Russian takeover bid?

The Daily Mail is reporting that a Russian group of investors is interested in taking over Charlton, following the failure of last year's Turkish bid. No independent confirmation is available: Charlski

Whilst there is undoubtedly an element of kite flying in this story, one version of events is that a process of due diligence is under way. The Russians are believed to have been interested for some time, but one stumbling block has been the asking price.

Usually well-informed sources are suggesting that the deal collapsed on Friday, so it looks as if the story is behind the curve of events.

Striker on trial

Dorchester Town and former Truro City striker Kieffer Moore is currently on trial with the Addicks. He was originally on trial with us in May and then spent some time with Yeovil, but our interest seems to have revived: Moore . He is said to be a similar player to Charlie Austin. As he is under contract, there would be a fee and Yeovil might still make a bid.

Charlton interest in Kalifa Cisse?

Sky Sports are linking us with one time Reading midfielder Kalifa Cisse (he also played for Bristol City). The 29-year old has been playing in the States with New England Revolution where apparently he has done well. He has a release clause in his contract which allows him to return for a nominal fee.

However, according to Sky a number of other clubs are interested including Watford, Millwall and Middlesbrough.

To me this looks a bit like an agent trying to drum up interest by mentioning any likely club that comes into his head, so it is probably not a very likely prospect. Certainly, there is no verifiable Charlton interest.

Ebbsfleet chance for Academy players

Ebbsfleet boss Steve Brown intends to make full use of his Charlton connections in the coming season. Younger players from the Addicks will be given the chance to develop their game at Conference level and it is hoped that some players will join the Kuwaiti-owned club pre-season. Brown will talk to Chris Powell once the Charlton manager has returned from his Pro-licence work in Turkey: Ebbsfleet

Osei Sankofa is the latest player with Charlton connections to join Ebbsfleet: Sankofa

Phase 2 of the close season

The players are back in training and we now enter the second phase of the close season when we can expect more activity. However, the first half has been unusually quiet in terms of transfer rumours which perhaps suggests that agents do not see us as a likely target. Cash is certainly not plentiful, but then that applies to many other clubs and even those with money have to factor in the new financial rules. We can expect quite a lot of reliance on loans and younger players being given a chance to step up to the first team.

Cedric Evina was reported to be at Sparrows Lane yesterday, so hopefully he has reconsidered his departure. Rumours about Yann Kermorgant going to Fulham for £3m continue to circulate, but I don't give them much credence.

Jacq Charlton?

Despite the awful pun in the Currant Bun headline, we haven't signed the speedy Burton winger Jacques Maghoma. Indeed, according to a tweet from SLP's Richard Cawley, two other clubs are in the frame, which I think are Middlesbrough and Derby. It looks, though, as if troubled Coventry City have dropped out of the race and Maghoma will almost certainly end up in the Championship. I think he would be a good, fee free acquisition, but I am not too hopeful.

He has now signed for Sheffield Wednesday and judging from the comment left by a Burton fan he is no great loss: Massive signing

Wright-Phillips in US move

Former Addicks striker Bradley Wright-Phillips is on trial with the New York Red Bulls as he seeks to re-start his career: Wright-Phillips

Sir Chris looks forward to season

Chris Powell is particularly looking forward to the trips to QPR and Reading and also hopes to beat Millwall: Powell

The rumour mill has been quiet recently which is in many ways a good thing as we don't want any of our top players like Solly or Kermorgant targeted (one way of discounting a rumour is if it is repeated by Acworth). The publication of the fixtures list does mark the start of a more active phase of the close season, but I get the sense that the new financial fair play rules in the Championship are affecting the calculations that clubs make.

Seaside trips start and end season

Charlton start next season with an away trip to Bournemouth on August 3rd. Middlesbrough come to The Valley on August 10th. Millwall visit on September 21st. It's a home fixture against Brighton on Boxing Day. The season concludes by the seaside with a trip to Blackpool.

Zambian striker in talks report

It is being claimed in reports from Africa that Zambia striker Evans Kangwa has started talks with Charlton Athletic over a possible move. The former Under 20 star has been in Spain training with Recreativo Huelva but it is being reported that the Addicks are looking to sign him. He was supposed to have gone on trial at Watford in January, but nothing seems to have come of this.

Kangwa is still in Spain training with the second division side, but when he signs with Charlton he will be loaned back to Spanish side, so there would not be any immediate benefit to us. Nkana FC secretary Ken Mwansa said that the negotiations with the English side commenced last Friday and they are looking positive. Mwansa said that he is confident that the two clubs will reach an agreement before the end of this week.

'Everything is looking very good and we are positive that we will reach an agreement very soon,' said Mwansa. 'We are hoping to conclude the deal as soon as possible, possibly in a few days although I cannot disclose Charlton's offer and also our valuation of the player. It has taken long to conclude Evans transfer because of unforeseen circumstances (work permit although there are also hints of third party involvement?) but we are determined to see that this issue is resolved. He has proved that he is a good player and we are just wishing him all the best in his future career.'

The player's agent Lee Anderson said, Anderson said Kangwa was a young and good player with a bright future who needed to decide his destiny instead of leaving it to UEFA and the Spanish authorities. He also said Kangwa needed to play in the national team regularly in order to easily get a work permit to play in Europe. 'Also because of the work permit situation, he needs to play for the national team regularly. You know third party dealings have led Falcao to move to Monaco when he could have moved to Chelsea or another big league, so Evans is a player with a bright future and we want him to be able to decide his future and not UEFA or Spanish authorities,' Anderson said.

The agent continued,'The best thing is that Evans has had a long period of training in Europe and speaking to him, he believes he is already a much improved player already, he is now super fit.'

Should Kangwa's deal to Charlton materialise, he would become the second Zambian player in England, alongside Emmanuel Mayuka who plays for Premiership side Southampton.

Gower happy at The Valley

Mark Gower has told the South London Press that he turned down an offer from Australia to stay at The Valley: Mark Gower

Addicks linked with Maghoma

Charlton continue to be linked with out-of-contract Burton Albion winger Jacques Maghoma. However, many other clubs, among them Coventry City, are being linked with the Congolese international.

Andrews Air Conditioning have renewed their sponsorship of the Addicks for another year.

Odds on Chris Powell get the vacant Wigan managerial post shortened to 4-1 yesterday, but the story seems to have faded today.

Players we can afford

Given that the budget appears to be relatively restricted this summer, and that the new financial fair play regulations require prudence, where can we look for players? I am assuming that some of the signings will be long-term loans, but much the same arguments apply.

Players from League 1 or League 2. There are always some promising players at this level and their wage demands are likely to be realistic. However, we saw last season how hard it was for some of our players who had done well in League 1 to make the step up to the Championship. A striker who can score goals against lower level defences can find it a lot harder in the Championship.

Fringe Premiership players The younger ones (think Obika) are likely to want to stay and try to break into their Premiership sides, although we might get one on loan later in the season. Older players may well be clapped out and injury prone.

Foreign players There are always some bargains to be had, but there can be issues about settling in. One also needs a good scouting network: Chris Powell going to Spain on Sleazyjet doesn't do it. Best to look outside the top five leagues (or at least their top divisions). Belgium may offer some possibilities, particularly the Walloon part given that we already have French-speaking players.

Non-league players Please apply to Jonathan Acworth for details.

The other option is to bring on more of our Academy players. This would be popular with the fans and a cheap solution. However, one has to get the timing right. Bringing a player in too early can destroy their confidence and damage their career. Chris Powell got the timing right with Callum Harriott.

Charlton Life Statbank

This is now available for 2012/13, bigger and better than ever before: Statbank

Hitler on Palace promotion

Hitler is worried he won't be able to shop at Sainsbury's on a Saturday now that Palace have been promoted: Palace

Mark Gower is Charlton's first summer signing

Mark Gower is Charlton's first summer signing, having concluded a one year deal with the Addicks: Gower

I would describe his loan appearances with us as competent rather than exciting, but he adds solidity to the midfield and is an affordable signing given financial constraints.

Charlton to swoop for Marlon Pack?

Reports are circulating that Charlton are interested in 22-year old Cheltenham Town midfielder Marlon Pack: Pack. Like all close season rumours, this one has to be treated with a pinch of salt, but it has some credibility as Pack is out of contract. He also played for a League 2 club where he might have been on something like £50,000 a year, so his wages shouldn't bust what is apparently a limited budget. Pack also has a reputation as a technically gifted player, who creates opportunities from a deep central position.

However, Sheffield Wednesday are also reported to be interested. Pack was originally a product of the Portsmouth academy and has played for Dagenham & Redbridge: Playing career