Highest position in EFL for 11 years

Swansea City ended the Championship season with victory as substitute Adam Idah's late double and a sparkling Leo Walta free-kick secured a 3-1 triumph over Charlton Athletic. in front of 2,000 Addicks who had made the journey to sunny South Wales.

There was something of a party atmosphere for both sets of supporters, although the home side dominated possession,

A forgettable goalless draw between two sides with little to play for had looked on the cards until Idah met Josh Key's pass with a crisp first-time finish to put Swansea in front 16 minutes from time.

Charlton responded swiftly as another substitute, Miles Leaburn, headed home from Sonny Carey's corner.

But Nathan Jones' were only level for three minutes before 19-year-old academy product Thomas Woodward – who had only just come on for his senior debut – centred for Idah to steer home his second with the aid of a deflection off Gillesphey.

January signing Walta put a layer of gloss on Swansea's triumph as he scored a memorable first goal for the club, a curling effort from 25 yards which bounced into net off the post.

Victory sees Swansea finish the season in 11th for the second successive season, though the Welsh club are three points better off than they were this time last year.

Charlton end 2025-26 in 19th, their highest finishing position in the EFL pyramid in 11 years, despite ending the season with only one win in their final nine games.

Swan Song

Loyal away Addicks will be going to Swansea tomorrow while others will head to the Valley to watch the fixture and then the crucial women's match.

One of my granddaughters recently discovered her inner Welsh woman and moved to Swansea (Abertawe) where she can buy a three bed with garden, workshop and parking for a low six figure sum.

She won't be going to the match tomorrow as like almost all my family she has no interest in football (performing arts are her thing).

Discounting myself and my three year old great-granddaughter no one in what is now a large immediate family supports Charlton which is perhaps a blessing after a century of suffering.  My wife is interested in football provided it is played in the Premier League, La Liga, the Champions League or the World Cup. She follows Manchester City.   I have one son-in-law who is a season ticket holder at Southampton.

Currently 11th, Swansea have won ten, drawn six and lost six at home.  Should the Addicks win, they could overtake Portsmouth and Stoke depending on their results.   Given that both Blackburn and West Brom could win, a defeat could see them 21st.  A draw would not necessarily save them from this fate

But Nathan Jones could give his instructions in Cymraeg for all that it matters, the focus now has to be on strengthening for next season.  As his latest interview with Richard Cawley makes clear, he recogbises the need to sign better quality players this summer.  Hopefully, the money will be available.

Swansea could move into the top 10 with a win at home:.

• Swansea have only lost one of their past 10 league games against Charlton (W6 D3), going down 2-0 on MD1 of the 2008-09 season.

• Charlton have lost four of their past five league visits to Swansea (D1); all four of those defeats have been by a one-goal margin.

• Swansea have only won their final league game in one of the past five seasons (D1 L3), beating West Bromwich Albion 3-2 in 2022-23.

• Charlton have lost their final game in each of their past three Championship seasons by an aggregate score of 0-10.

• Charlton Athletic have only scored 43 Championship goals this season – the last time they ended a season with fewer than 50 league goals scored was in 2015-16 (40).

On an old WILTY last night, reference was made to a pub in Swansea and it was suggested that it might be a gastro pub.  Cardiff boy Rob Brydon quipped, 'No, not in Swansea.'

Cyril the Swan may be on duty tomorrow, one of the few mascots to get a yellow card.

Swansea are eager to return to the Premier League and have some interesting investors, notably Snoop Dogg who attended the match against Preston.  Their manager noted that it was unusual to smell weed in the tunnel: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2026/02/snoop-dog-turns-up-in-abertawe-thats.html

Ferry across the Tay?

Unconfirmed reports from Scottish media (the Daily Record and Dundee Courier) are reporting Charlton interest in 25-year old Dundee United full back Will Ferry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Ferry

According to some reports, Phil Chapple has been north of the border to see him play.  Blackburn are also rumoured to be interested.

Ferry was born in England, but has appeared for the Republic of Ireland.

Former Addicks keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer is now at Dundee United (currently injured).

Missing fact about Gemma Arterton

There was an interesting profile of Gemma Arterton in The Times yesterday.   She has just started a new drama series with ITV which has got good initial reviews.

However, it missed the most important fact about her: she is a Charlton supporter.   Her father is a keen Addick and took her to The Valley when she was young.   She was born in Gravesend.

On YouTube you can see her being presented with a Charlton shirt on television.  I doubt whether she gets to The Valley these days though.   She has two children, but it is not known whether they are Addicks.

