No room for Powell

Financial stringency means that there is no room for Chris Powell at the Valley. Alan Pardew told the club's E mail bulletin: 'The reason he's had that cameo appearance is because, in all honestly, I can't afford to keep him on. I'd love to keep him in a coaching capacity but I haven't really got any funds for that.'

'So this is a new start for Chris, he might have another year playing. I think he'll bring something to any team but coaching is where his future lies. f I was a manager further down the leagues and looking for a coach who could double up as a player then he would be the first on my list.'

I hope that if Chris does develop coaching experience elsewhere that one days he returns to The Valley in some kind of coaching role. He could even be a candidate for manager in the future. I am sure that most of the Addickted would welcome him in that role once he had the necessary experience.

I am currently in Aberdeen and used my Charlton kit bag as it is a convenient form of cabin baggage. When I went out to dinner last night, one local (a Gooner, as you are in Aberdeen) commented that I must have grown up in the Charlton area, because there were relatively few people who developed an allegiance to the club for any other reason!