Simon Church will have the chance to score against Charlton next season after signing for MK Dons. He says that the ambition of his new club matches his (to stay in the Championship?).
'Churchy is a really top lad, a good player and can score goals. He will add tremendous quality to our team' said Dons boss Karl Robinson.
I would never fault his effort for us, but all the energy rarely had an outcome in terms of a goal.
Giant striker Simon Makienok is coming in on loan from Palermo. There is an option to convert the signing to a permanent deal in due course: Simon Makienok
Makienok was a goal scoring success at Brondby, but found it difficult to adjust to the style of Italian football. He turned down possible moves to Palace and Fulham in January.
Given his 6ft. 7 ins. height, it may be necessary to raise the height of the entrance to the pitch from the tunnel to stop him bumping his head!
Derek from Dymchurch commented, 'What with the good weather and all these signings, it's been a difficult week for us moaners to find something to complain about.'
The official club site has now confirmed that Makienok has signed on a one year loan.
Michiel Kramer scored 17 goals for Den Haag last season and Charlton are one of three Championship clubs chasing him: Michiel Kramer
He is definitely leaving Den Haag and given his wish to come to London, it seems unlikely that he will go to Sheffield to become a massive. Hence, the real choice is between West London (Brentford) and SE7.
English and French sources are reporting that El Hadji Ba is to sign for Charlton: Signing. Of Sengalese descent, the 22-year old midfielder has played for Sunderland.
The signing of El Hadji Ba has now been confirmed by the club. See him score here: El Hadji Ba
Fredéric Bulot has been seen in South-East London, suggesting that his anticipated signing is imminent.
Yoni Buyens is leaving Standard Liege twelve months before the expiry of his contract and joining Genk on a four year deal: Yoni Buyens
He missed family and friends in Belgium when he was at Charlton: Buyens interview
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.
Roland Duchatelet has sold Standard Liege to the club's vice-president Bruno Venanzi who is also the owner of Lampiris, an energy supply company based on green tariffs: Sale
83 per cent of Standard supporters who have voted so far in an online poll have welcomed the news: Au revoir
Roland Duchatelet reaffirmed his interest in football according to Belgian outlet L'Avernir who quoted him saying: 'I will stay in football. But not Belgian football.'
The most optimistic reading of this would be that he could see the financial potential in enabling Charlton to become a Premiership side.
Reports are circulating in Belgium that Roland is planning to sell Standard Liege to Russian investors. There will be a press conference later this morning: Standard Liege
Standard Liege has also been the lynchpin of the network, but Roland is a businessman and would not turn down a good offer. It appears, however, that he is no longer asking for €70 million.
Quite what the implications for Charlton might be are uncertain. It could release further funds for investment with Charlton becoming the new mother ship. Or Charlton could be sold and the network gradually dismantled.
Belgian sites are reporting Charlton interest in 6ft. 3 ins. striker Tom de Sutter currently with Club Brugge: de Sutter
However, Turkish side Bursaspor are also said to be interested in the 29-year old.
Career details here: Eye for goal
Unfortunately, it looks as if he is another one has got away. He is heading for Turkey where he has doubled his salary to one million euros a month: Turkey bound
Ben Roberts has joined Brighton and Hove Albion as goalkeeping coach after almost five years at Charlton: Roberts leaves
Charlton author Paul Breen looks here at the possibility of a closed Premier League and suggests that clubs like Charlton need to get into the Premier League as soon as they can: Vision of the future
He also talks about amalgamations which was at one time a real prospect in terms of a Crystal Palace takeover.
Rumours that Yann Kermorgant may return to Charlton lack credibility. Admittedly, the striker is trying to get a year's extension on his contract at Bournemouth and such rumours may not harm his efforts: Yann Kermorgant
I also don't give much credence to reports that we are one of a number of Championship clubs interested in Real Madrid forward Fran Sol: Fran Sol
Don't get too excited anyway. Although he is a product of Real Madrid's youth system, he has been loaned out to a succession of lower level Spanish clubs.
Chris Parkes is now back from holiday so we may see a couple of signings that have been lined up completed in the next week or two. Indeed, the first of these anticipated signings has now been confirmed by the club: Patrick Bauer.
Fredéric Bulot is expected to sign soon.
Joe Gomez has completed his move to Liverpool, signing a five year deal: Joe Gomez
The fee has not been disclosed, but is believed to be £3.5m initially. It is believed that there is a percentage share of any sell on.
There have been various suggestions from reasonably reliable sources that the eventual fee will be around £6m or £7m, but I haven't been able to get an exact figure or find out how it might be constructed, e.g., if it is dependent on appearances, Liverpool are cautious about using young players. Liverpool fans think he will have his work cut out in breaking through to the first team: The challenge ahead
In any event, I wish him well. If a top club comes in, one can't deny a young player the chance to get ahead.