Can anyone explain the brief reference to Charlton by 'comedian' Paul Merton on Have I Got News For You? on Friday.  I watched it again last night and still couldn't understand the context, although it was evidently some kind of insult.

Merton is the son of a tube driver and is a keen Spurs fan.  He may be laughing on the other side of his face at The Valley next season.   I still remember our 1-0 victory at the old White Hart Lane with Spurs fan Chris Powell scoring the winning goal.

Are you heading for the Italian lakes this summer,  Then take a look at the successful strategy of the Como side: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2026/04/comos-unique-strategy-offers-new.html

Charlton is not in a fashionable part of London so we can't replicate their strategy, but could we make more of the River Thames which is known globally?

Richard Cawley has a fascinating interview with Ashley Maynard-Brewer.  His career has been plagued by injuries: he has broken his nose three times and now he has dislocated his shoulder with Dundee United playing against Rangers.

I have stayed in his home town of Joondalup near Perth WA and I can understand that his first winter living in Welling must have been a shock.  He also talks about the pressures of playing for a 'big' club like Charlton and he needed help from a sports psychologist.

Hiring strategy

Fans are already coming up with lists of players they would like to retain or be found a lower league club.  Even if we can't agree on the names, there is broad agreement that some of the players are not up to Championship standard.

One fan writing on social media put forward the argument in nuanced terms that perhaps some of the players have potential that is yet to be fully developed.  The trouble is that leads us back to the old 'Jones is a waste of space' argument and I can't see the owners letting him go.

One big known unknown is how much money the owners are prepared to 'invest' in players.   An unknown unknown is whether they can succeed in finding an additional investor.  It would seem that with events in the Middle East, and some investments turning out to be more troublesome than anticipated (Chelsea) US private equity investors are holding back.

Thinking about strategy, I would take a look at Leicester City who are going to have a fire sale.  Oxford United may be rubbish, but they have one or two decent players who might want to stay in the Championship with a club that has a proper stadium.

Then there are fringe Premier League players who get scarcely a look in at a top club.  I was struck by how many players Southampton have who were originally with Manchester City.  These players are likely to be hungry to make a name for themselves.

Then there are players who have outperformed in League One.   For example, Kyrell Lisbie who has done well at Peterborough.

Finally, we must be prepared to take a risk on a few relatively unknown foreign players.

Charlton score two to survive

Charlton secured Championship survival thanks to stunning strikes from Charlie Kelman and Jayden Fevrier as they beat Hull City at The Valley.

Kelman curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner to give the Addicks the lead before John Egan headed Hull level in the seventh minute of first-half added time.

The Tigers were much improved after the break, spurred on by the introduction of Mohamed Belloumi off the bench, but the hosts retook the lead when Fevrier darted past two challenges to fire beyond Ivor Pandur into the bottom corner.

After scoring 27 goals in a ruthless loan spell at Leyton Orient last season, Kelman has not always found life easy since moving to The Valley.  Seven goals in 35 appearances going into this game represented a moderate return, but today he showed Addicks fans what he is made of.

Picking up Conor Coady's pass wide on the left, the 24-year-old cut inside Semi Ajayi and Lewie Coyle to bend a sumptuous strike into the top corner.  A goal-of-the-season contender for sure.

Nathan Jones will have been disappointed they went in level, having been so dominant at times in the opening 45 minutes.  And despite a much better performance from Hull in the second half, Fevrier's 68th-minute goal was the one settle the game. And it was equally as impressive.

Had the 23-year-old finished off his effort right at the end then Charlton's goal of the season reel this season could well have had three entries from the same game.

It has been a long, hard season for the Addicks but they can finally plan for a second Championship campaign, with total certainty.

Hull boss looks forward to three points

Hull City boss Serget Jakorovic is looking forward to ending Hull's winless run of six matches with three points off 'struggling' Charlton tomorrow.

The Croatian charm merchant was sent off at the King Power on Tuesday for 'sarcastic clapping', but it looks as if he will be in the Valley dugout tomorrow.

Hull City, only outside the final play-off spot on goal difference, can leapfrog rivals Wrexham into sixth place, with the Red Dragons set to play title winners Coventry City on Sunday.

• Charlton are unbeaten in their last six home league meetings with Hull City (D3 L3) since a 1-2 reverse in November 1985.

• Hull have won three of their last four away league games against London clubs (L1), as many as their previous 16 in the capital beforehand (W3 D7 L6).

