Charlton linked with Romain Vincelot

Charlton are being linked with Leyton Orient defender/midfielder Romain Vincelot, but then so are a lot of other Championship clubs including Brentford and Leeds United, where the interest seems to be particularly strong. The one point in favour of Charlton is that we have an increasingly French-speaking squad.

Career details here: Vincelot

The rumour mill has linked Roger Johnson who is being let go by Wolves. However, Sheffield Wednesday have a strong interest and he was one of the highest earners at Molineux.

So, farewell then, Richard Wood

Richard Wood has left Charlton for Rotherham United: Richard Wood

He did a solid job for us. Quite what motivated his move, I am not sure.

It looks as if the mother ship might provide a centre back.

Three mother ship players linked with Charlton

Three Standard Liege players are being linked with Charlton by the rumour mill: Dino Arslanagic, Paul-Jose M'Poku and Fréderic Bulot. Gabon international Bulot seems the least likely as reports in the last couple of hours from Flemish language sources link him with another club.

Paul-Jose M'Poku is a winger: Career details . Arslanagic is a centre back.

Thumbs up for Buyen

The CAS Trust have published another interesting article by Belgian journalist: View from Belgium

He is very positive about Yoni Buyens whom he describes as a physical box-to-box player.

Charlton player scores in World Cup

Reza scored a consolation goal for Iran in their 3-1 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovnia today. He was supplied with a good cross, but made no mistake in finding the back of the net. Four Addicks have played in the World Cup, but he was the first to score a goal. Hopefully his experience in Brazil will stand him in good stead for the coming season.

Poyet on his way

The club has announced that Diego Poyet will not be reporting for pre-season training at Charlton as he wishes to explore his options elsewhere: Poyet

This is not a great surprise and it remains to be seen what compensation will be available. A figure of £600k has been mentioned, but that seems to be on the high side.

Charlton chasing Obika

Charlton are named by Sky Sports News as one of a number of clubs trying to secure the permanent signing of Jonathan Obika, although the other clubs named are in League 1: Obika

For me he didn't really do enough in terms of scoring goals to want to make him a permanent signing.

Igor Vitokele

As yet unconfirmed reports are stating that Igor Vitokele has passed his medicals at Charlton and has signed a five year contract for a fee of €3m (approximately £2.4m).

Seeing him displaying his skills here: Vitokele

Charlton interested in bringing back Stewart

Ipswich Town and Charlton are said to be monitoring former Hull City winger Cameron Stewart’s situation at Leeds United. Stewart joined Leeds in January on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal, but new United owner Massimo Cellino is trying to pull the plug on the deal, which is due to be formalised a week today on July 1.

The 23-year-old, who played 11 times for the Whites last season, started last season on loan at Charlton where he scored three times in 18 appearances.

The winger began his career at Manchester United, but never made a single appearance for the Premier League side and left to join Hull City in January 2011 after a successful loan spell. A cruciate ligament injury in February that year kept Stewart out of action for nine months and when he returned from injury he fell out of favour with Steve Bruce. Since Bruce took over the reins at the KC Stadium, Stewart has been loaned out to four different clubs.

Morrison to stay?

Press reports this morning are suggesting that Michael Morrison has turned down offers from Ipswich, Rotherham and Wigan and will sign a new two year contract with the Addicks. Good news, if true.

Yoni Buyens signs

26-year old midfielder Yoni Buyens has signed for Charlton today from the mother ship: Buyens quitte Le Standard pour Charlton. He joined Standard in 2011.

Although I do not have confirmation of this, I believe it will be a one year loan deal. Astrit Adjerevic has described him as an excellent signing for Charlton.

A number of clubs in England, Belgium and Spain were interested in him as well as Vancouver in the MLS.

When Charlton had a row with Iran

Reza faces Argentina on behalf of Iran later today and former Charlton communications supremo Matt Wright has used the occasion to recall when Charlton got embroiled in a row over a refusal to play Iran, not because of missile tests as the Iranians suspected, but because of fixture congestion on a visit to Spain: Iran . Fifa got dragged in, but eventually it all quietened down.

Wright refers to the fact that Charlton had signed Karim Bagheri eight years before this dispute, and it may have been a signing that was not unwelcome in government circles when Charlton were seen as 'on message' club by New Labour.