Brighton and Hove Albion want to bring Ben Roberts back to the club as goalkeeping coach from Championship rivals Charlton. The Seagulls' former No.1 is the top choice to replace Antti Niemi following his return to Finland last month for family reasons. Albion have been given permission to hold talks with Roberts but Charlton do not want to lose him.
The 39-year-old has been at The Valley since December 2009 after a brief spell as goalkeeping coach of Yeovil. He was playing for Charlton when Albion borrowed him in 2003 as they fought in vain to stave off relegation from the Championship under Steve Coppell. Roberts rejoined Albion permanently months later and was in goal as they were promoted straight back to the Championship through the League One play-offs under Mark McGhee, beating Bristol City in the final at the Millennium Stadium.
Roberts, who featured in the 1997 FA Cup final for his first club Middlesbrough against Chelsea at Wembley, had to retire in 2005 at the age of 29 due to persistent back trouble.
He would be a real loss in my view.
Liverpool are to sign Joe Gomez following a medical tomorrow: Joe Gomez
Liverpool have been tracking him for three years and have taken advantage of a release clause in his contract which permits them to sign him for an initial £3.5m. Given such a clause, the club have to let him go at that price.
Southampton are reported to have joined the race for Joe Gomez with an offer of £6m: Joe Gomez
By the end of the week we should know where he is going and for how much.
The official site has reported that Christophe Lepoint has been sold to the Belgian side SV Zulte Waregem for an undisclosed fee. It is unlikely to be large.
Lepoint was not up to Championship standard and the news of his departure has been received calmly with no reports of fans rending their shirts or vowing to return their season tickets when they arrive.
Of course, the question that arises is why he was signed in the first place. On Twitter, Voice of the Valley editor Rick Everitt has described it 'as a laughable signing from start to finish.'
Some would see it as evidence as systemic failings on the part of the current regime. However, even the Murray/Curbishley regime made some poor signings, although admittedly things have been more hit and miss under Roland.
Elsewhere, it is being rumoured that Nick Pope may move permanently to Bury.
Charlton's first game of the 2015-16 season will be at home to relegated Queens Park Rangers. Two tough away games against Derby County and Notts Forest away follow. The next home game is against relegated Hull City. The season ends with a home fixture to the other relegated side, Burnley.
Boxing Day seems an away game in the hospitable environment (not) of Bristol City.
There are no Easter fixtures because of the international break. I can't recall a time when we didn't have Easter fixtures which are often crucial in terms of promotion or relegation.
This review of last season gives Charlton a C grade for a 'solid and unspectacular' performance: Season review
Not sure that I agree with them that Tal Ben Haim will be 'hard to replace'.
For me the season was pretty much in line with expectations. I got an award from CAFC Picks for a correct points forecast.
Doom and gloom merchants are already out in force. However, I don't see how one can make any evaluation of prospects in June. Players will go, but others will come in and even then it's difficult to say much until we've played a few competitive games.
The fixtures will be out at 9 a.m. and it is being forecast that Charlton will play home and away games against all the other teams in the Championship. However, they will not be playing Millwall.
Dagenham & Redbridge's manager is confident his side can beat Charlton in the Capital One cup: Victory trail
We do have previous with Dagenham & Redbridge. When we were in the Premier League, John Salako saved our bacon by scoring an equaliser in the FA Cup at The Valley. We then made heavy work of the replay. Curbs told me later, 'they gave us a torrid time.'
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.
Australian teenage keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer is joining Charlton on the recommendation of former keeper Andy Petterson: Young hopeful
I have actually stayed at a golf resort in Joondalup, which was very nice, but there was a big argument with my hosts about whether my travel insurance would cover me trashing my room or damaging the swimming pool. I think they must have thought I was a Spanner.
Liverpool have joined Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for the signature of Joe Gomez: Joe Gomez
He might then be sent out on loan. However, Arsenal are still thought to be leading the race given the links between the two clubs, exemplified by the loan of Francis Coquelin. Ironically, Wenger is thinking of signing another defensive midfielder to take Coquelin's place.
The latest word is that the deal with Liverpool will be sealed this week, £3.5m plus add ons. This is a quarter of the valuation suggested by Acworth below.
That figure comes from Liverpool sources and Richard Cawley of the SLP thinks that the deal could be worth £10m: More money?
Both Portuguese web sites and the Sparrows Lane tea lady are saying that 6ft. 4ins. centre half Patrick Bauer is about to sign for Charlton.
The 22-year old German has been playing for C S Martimo.
His best moments can be seen here: Bauer promo
I was watching an interview with the retiring garrison sergeant-major for London Billy Mott: Billy Mott
He talked about seeing a sea of redness from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace at the diamond jubilee. 'Red is my favourite colour, he said, 'because of my team - Charlton.