• Charlton have won their final home league game in seven of the last nine seasons (D2) since a 0-3 defeat to Burnley in 2015-16.

• Hull haven't won their final away league game in any of the last 18 seasons (D6 L12) since a 1-0 victory at Cardiff in 2006-07.

• Hull have earned 35 away points in the Championship this season; a win here will make this the most points they have ever earned on the road in a second tier campaign (38, assuming 3 pts/win all-time), a record they set in 2023-24 (37).

Try calming down

Charlton fans are busy slagging off each other on social media on the usual topics: views of Jones and whether we will be relegated.   It might be a good idea in these circumstances just to calm down get behind the team.

Of course we constantly told it's all about opinions whereas the world I live is one where evidence counts for more.

I have tried to keep clear of the Peter Mandelson affair.  After all, unlike top Super Hoops fan and Charlton critic Lord Young of Acton, I was not named in the Epstein files.*

Unfortunately, trying to keep my head down has not worked and I have been contacted by the integrity and ethics branch of the Cabinet Office.   They certainly won't want opinions from me next week.

We do have a lot more evidence these days about football finances and how they affect performance, but the fact that Charlton has one of the lowest playing budgets in the Championship rarely features in the discussion.

BTW, I'm not saying I like Michael Gove but he was an effective minister in the sense that he managed to get two departments to change policy direction and that is not easy.   So why as editor of the Spectator is he encouraging his columnists to have a go at Charlton?

If he is thinking of adding subscribers, I am told that getting any magazines into a prison is not easy so not much luck with Spanners.  And if he is thinking of the Nigels, they are too busy pretending to be ultras to be seen reading a magazine.

*It should be pointed out that the noble Lord has explained that he was inadvertently included in Epstein's contacts book because of a tenuous acquaintance with G Maxwell.   He has denied visiting 'Paedo Island' (his terminology), travelling on the so-called Lolita Express aircraft or visiting Epstein in one of his homes or at a correctional facility.

Early goal does not save Charlton from defeat

A cheeky first minute goal by captain Greg Docherty put Charlton ahead at The Valley this evening, but Ipswich equalised in the first half and then scored the winner from the penalty spot in the second half.

Charlton remain six points ahead of Oxford and I remain sceprical that they will discover their inner Bayern Munich.

I was surprised that some fans wanted to see the Tractors win to disadvantage Millwall.   If they do go up, we will no longer have to throw six points away.   They will find the top flight challenging and it will be interesting to see the so-called Nigel 'ultras' confront the Spanners.

The Tractors could not have got off to a worse start when Johnson, in at left-back for the injured Leif Davis, was punished to the maximum for his underhit pass inside.

Campbell drove into the box and his angled effort forced Christian Walton to parry into the path of the onrushing Docherty, who put away his first goal for more than a year via a slight deflection off Dara O'Shea.

An energetic Charlton, buoyed by their quickfire opener, made life difficult for Ipswich in the early stages and it took the visitors 15 minutes to have their first shot of the game as Philogene bobbled a volley harmlessly wide at the back post.

But from then on, Ipswich took control and were rewarded when Philogene led a quick break before laying the ball to Azor Matusiwa, who teed up Furlong on the edge of the box to place with precision into the far corner.

Kieran McKenna's side carried on where they left off after the restart by dominating possession and penning Charlton back into their own half.  And, 13 minutes into the second period, Ipswich completed the turnaround.

Furlong was again the architect, drifting in behind Macaulay Gillesphey, (many Addicks were surprised to see him selected) who made a clumsy challenge to bring down the Ipswich right-back in the area and give away a penalty.  Philogene's spot-kick was straight down the middle and not convincing but somehow squirmed under Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to send the travelling fans behind the goal into raptures.

Shortly after, Philogene produced a bending effort that was beaten away by Kaminski to prevent Ipswich extending their advantage further.

Charlton's home support were enthused when the board went up for eight minutes of stoppage time but it was the visitors who came closest late on as Kaminski produced an astonishing double save to deny Marcelino Nunez from close range.

Richard Cawley commented: 'A performance that was full of spirit and a big improvement on what we witnessed at Hillsborough. Injuries to Bell, Campbell and Godden make it a double whammy alongside the loss.'

Foxes go down

Leicester City have been relegated to League One after drawing 2-2 at home with Hull.  Fans chanted 'sack the board,'

Oxford lost 0-1 at home to Wrexham but remain six points behind the Addicks.  Charlton need one point from the three remaining games to be mathematically safe.

