New role for Cousins at Stoke City

Charlton fans can expect to see former player of the year Jordan Cousins early in the new season playing for Stoke City. He will be reverting to the holding midfield role he had as a teenager: Stoke plan for Cousins

Relegation was last straw for Cousins

Jordan Cousins admitted that relegation was the last straw in his decision to leave the club and join the Super Hoops: Cousins

The fee of £1.5m has been seen as on the low side by some fans, although apparently £900,000 was refused for Nick Pope.

Charlton boost defensive options

Charlton are looking to best their options in central defence and 32-year old Lewis Buxton, formerly with Stoke City and the Massives, is training at Sparrows Lane. He was with Rotherham United last season, but is now a free agent (i.e., out of a job): Buxton

There are rumours that Jordan Cousins may go to QPR, but I have no confirmation at the moment. It would appear that QPR have made a bid, but it was rejected as too low Perhaps they need to add on the tube fare.

Other clubs said to be interested include Norwich City, Ipswich Town, Reading and Fulham. We knew he was going to go, but I don't want him go to the Super Hoops.

Blews take a look at Cousins

Birmingham City have joined Brighton in expressing an interest in Jordan Cousins: Cousins

I don't want to see him go, but he is hardly likely to want to stay in League One.

Brighton in for Cousins

Brighton and Hove Albion have expressed an interest in Jordan Cousins: Jordan Cousins

We always knew he was likely to go and there are worst players to go than the Palace hating Seagulls.

Rams fans welcome Chris Powell back

Derby County fans are delighted to see Chris Powell back with them as assistant coach to Nigel Pearson as manager: Delighted Rams

Over at The Valley, the rumour mill suggests that Jordan Cousins is on his way with the need to get his wages off the book.

Cousins player of the year favourite

Jordan Cousins is favourite to win player of the year, with Diarra in second place: Jordan Cousins

This certainly fits in with the vote tallies I saw. How one might feel about being player of the year in a relegation year is another matter, but Cousins is certainly not to blame.

Watt out for 12 weeks

Tony Watt is to see a specialist about his groin injury, but is expected to be out of action for 12 weeks. Blackburn Rovers still have to meet his wages. This could affect plans to offload him in the summer: Watt

The latest news is that he is to have surgery and will be out for three months: Long absence

Although he has insisted he is not thinking about his future until the season is over, Jordan Cousins is likely to leave, as is Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Ademola Lookman is expected to join a Premiership club.

Cousins: managerial changes have not helped

The managerial changes at Charlton this season have not helped the team's performance this season according to Jordan Cousins. It's a statement of the obvious, but it's still worth players making the point: Jordan Cousins

Cousins is full of praise for José Riga, but reasonably enough refuses to commit himself on whether an earlier arrival of Riga would have saved us. Riga also refused to comment on this point when he was interviewed the other day: Riga on former managers

I think that there will be interest in Cousins from other Championship clubs in the summer and I fear that we will not be able to hold on to him.

Slim hopes fade after defeat

Charlton's slim hopes of Championship survival faded even further after a 2-1 defeat at QPR, the Addicks going down to a time added on goal by Nasser el Khayati. El Khayati's curler sealed a defeat that left the Addicks 10 points adrift of safety with five games left.

Jordan Cousins looked to have earned the visitors a point when he fired in from the edge of the box on his left just after the hour mark. Matt Phillips had earlier given Rangers a fortuitous lead with a cross-shot.

The first real chance of the game fell to the Addicks as Ademola Lookman set up Callum Harriott whose effort was beaten away by Alex Smithies. From the corner Morgan Fox found himself unmarked at the far post but managed to head wide.

There was a call for offside when Phillips' curved shot went in with Junior Hoilet standing in front of Nick Pope.

Charlton almost equalised immediately after the break after Harriott skilfully beat his defender, but his shot cannoned off the crossbar. A strong effort by Chery was well saved by Pope. Cousins then curled home after good interplay between Harriott and Chris Solly. Vetokele then had a number of chances, but could not convert one of them, even when one on one.

According to Louis Mendez it was a gutsy performance, but once again we squandered chances in front of goal: Defeat

I've been dusting off the Third Division Diary and taking a look at the League Two promotion race to spot some of the teams we could be playing next season: Glamour ties

The trek up north

I know there are some northern exiles who are Addicks who can only feasibly go to away matches in the north of England. Whether they will be tempted by tomorrow night's game at Preston North End is an interesting question. Yet there are some Addicks who are making the long trek north, including one from Portsmouth.

Preston are currently a form team in the Championship, 8th in the form table, 10th in the actual table. They may consider that they have an outside chance of making the play offs. On Saturday they beat Sheffield Wednesday who are in the play off places. Their home record over the season is, however, mixed: won six, drawn six, lost four. However, they have lost just one of their last nine Championship matches.

They will have done their homework on Charlton and know about our vulnerability defending at corners. They will also know that we can't score goals. We have scored only eleven of those all season, four at Rotherham. It's difficult to see a happy ending at Deepdale.