Rumour mill links Charlton with two Belgian-based players

Macedonian striker/winger Ivan Trickovski played for Bob Peeters at Waasland-Beveren on loan from Club Brugge and is now rumoured to be on his way to The Valley. Career details here: Trickovski

Imoh Ezekiel's name has surfaced before, but the rumour mill is suggesting that he might make the move. Ezekiel plays for the mother ship, but he is also a striker, so it seems unlikely that the deal for him and 'Tricky' would come off given other irons we have in the fire. Career details here: Ezekeil

Has Riga quit at Blackpool?

Rumours are circulating that José Riga has quit at Blackpool after a big row with charm merchant chairman Karl Oyston over a lack of transfer funds. Certainly Oyston had declared his intention to involve himself more closely in the playing side and Riga may felt that he had his fill of that at Charlton: Oyston takes control.

It's perhaps worth noting that other clubs have their problems as well.

Season starts with buzz

Charlton's 2014-15 season starts with an away fixture at newly promoted Brentford: Fixtures. With the Bees' new stadium still on the drawing board, the Addickted will once again be able to enjoy the cramped conditions in the away end at Griffin Park. Home matches against Wigan and Derby County follow, tough tests for whatever team is assembled by then.

Millwall visit The Valley on 22nd November, but presumably the standard kick off time of 3 p.m. will be adjusted. Boxing Day sees relegated Cardiff City visit The Valley.

The season ends with an away trip to Birmingham City and a possible relegation decider.

Fee agreed for striker

Igor Vitokele

Charlton have agreed a fee with FC Copenhagen for striker Igor Vitokele. He is yet to take a medical or agree personal terms. He has played for Bob Peeters before. Standard Liege had a bid turned down for him in January.

He scored 13 goals in 29 Superligen matches for Copenhagen last season and featured in two Champions League matches. He played for Belgium's under 21s, but is now a full Angolan international. He commented to Richard Cawley of the SLP, 'I have always wanted to try playing in England. This is a good opportunity for me, although it was not an easy decision.'

The Belgian-Angolan is 22 years old. Watch his skills in this video: Vitokele

Charlton chase Moussa

Charlton are reported to be chasing high scoring out of contract Coventry City midfielder Franck Moussa: Moussa

Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Huddersfield are also interested, but the 24-year old may be attracted to the nearest thing you can find to a piece of Belgium in England.

Moussa had a two year spell at Leicester City: Career details

Meanwhile, a number of clubs are interested in obtaining Michael Morrison's signature including José Riga's Blackpool: Morrison

Galatasary swoop for Koc

Turkish side Galatasary are poised to sign Charlton loan player Anil Koc who spent last season in the Under 21 squad. He is expected in Istanbul to agree terms shortly: Koc

Koc has two years left on his contract with the mother ship.

Pre-season tournament in Belgium

Charlton will take part in a six match pre-season weekend tournament in Belgium. This will include five 45-minute matches against network teams, including the mother ship, culminating in a 90-minute game against Sint Truiden to celebrate the opening of their new stadium. A Eurostar travel and hotel package is available for the Addickted: Pnilips Stayen Cup

Mystery new Salisbury owner was interested in Charlton

The mystery new owner of Salisbury City, Otail Touzar or Tawzar, a Moroccan businessman based in Dubai, was also reported to be involved in a takeover deal for Charlton. Mind you, he was also involved in deals for Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Sunderland, Leeds United and Reading among other clubs.

For those who are unhappy with the signings under the current regime, it should be noted that his first signing at Salisbury was Prince Khalid bin Bandar Alsaud, a member of the Saudi royal family. If you have been to Bromley reserves, you might have seen him play.

Failure of O'Grady deal confirmed

It has been confirmed that Chris O'Grady will not be joining Charlton from Barnsley after failing to agree personal terms: O'Grady

The report makes reference to the possibility of an improved offer, but I think that is very unlikely.

Charlton linked with Sam Saunders

According to Sky, Charlton are in talks with Brentford wide midfield player Sam Saunders. Career details for the former London Underground electrician are here: Saunders

Born in Erith, the 30-year old underwent exploratory knee surgery last season. Apparently, he knows a number of Charlton players. He wasn't a regular for Brentford last season, so it is difficult to get excited.