Charlton fell back to 20th after West Brom won 3-0 at home.   However, Portsmouth lost 5-1 at Coventry and have an inferior goal difference to the Addicks.  If we draw tomorrow night we overtake them.

Football finance guru Kieran Maguire and others have questioned the case for a points deduction at West Brom.

Tractors unlikely to concede double

Charlton host promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in a vital encounter at both ends of the Championship table on Wednesday night.  The Addicks are six points above 22nd-placed Oxford United before the midweek round of fixtures and a win would put them on the brink of safety.

However, the more pessimistic Addicks see an away win more likely with Richard Cawley noting Charlton's poor possession statistics. I think that a draw is possible.

If the U's lose to Wrexham on Tuesday evening, Charlton would need just a point to guarantee safety, while if Oxford draw, victory would see Nathan Jones' side survive.

The Tractor Boys currently occupy the second automatic promotion spot but could be leapfrogged by Millwall or Southampton - or both - by the time they kick-off at The Valley.

Kieran McKenna's side also have a game in hand on the chasing pack and even a draw at Charlton would keep their fate in their own hands.

• Following their 3-0 win in October, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over Ipswich for the first time since 2001-02 in the Premier League.
• Ipswich have failed to score in five of their previous eight league games against Charlton, but have netted 14 goals in the three games they have found the net (4-0, 4-4, 6-0).
• Charlton have lost five of their past six home league games (W1) including each of the previous three; they last lost four in a row in February 2024.
• Ipswich, who lost their most recent away league game 2-0 at Portsmouth, are looking to avoid suffering successive away defeats in the Championship for the first time since April 2019 (run of three).
• Ipswich have only won one of their five league games against newly promoted sides this season (D2 L2), failing to win either of their away matches so far (1-1 v Birmingham, 3-5 v Wrexham).

Why I know nothing about football - part 2

I see that the keyboard warriors are out on social media again saying that Jones has to go.  I don't 'love' Jones: I prefer the Curbishley 'cool as a cucumber' style on the pitch, but I think that has done a job for us and deserves a chance with a bigger playing budget and better players next season.   Of course, some gloom merchants are trying to construct scenarios where we still get relegated as Oxford discover they are really Bayern Munich.

Recently I looked at how football has changed since I first watched it in 1953.  It seems to me that it has changed quite a lot in the last few years.

I don't want to get in the controversy about VAR as it is not used in the Championship, but it has revealed how marginal so many decisions are, particularly on offside.   Referees seem to me to be as inconsistent as they have ever been and there is more of the 'it's all about me' syndrome..   Now that linos are called assistant referees, I wish they were allowed to get more involved in decisions.   As it is, they ignore incidents right in front of them as the ref has told them to stick to offsides and throw ins.   And is a keeper ever going to be sent off for time wasting rather than getting a late yellow?

The new fashion is playing out from the back.   I think that to make that work you have to have really good players, especially defenders.  As things stand, it leads to too many unforced errors.  I don't think there is anything with a long ball if it is a directed long ball not a hopeful punt up field.

I do quite like the idea of a sweeper keeper as I think it is what Sam Bartram was trying to do.  At my non-league club Leamington we had the 'barmy binman' who set off on forays down the wing.  I saw him score from the half way line.

The extension of games to 100+ minutes may not the best way of dealing with time wasting and certainly calls for new skills in making substitutions.  

I never see the team training, so I lack vital information that the coach has.

What I do know something about is the economics and finance of football. Of course, there are better people working on this.  Kieran Maguire at Liverpool University is a qualified accountant and is on all sorts of media as well as regularly speaking to meetings of fans.

We would have once called the Swiss Ramble a gnome of Zurich.  He has accumulated an incredible amount of data about clubs across Europe which he subjects to forensic analysis on his Substack platform.

So, wake up and smell the coffee!  Modern football is the playground of billionaires and private equity companies.

Tough times next season

I liked Stevc 'he'll never let you down' Brown as a footballer.  I recall his stand in sessions as a keeper, for example at Villa (a great save) and at Southend United.   I also recall him getting sent off after being injured.

I am less keen on him as a pundit as I think he is a professional moaner, although that doubtless goes down well with some Addicks.

However, I think he is right that the Championship is going to be tougher next season.   There won't be any clubs blighted by massive (or smaller) points deductions.

Wolves have good financial resources and that certainly applies to one of Forest, Spurs and West Ham.  The regulator is looking at the distorting effects of parachute payments but no action yet.