Following the unveiling of the new mascots on the club website, consideration is being given to renaming this site the Valiant Robin's Championship Diary: Mascots
As the website points out, the robin has recently been chosen as the country's favourite bird. This particular robin looks a bit like a caped crusader and somewhat on the corpulent side.
The knight's weapon might be useful as a means of reminding useless linos where they can shove their flag.
Private Eye has been running some sympathetic coverage on the effect of West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium on Charlton. However, this has evidently provoked the ire of someone from the Medway towns.
In the latest issue, an anonymous correspondent writes: 'Charlton Athletic have little reason to complain, they provide a cheap coach service that ferries fans from Kent and Sussex to home games - something that lower league neighbours Gillingham complains reduces their attendances.'
Huddersfield Town have denied that they have any interest in reuniting Calum Harriott with Chris Powell: Calum Harriott
Wolves and QPR are, however, said to be interested, so it looks as if a move somewhere is on the cards.
I think that the point when I really became aware of the potential of the internet was when a colleague who was a Luton Town supporter suggested that there must be something about Charlton on the net, and indeed there was. I found a club site and not long afterwards I joined the Glynne Jones list, of which I am still a member today. Congratulations to Glynne, by the way, on his recent marriage.
Voice of the Valley editor Rick Everitt has published a review of the twenty years of a Charlton presence online: Online presence
He is kind enough to mention Addick's Diary which was one of the first online fan sites and was originally written in a diary format. Rick also mentions that when he made a trip to the States, I stood for him as match reporter and this was one of my greatest thrills as an Addick, going to the press conferences after the match. Read more about this here: Way Back Then
Rick does mention the lack of a proper archive of the early resources, which is a great shame. However, you can still track down Addick's Diary in its earlier versions.
If we didn't have the net, we wouldn't have Jonathan Acworth advising us on which players to buy from his riverside penthouse in Greenwich.
The famous economist Maynard Keynes said that everything in Ramsgate was either second rate or third rate, but Rick's own online contributions disprove this theory.
According to the usually well informed Richard Cawley of the SLP, Charlton are looking to offload the following players: Rhoys Wiggins; Joe Pigott; Callum Harriott; and Andre Bikey. Pigott is not a surprise, as he is probably League 1 level at best and may be able to find a berth at Southend. Bikey has been out of favour for some time. The mercurial Harriott has been in and out of the team. Wiggins is arguably the most surprising, but has been injury prone.
Voice of the Valley editor Rick Everitt has commented, 'What Richard Cawley’s tweet amounts to is that these players are available for transfer and they can leave if someone else wants to take over their contracts, whether with or without a fee. They have not been released (and can’t be without a pay-off) and the club remains liable for the remainder of their contract.'
Cawley also says that we are interested in Rotherham midfielder Ben Pringle whom he reckons is a good player. However, Fulham seem to be favourites to secure his signature. Bolton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Leeds United are also said to be interested in the player who started his career at Ilkeston Town: Ben Pringle
The Chicago Addick has a well sourced story that we are to sign Lokeren winger Nill de Pauw (Lokeren is the new club of Bob Peeters): Nill de Pauw
Reports are suggesting that Charlton are interested in Shaun Wright-Phillips: Wright-Phillips
If he did come the 'He's better than Shaun' chant with which his brother was serenaded would have to go into cold storage.
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that the controversial 'scoring on the pitch' video broke its code of conduct: Red card
Nine season ticket holders complained about the advert, possibly part of the 'ageing fan base' the club said that it needed to reach beyond with a risqué advert.
Richard Cawley has tweeted that Gudmundsson may go to Wolves with striker Bjorn Sigurdarson coming the other way.
So far I have not found any confirmation from my West Midlands sources.
We have also been linked with Genk's Jelle Vossen. Admittedly, he is Belgian, but he was on loan at 'Boro last season and would like to go back there: Jelle Vossen
As for French winger and ex-Foxes player Anthony Knockaert, it looks as if he is going to the mother ship, which is not to say we might not see him at The Valley eventually: Knockaert
Former Addicks coach Bob Peeters has signed a two year deal with Lokeren. One man who won't be returning to the network.
Rumours are circulating that QPR are interested in Igor Vetokele as a replacement for Charlie Austin with a price tag of £4m: Vetokele
I don't find this to be a very credible story. Vetokele faded in the second half of the season, in large part because he was carrying an injury, and I don't think the Super Hoops would see him as the answer to their problems.
Former Addicks keeper Darren Randolph has joined West Ham after turning down a new contract with Birmingham City: Darren Randolph
Although the Republic of Ireland international only made 20 appearances for the Addicks, I always thought he had lots of potential.