Jordan Cousins will be travelling with the squad after being out through injury.

Odds: Preston 8/13, Draw 11/4, Charlton 19/4.

Riga is the best, says Cousins

Jordan Cousins reckons José Riga is the best manager he's worked with, and he has experienced six at Charlton. He reckons that Riga is a good man manager who understands the players: Cousins on Riga

Harriott spills the beans

Charlton winger Callum Harriott talks about his team mates in an interview with the Football League Paper.

His best mate is Jordan Cousins: 'We have been through the ranks together at Charlton since we were kids and still get on well.'

Last to pay for dinner is Tareiq Holmes-Dennis as they went out together recently to a Caribbean restaurant and he didn't pay. Stephen Henderson likes to play house music in the dressing room, while Callum is into UK grime and rap.

Callum rates Ademola Lookman as the most skilful player in the squad. No one's late for training, as there is a fines system that keeps everyone in line. Reza, Jacko ans Diego Poyet are particularly pleased to see José Riga back.

Chris Solly is first on the dance floor and 'not too bad'. Nick Pope disgraced himself by falling down the stairs at the Christmas party.

Unhappy Valley

The view from Huddersfield as Charlton head north for this evening's fixture: Unhappy Valley

What has happened about the much mooted Jose Riga reappointment is uncertain, but it may be that he does not want to return.

Jordan Cousins will not be available tonight, but is expected to be fit for Saturday's match at Hull: Jordan Cousins

Chris Solly is expected to play tonight after being rested at Colchester. Cup tied Callum Harriott will be available and Harry Lennon is expected to return to central defence to partner Roger Johnson.

At the Valley earlier in the season Huddersfield won 2-1, so with three of the last five-matches in all competitions won and just two of the last eight meetings with Charlton lost (three won) the perennially lower mid-table Town will expect to win.

Odds: Huddersfield 4/6, Draw 11/4, Charlton 17/4.

Charlton to finish 16th

That is the forecast of Four Four Two magazine. A health warning is necessary, as their track record in the past has been mixed to say the least. There are also some signs of lazy journalism, signing up to a 'Roland is rubbish' narrative.

The report starts: 'Roll up, roll up for the Roland Duchatelet circus. Managers seem to be a disposable commodity in the Charlton owner's world. It is tempting to wonder what sort of ambition has for the club, especially now he has sold Standard Liege. Hugely promising youngster Joe Gomez was sold to Liverpool without much of a struggle, following fellow homegrown kids Carl Jenkinson and Diego Poyet out of the door.'

'Still, in the likes of Igor Vetokele as well as Jordan Cousins and Tony Watt there are some decent players on the Addicks' books around whom they can build. It just depends on whether Luzon will be allowed the appropriate time with these players to create anything of substance.'

'Luzon can represent a hyperactive child on the touchline, all Tigger-ish enthusiasm and wild gesticulations, but despite not arriving on the best of terms his standing gradually improved.'

Apparently, our penalties record was 100 per cent last season: all eight scored and two saved.

Fan Lee Jarvis says, 'This season will be different to last because we had a lot of hope last season but it didn't work out. Coaching stability will make it different. Keep an eye out for Jordan Cousins who keeps getting stronger.' Matt Wright tips Cousins as the next Charlton captain in an updated Voice of the Valley article here: Captain material.

Jarvis forecasts that we will finish in the top six. I think that somewhere between 6th and 16th is likely.

Four year deal for Cousins

Richard Cawley of the South London Press reports that a four year deal for Jordan Cousins is in the offing: Jordan Cousins

Cawley's recent predictions have been spot on, so this looks like more good news. Other clubs have shown an interest in Cousins.

Jordan Cousins is staying

The club is insisting that Jordan Cousins is staying at The Valley. However, it does look as if there will be talks on a new contract at some point: Jordan Cousins

Villa to make Cousins bid

Aston Villa are determined to make a bid for Jordan Cousins and see off competition from Liverpool and Newcastle United, according to usually reliable West Midlands sources: Jordan Cousins . Other reports have mentioned interest from Norwich and Hull.

However, the report thinks that Charlton are determined to resist the bid.

Villa interested in Cousins

Press reports are claiming that Aston Villa are interested in Jordan Cousins, along with Liverpool and Newcastle. Villa are said to be favourites because former Addick Mark Robson is working there (which I hadn't realised): Jordan Cousins

Cousins would be a real loss and with just a year left on his contract, the price wouldn't be that high.

Although it needs to be recognised that there is a lot of press speculation at this time of year and the reports about Joe Gomez are more firmly based.

Morro: nothing to prove against Charlton

Michael Morrison says he has nothing to prove in today's game against Charlton. It is a special match and rather weird for Birmingham's 'talismanic' player, but he enjoyed his time with the Addicks: Morrison

Jordan Cousins is the latest Charlton player to be targeted by Premier League clubs. He has been regularly scouted by Aston Villa and West Ham are also interested.