Assuming that Wrexham don't get promoted, we will making three trips to Wales next year following the promotion of Cardiff City and the retention of Swansea City.

Clubs like Norwich and Birmingham City will be formidable opponents.   Only Lincoln look likely to have a small playing budget.

The owners need to dig deep or attract an additional investor.

One is never enough

Charlton moved six points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining as they drew with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Their inability to score more than goal a game cost them again.

Charlton are limping towards the end of the season, but the objective has always been to stay up and then have a clear out of lower league players.

West Brom won 2-0 at Preston, but it looks as If Leicester City are all but relegated.

Matty Godden gave the Addicks the lead just after the break, having hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

Gabriel Otegbayo tapped into an empty net to level the score after an error from Charlton goalkeeper Will Mannion, while the Owls felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty in the first half.

The result moves Nathan Jones' team up to 50 points, while the Owls have become the first team in Football League history to go 37 consecutive matches without a win.

In a match that lacked quality, Charlton were perhaps fortunate not to have conceded a spot kick when Reece Burke brought down Tayo Adaramola on the edge of the area, with the challenge looking very close to the line.

Godden had the best chance of the first half when he acrobatically flicked the ball against the crossbar from Harry Clarke's deep cross right before the break.

But the 34-year-old, who has missed much of the season through injury, broke the deadlock on 49 minutes when he chested down a flick on from Lloyd Jones, took a touch on the turn and finished into the bottom corner via the post for his second goal of the season.

The Addicks came wickedly close to doubling their lead as Sonny Carey's low strike hit the inside of the post and came back out into play.

The Owls equalised with less than 15 minutes to go as Addicks goalkeeper Mannion dropped Sean Fusire's cross when he came out to claim it, under pressure from Jamal Lowe, with Otegbayo tapping home into the empty net despite Mannion's calls for a foul.

Chastened manager Nathan Jones commented: '“I’m disappointed. In the cold light of day it is a positive point because it means we go further away from the relegation zone. But the level of performance, I expect us to be better.'

Yestreday's visit of the Super Hoops to Millwall might have seen a coming together of the two leading Charlton critics from the Spectator.  Rod Liddle actually lives up north so probably doesn't get to the rust bucket much these days.

However, Lord Young of Acton was there, having mysteriously decided to travel to Shadwell station which left him half an hour from the New Den.   He was too upset about losing the double to Millwall to direct any invective at Charlton.

Pompey overtake Charlton

Portsmouth pushed Charlton down to 19th after their 1-0 victory over Leicester at Fratton Park today.  However, as the BBC points out that puts Leicester nearer League One.  Charlton are eight points ahead of them.

With Oxford losing 1-0 at Derby, the Addicks are five points ahead of them.

Should Charlton be able to win this afternoon, they will go eight points clear.

Burke, Clarke, Coady and Godden come in. Richard Cawley talked on his pod this week about expecting Nathan Jones to go with experience for this one. Rankin-Costello, Campbell, Fevrier and Ramsay drop out. Latter not in squad, so looks to be an injury.

Hellsborough?

Charlton are unbeaten in six on the road (despite having just 39 per cent possession in these matches) and Sheffield Wednesday have not won a game at home this season. They did secure a surprise 0-0 draw away at league leaders Coventry last weekend, putting their promotion celebrations on ice. This is just the kind of scenario that appeals to the negativity and pessimism of so many Charlton supporters.

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones wants his team to be more ‘clinical’ and ‘get back to basics’ against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

He said: 'We have had opportunities to win games lately and we haven’t. We have let ourselves down on one or two little things. We have to work so hard to get chances, to get goals. We have created enough chances in recent weeks and I just want us to be a bit more clinical. If you can’t keep a clean sheet and you don’t convert your chances then that is not a good sign so we have to get back to basics this weekend.'

The Addicks will be backed by around 2,000 fans on Saturday and the visitors are set to be boosted by the return of former England defender Conor Coady after he was stretchered off and taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious on Easter Monday.

The Massives have won their last four home games against Charlton, keeping a clean sheet each time.  The Addicks have not completed the league double over the Owls since 1953/4.   Jamal Lowe has scored in both of his last two league games against Charlton, although in 2020 it was for Wigan.

Interesting that Lincoln University's student paper reckons that the Imps will have as small a playing budget as Charlton next season: https://thelinc.co.uk/2026/04/lincoln-city-finances-championship/

Shelvey's Arabian dream

Jonjo Shelvey started his career at Cbarlton, but now he is heading to the UAE to manage third tier minnows, the Arabian Falcons: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/clyjj2pjdypo

It is no clear whether falconry instruction comes as part of the package.

Tonight's results

Portsmouth had a surprise victory over Ipswich tonight with former Leamington ace Colby Bishop scoring the second goal.   Pompey are now just one point behind Charlton.

However, Blackburn lost, have now played one more game and have an inferior goal difference.

Addicks swoop for Dorking starlet

The official statement from Dorking Wanderers about the signing of Josh Herbert for Charlton: https://dwfc.co.uk/2026/04/joshua-hebert-signs-professional-deal-with-charlton-athletic/

A number of other EFL clubs were interested including Millwall, but Herbert has been training with Charlton.   His grandfather made one appearance for the Addicks - see Richard Cawley's Substack for the full story.

I still regret that Charlton weren't prepared to pay £10k for Colby Bishop from Leamington.  Accrington signed him and he is now playing for Portsmouth (and scoring against us).

Baggies deny rules breach

West Bromwich Albion are facing a possible points deduction after being charged with an alleged breach of the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability  (P&S) regulations.  The charge relates to the three years ending with the 2024-25 season, with Championship clubs allowed to lose £41.5million ($56m) over that period.

According to the club accounts posted on Companies’ House, West Brom lost £7.6m in 2022-23, £37.6m in 23-24, and £18.8m in 24-25, amounting to a pre-tax loss of £64m.

P&S allows exclusions from this total for “healthy” expenses, such as long-term infrastructure or community projects, which can be added back from the loss calculation.  This includes the Category One academy, which costs the club several million pounds per season in operating costs. Accounting for these exclusions, the breach is thought to be marginal.

Under the EFL’s regulations, sporting penalties from the previous term must be applied in the following term, suggesting any potential points deduction will be taken from this season’s total.

The EFL’s base punishment for a P&S breach is 12 points, but it is softened based on the severity. For example, the deduction is reduced to three points if the breach is less than £2m, four points if between £2 and £4m, up to 12 points if the breach is greater than £15m.

There can also be further deductions from the base 12-point penalty if the loss in the final season is less than the season before. In West Brom’s case, their losses halved in 24-25 compared to the 23-24 term, the second of the three seaso period in question. The EFL Board can also request up to an additional nine-point penalty for “any aggravating factors and any other penalty it feels appropriate”.

West Brom released a statement in response to reports of the charge on Monday afternoon.    The statement reads: “The club considers that it has fully complied with the P&S rules. The club will continue to co-operate with the EFL’s Club Financial Reporting Unit and looks forward to resolving this matter.”

Bilkul Football WBA, a company owned by American businessman Shilen Patel, completed a takeover of the West Midlands club in February 2024 from Chinese businessman Lai Guochuan.

West Brom have been operating under an EFL “business plan” that limited their football spending during the period under scrutiny, which further complicates the assessment of their case. The charge follows West Brom posting their financial figures for the 2024-25 season, although industry experts calculate that any infringement, should the charge be proven, would be a “small breach”.

According to the EFL’s financial rules any sporting punishment, such as a points deduction, must be applied the season after the breach — which would mean this season in West Brom’s case — but time is now running out, with only four games remaining in the 2025-26 campaign. A transfer embargo and/or a fine are also potential punishments.

Any club handed a so-called “sporting sanction” has a period of ten working days to lodge an appeal, which would take any final decision well into the close season. But the EFL does not publish its fixtures until June 25, raising the theoretical prospect of West Brom surviving relegation, only to be demoted retrospectively should they be found guilty and handed a points deduction.

West Brom will have 14 days to respond from the date of the official charge. The EFL regular season ends in 19 days’ time, on May 2, which may help West Brom argue that any points deduction should be deferred.

Football finance guru Kieran Maguire calculates that, when mitigating factors such as infrastructure and academy costs are factored in, West Brom’s declared loss will be about £42.6million — approximately £1.1million more than is allowable.

I doubt whether this matter will be resolved this season and any points deduction is likely to occur next season.

 

Is my glass emptying?

I am a glass half full guy, but sluggish performances by Charlton in the last two home games have been concerning.

One of my Valley friends who is not a professional moaner messaged me: '.I am getting concerned. Creating chances but not taking them will relegate us. I am sure players are confident and would say we cannot be dropped but no matter if they don’t score the team and club will suffer.'

