. “I feel like maybe it was a year longer than it should’ve been. I was very close to leaving in the summer of 2023. It just didn’t go through, that happens in football.

“I was a bit disappointed about that and again, in January, it was a similar situation.

“You’ve got to turn up to work and do the best you can do – control what you can control. If you don’t then you will just lose your head.

“You need something to focus on. So when the January thing fell through I was fully focused on seeing out the season – when I could contribute then I wanted to do that as best that I could. I felt I did that.

“I put a real emphasis on contributing off the pitch and I think it’s one of the reasons I was kept at the club, because of the way I was in the dressing room and my leadership.

“I was always going to do that. I wanted my team-mates to be successful.”

Docherty has already got his hands on silverware at The Valley. His promotion at Hull, achieved during the Covid-19 pandemic, ended in a deserted SE7.

“It was a bit surreal,” said Docherty. “The third to last game was promotion, the second to last was when we won the league and the third game we picked the title up at The Valley.

“Despite no fans being there it was a nice backdrop. I’ve got pictures framed and The Valley is in the background. Although I’m wearing a Hull strip The Valley is etched in my mind.

“My first game in English football at Shrewsbury was at The Valley and I loved the experience, it was really different to Scotland.

“It’s funny, there were sniffs then that I could be coming to Charlton. It’s always been a club I watched and admired. I’ve kept an eye, because I’ve had interest.

“Once I met Nathan I was completely sold on it. It’s not a case of that I’ve got the armband, I’m in the team and it’s happy days – no. It’s challenging and demanding. He’s on everyone’s toes. He wants to make us better.”

Docherty, who had three successive seasons at Championship level, has signed until at least 2027.

“The way I see it, and Nathan touched on it, this isn’t a backward step for me,” he said. “It is a huge step forward.

“I’m coming to help Charlton and it is a long-term project. The players who have signed have committed to long-term contracts. The club has put a lot of faith in us, so it is down to the players to go and deliver.

“We are the ones who have been tasked, if you like, to get this club where it needs to be. It is a minimum Championship club. It’s easy to say that but we know we have a huge task in front of us.

“This league is relentless and cut-throat. But they are recruiting the right players that can withstand the ups and downs.”

MAIN PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS