A 'very competitive league'

I will be taking a break from blogging for a couple of weeks.   Working for a political publishers in a general election year means that my day job is busier than usual with commissioning, editing, meetings and book launches in London.     I also want to find time to see the three generations of my family now settled in Spain.

One last word.   Fans often dismiss League One as a 'poxy' league, but as the authoritative Swiss Ramble has recently said it is a 'very competitive' league.'  Birmingham City, Wrexham and Stockport County are all going to pose problems.   Even Rotherham may be in yo yo form under charm merchant Steve Evans and Peterborough will want to overcome their disappointment.   Hopefully, Bolton will go up.

I'm certainly not banking on promotion.   And I'm not happy about the 12.30 and Friday night kick offs under the new Sky regime which make life difficult for supporters like me who have a return travel time of five hours.

It also looks as if we are going to lose Charlton Live which was the daft Dane's aqueducts moment.  I enjoyed the chats about the Curbishley era and Steve Brown's barbed comments.

Two American owned clubs relegated

Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town have been relegated to League One next season, both clubs with American owners.

Blues were sixth in thr Championship earlier in the season when they sacked John Eustace as he was apparently not trendy enough for the owners.

Living up to their reputation as the Millwall of the Midlands, Blues fans invaded the pitch and fought with stewards after today's match.

The American owners have bought a site for a new stadium at Bordesley alongside the railway line to New Street so they won't want to stay in League One.

Huddersfield are a team we have played in three different divisions in living memory and are likely to challenge for promotion.

Rotherham have put their faith in Steve Evans, the most charming manager in the EFL, to restore their flagging fortunes and burnish their reputation as a yo-yo club.

Wrexham with their £20m revenue also have American owners and have global appeal, ranking as the second most poopular team in the United States: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/05/can-wrexham-sustain-its-success.html

To those who say League One is a poxy league, it's going to be even more competitive next season.

Clearout under way

Tyreece Campbell has agreed a new deal with Charlton, reports Richard Cawley.   The winger had been due to be out of contract this summer - although age would have meant he was liable for compensation. Terell Thomas and Michael Hector both released along with Richard Chin, Jack Payne, Lewis Ward and Diallang Jaiyesimi (who he? Ed).

The retained list statement also seems to indicate no late U-turn on George Dobson's move to Fehervar. "The club would like to thank George Dobson, who has played 144 games for Charlton since joining in 2021. He's given his all for the club in every training session and every game and everyone at the club wishes him all the best in Hungary."

Lualua and Wickham have not been offered contrxcts, all loan players are returning to their clubs.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Chuks Aneke is leaving by mutual consent.

Nathan Jones discusses his philosophy and plans here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-built-a-luton-legacy-now-summer-of-transfer-and-squad-construction-awaits-at-charlton-athletic/