I have always thought the chances of survival were 50/50 because we have one of the smallest playing budgets in the division.   Measuring this metric is not straightforward as what does one count?   Physios and the medical team, certainly.  The staff who prepare and serve the players' meals?   Probably.

In any event one can fit a simple two variable linear regression model to the relationship between playing budget and on pitch performance.  One doesn't even need to do any data transformations such as the logarithmic and certainly there is no need for curvilinear models of the kind used in econometrics.

Of course, there are always outliers, teams that over perform or under perform.   In the latter case this season think Tottenham Hotspur and for the former perhaps Brentford.   They are what make football interesting, but the overall model is robust.  Money talks.

Richard Cawley tries to steady the reds: 'Emotions are always high after a defeat and also the sense of foreboding. But how much trouble are Charlton in as they get ready to head to already-relegated Wednesday this weekend?

The gap to the bottom three has been trimmed to five points but Opta Analyst puts the chances of an Addicks relegation at just 3.16 per cent. Contrast that with Leicester City (86.44), Oxford United (52.52) and Portsmouth (28.92). Those latter two won at the weekend. West Brom (18.38) and Blackburn (10.58) are also below Charlton in the table.'

The fixture away to the Massives bothers me as they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  I also remember them sending us down after our first stay in the Premier League.

West Bromwich Albion have been charged with a breach of financial rules, but it is not clear when any penalties would apply.

One goal is not enough

Faced with the challenge of scoring a second goal, Charlton went down 1-2 to Preston at The Valley this afternoon.   Charlton stay 18th, but are just five points above Oxford in the first relegation position.

After he had hit the woodwork from a Tyreece Campbell cross, the returning Joe Rankin-Costello put the Addicks ahead on 18 minutes.   He finished on the volley after Carey's long throw was flicked in off a Preston defender's head.

Charlton's lead did not last long.  Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin put a looping header over Mannion on 25 minutes.

On the half hour mark, Mannion had to save from Devine, attempting to score from a tight angle.

As Preston threatened again as half time approached, Brad Pitts sliced wide from a good position.

Charlton were retreating a lot in the first phase of the second half and Fullah and Goddard were brought on to liven things up with Rankin-Costello and Chambers going off.

Charlton pushed on in an attempt to score, but opened up a glaring gap, enabling Potts to score for the visitors on 65 minutes.

The game went a bit flat.  Campbell was taken off and replaced by Miles Leaburn.

Carey went off for Berry as the end of normal time approached.

With seven minutes added on Charlton applied some pressure but a great block from Gibson denied Dykes a scoring opportunity,

Concerned supremo Nathan Jones told the BBC: .We started really well, got the goal and had a number of chances to get further ahead. But we switched off and lost shape at a set play and they scored from it. They started the second half better and we're lethargic and they score after we give the ball away.

'Then we throw everything at them and have a number of chances and can't score which is pretty much what has been happening.  The home form is concerning. My worry is that for all our play we don't have the conversion rate we need to win games. we had a number of chances today but cannot score.'

The 'Preston Plumber'

Preston North End are the very definition of a mid-table Championship club and that's where they are ahead of tomorrow's fixture, just above us in the table: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/12/preston-need-to-do-better-but-few-signs.html

When I first started supporting Charlton in the 1950s, a visit by Preston was the cause of some excitement as one of their players was Tom Finney, the so-called 'Preston Plumber' because of the plumbing business he ran on the side and eventually retired to.

I'm not sure that I ever saw Finney as in my first year of support we played on a Thursday and the following year he was in an England v. Scotland game.  Finney was a versatile attacking player who could operate as centre forward or on either wing.

Preston were once known as the 'Invincibles' as they dominated the Football League when it was first founded, becoming the first team to win the 'double'.  I visited the football museum when it was originally located there before it moved to Manchester.

At the beginning of the season I forecast this game as a 2-2  and I will stick to that prediction.  They are the away draw specialists of the Championship, having drawn nine games on the road.

Preston had a strong start to the season but one win in 12 league matches between mid-January and mid-March derailed their play-off prospects.  They are now third from bottom in the form table.

They head to the Valley unbeaten in three, taking five points from a possible nine. It will be their first visit to SE7 since November 2019, Paul Gallagher scoring in a 1-0 win.

“They have been a Championship side for as long as my memory goes back,” Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley. “They are a really good Championship side. They recruit well and are very structured in what they do. They have been able to build on a solid foundation for years and years - I remember Alex Neil’s Preston with the players they had like Gallagher, Ben Pearson and Daniel Johnson.

“They either nearly, or did, get to the play-offs. They have been that type of side that has been a really good Championship side for years and they continue to do that.