Congratulations to Charlton secretary Chris Parkes on being awarded a commemorative plaque by the Football League for twenty-five years service. Charlton through and through.

Reza scored for Iran in a World Cup warm up match against Trinidad & Tobago. His goal came from ten yards out in the second half.

Yoni Buyens on his way?

Back from a spectacular short break at the home of the world's smallest football league to find that the Addicks are increasingly being linked with Yoni Buyens: Buyens

The Liege midfielder could be seen as a replacement for Diego Poyet who has changed his biography to describe himself as a 'professional footballer' rather than a Charlton player. The word is that he is waiting to see what offers come in before making a final decision. The little known Buyens is hardly likely to compare in quality.

Meanwhile, Frédéric Bulot is not keen on coming to Charlton after two seasons at SL despite the fact that he is not part of their future plans and his agent would like him to go. Apparently, the wideman has been influenced by the fact that ace keeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien did not have a positive experience in London: Bulot

New book on Charlton

I invariably buy new books on Charlton, but when I learnt that a new picture book had come out, I thought that it would simply recycle some familiar shots. This proved not to be the case. Charlton Athletic: a Nostalgic Look at a Century of the Club draws on the archives of the Daily Mirror and the vast majority of the photographs were new to me. The Mirror was clearly a frequent visitor to the club in its glory dates and a lot of its photography was innovative and captured some unusual angles.

The book has a good mixture of colour and black and white photographs and just the right amount of accompanying text. Difficult to pick out favourite photographs, but the one of 'Killer' duck shooting in Kent was certainly unusual. What is more it showed him with his 'kill'. Sam Bartram fits a rather apprehensive boy with boots in his shop, no surprise given that as the text notes that what was available then was 'heel-skinning, toe-curling clodhoppers'. I also liked the shot of Sam and his family leaving The Valley for the last time.

The cover price is £25, but cheaper copies are available on Amazon: £12.99 plus postage when I looked today.

O'Grady deal off

It looks as if Charlton are not going to secure the services of Barnsley striker Chris O'Grady. It appears that the two sides in the negotiation have been a long way apart on wages: O'Grady

There are two ways of interpreting that development, and it partly depends on what you think of regime Roland. Either O'Grady is being greedy or we are being mean. Probably the truth is a mixture of both.

Millwall are now said to be interested, but the player's real aim may be to get a berth up north. Blackpool with José?

Blackpool swoop for Riga

José Riga may be returning to The Valley next season after all, but as manager of the Tangerines: Riga

Riga topped a fans' poll for the new manager in the Blackpool Gazette last week. Rumours that Paul Hart was in the frame were wide of the mark.

Riga will have plenty of scope to choose his squad as the Seasiders have only six contracted players, having been without a permanent manager for months.

Unhappy Hamer

Ben Hamer is unhappy about the way the possibility of contract renewal was dealt with at Charlton, but is looking forward to making his mark (on the bench?) at Leicester: Hamer

I was more concerned about losing Dervite than Hamer, although apparently Bolton were making an offer he couldn't refuse as they pile up their debt.

Alma mater of Curbs is new kit sponsor

Well, sort of. Alan Curbishley was awarded an honorary masters degree by the University of Greenwich and now they are going to be the club's kit sponsor for the next two years: Sponsors .

I know that some people from the University of Greenwich support Charlton, indeed one of its senior officials has a season ticket in my row (he may have retired now).

I can't think of any other club that has a university sponsor at the moment, but there are some interesting synergies. However, it can't be a big money spinner. The University of Lincoln did have a two year deal with Conference side Lincoln City.

Greenwich University has its origins in the Woolwich (later Thames) Polytechnic of fond memory.

There are no known plans for Greenwich to link up with Belgian universities but, who knows, Roland may eventually get an honorary degree himself.

In addition the club has renewed its deal with Andrews Air Conditioning and also welcomes on board Mitsubishi Electric: Sponsors. The away kit may look a bit crowded, but at least we will have no payday lenders or betting companies blazoned across the shirt.

Addicks linked with Distel Zola

Charlton are being linked with 25-year old Le Havre midfielder Distel Zola. Formerly with Monaco, he impressed last season. The story is being carried by French as well as English sources, so there may be something in it. However, a number of Championship clubs are said to be interested.

He has made two international appearances with the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Career