Dills: survival is the motivation

Charlton head a tightly packed Championship relegation league and need every point they can get as they face Millwall at The Valley tonight.   Dillon Phillips reckons survival is all the motivation that they need: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-stopper-dillon-phillips-championship-survival-is-all-the-motivation-we-need-going-into-millwall-clash/

A keeper is only as good as the defence in front of him and Phillips said they had kept things so tight he had only had to make two or three saves a game so far.

The big question is who can score goals, particularly if we go behind.

Second Championship club faces administration

Begbies Traynor are experts in handling administrations at football clubs and Gerald Krasner from the firm thinks that another Championship club is about to go into administration.

There have been 12 expressions of interest in Wigan Athletic, although I suspect that some of these are not worth the paper they are written on.   The administrators may appeal against the 12 point deduction, but say that there is a one in four chance that the club will not complete the season: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wigan-points-deduction-championship-stoke-4286967

Clubs will come in for Cullen

Josh Cullen has been an outstanding player for Charlton all season and has been even better since losing weight in lockdown, often being the choice of man of the match for many fans.   He is a really professional footballer who fulfils his role quietly but effectively.

Sanguine supremo Lee Bowyer expects a number of clubs to bid for the West Ham loan player: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-expects-on-loan-west-ham-man-to-attract-transfer-interest/

Cash strapped Charlton are unlikely to be able to afford him, more's the pity.

Matthews a doubt for Millwall clash

There is uncertainty about whether Adam Matthews will be fit for tomorrow night's clash with Millwall reports Richard Cawley (for it is he) of the SLP: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-defender-could-be-a-late-fitness-call-for-millwall-derby/

This is concerning as Matthews has been one of our better players, good going forward as well as in defence.

Welcome back from furlough Big Dog Richard Cawley!

Bowyer: 'I was hurt'

Lee Bowyer has told Talksport that he was 'hurt' by the decisions of Lyle Taylor, Chris Solly and David Davis not to finish the season.   Bowyer sounded more than usually shell shocked when ace presenter Jim White raised the issue.

However, he also said that if it was not for the pandemic they would have done and he moved on very quickly: 'Once that got announced then I had to move on and focus on the group I had, the group I have I know they’ll always give 100 per cent for the club and that’s the most important thing for me.  That’s what I needed to know moving forward. That’s the past, and the players who have stepped in are doing really well and fighting for the cause. That’s old news for me.'

He implied that each of the players had their own particular reasons for the decision they took.

Rangers move for Taylor?

Lyle Taylor may be the latest former Charlton player to wear a kilt as he is being linked with a move to Rangers.

Bowyer wants to see more from Jonny Williams on the training ground before he is given more game time: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-says-he-needs-to-see-an-improvement-from-jonny-williams-on-the-training-ground-before-he-gets-more-minutes/

Varney calls for rule changes

Former Charlton chief executive Peter Varney has called for a through review of the rules governing the ownership of clubs: https://www.integralsportsmanagement.co.uk/fit-for-purpose/

Could this mean that the bid for Charlton he is involved in is no longer live?

Wigan enter administration

Wigan have entered administration.  If the club is relegated in the normal way, the 12 point deduction will be applied next season in League One.  Otherwise, as seems more likely, the deduction will take place after the final Championship game is played and the table adjusted accordingly: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/wigan-athletic-live-updates-administration-18521288

The club hopes to complete its fixtures.  A buyer is being urgently sought.

A 12 point deduction would put the Lactics on 38 points, eight points behind Charlton.

Historian Gareth Millward commented:

'This the Wigan Athletic that for over decade spent money it clearly didn't really have to artificially inflate itself to the Premier League and, now they don't have Whelan's money, thinks it could keep spending like a Championship club when they're really L1/L2?'

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