Getting his excuses in early, Jones said: “They are a very tough test, are very experienced and have threats in certain areas. It is another difficult Championship test.”

Manager Paul Heckingbottom has condemned racial abuse directed at former Addick Thierry Small: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4g89jkwp1vo

The Preston supremo is also expecting a 'tough contest in SE7: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2026/april/09/-long-may-it-continue----hecky-previews-gentry-day-at-charlton/

Charlton fans should be aware that 'Gentry Day' is when Preston fans commemorate fellow fans who have passed away.

According to CAS Trust, Preston rely on crosses to create many of their chances: https://www.castrust.org/2026/04/the-gentlemen-of-preston/

A ray of realism from Ramsgate

Fanzine editor and Ramsgate-based fan Rick Everitt seems to have overcome his fear that Charlton would repeat their unanticipated collapse in 1972: https://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2025-26-blogs/8-4-ghosts-of-1972-can-t-frighten-jones-s-battling-side/

The Rickster admits that it's been a hard watch at time, but says that no one has really let us down, even scapegoat player Tyreece Campbell.   He points out that the Championship is a very different place from when we left it, i.e., much tougher.

The veteran fan has maintained a dignified silence in the face of attacks from Super Hoops top fan Lord Young of Acton, albeit that the noble lord was briefly distracted by having to explain away his presence in the Epstein files.

Realism doesn't go down well with some Charlton fans so it is interesting to see this favourable comparison between the Addicks and Birmingham City by a neutral commentator: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/incredible-charlton-athletic-claim-emerges-as-birmingham-city-comparison-made/

Kanu nominated for award

On loan Charlton striker Daniel Kanu has been nominated by Walsall for the League Two Young Player of the Season award.

He has scored 18 goals for the Saddlers this season.

This doesn't mean we should bring him back to The Valley.  League Two defences are more porous, although he could well interest in League One.

It's Super K day in the EFL

Four Four Two have published their list of the top EFL players.   No Charlton players are listed (unlike Bromley) but Lloyd Jones makes the 'honourable mention' category.

There is, however, a special feature on the Lisbie twins: Kyreece and Kyrell, the sons of Super Kev.

Kyreece was due to move from Colchester to Reading in January. but the move was stopped by prospective purchasers of the U's who in the event didn't seal the deal,   His trajectory was Cray Valley Paper Mills, then Brentford 'B'.   By the end of January he had fifteen goal involvements with the U's.

Kyrell has started to make waves with League One Peterborough.   'His speed, the way he carries the ball into space and the ability to play off either flank make him a real threat, leaving defenders unsure if he'll move outside and cross, or cut inside to shoot.  Adding an end product has attracted other clubs.'  Sign him up?

Feel the difference

I am always amazed by how confident the keyboard managers feel about telling the manager what he should do in terms of selections, tactics and substitutions.

I have been watching Charlton since 1953, albeit with a gap in the middle when I was bringing up a family of three in the Midlands and we had left The Valley.    Yet I feel that I know little about football (other than the economics and finance and even there I am outpaced by chartered accountants).

I think that the periods when I watched football in the 1950s and the last few years are particularly irrelevant.   Let's start with the 1950s:

• The pitches were atrocious and the game was played with a heavy leather ball  A key skill was to skim the ball across a puddle.
• Training was a joke   Players were denied the ball as it was thought it would make them hungry for it at the weekend.  Training focused on running up and down the East Stand steps or round the pitch supervised by trainer Trotter wearing a white coat he had probably borrowed from the pharmacy counter at Boots.   There were even 'training walks'.
• Players weren't that fit anyway.  No one had any idea about nutrition and players would often have a fag at half time.
• The formation was set up as 2-3-5.  The full backs were defenders and often cloggers   There were two wingers up front, but the role of the wing halves was nothing like a modern midfielder.
• Keepers were supposed to stay rooted to their line and Bartram got criticised as a showman because he anticipated the modern sweeper keeper.   Keepers had far less protection and players were allowed to shoulder charge them.
• Referees weren't very fit and Jimmy Seed thought that a lot of them always favoured the home side. Nevertheless, my mother was convinced that there was a referees' conspiracy against Charlton and was always ready with a shout of 'dirty red', followed by an invitation to the referee to make a quick return to his home town (usually 'oop north).

Where was Kaminski yesterday?

Thomas Kaminski was not in the squad yesterday.   Richard Cawley asked Nathan Jones about his absence and got the reply, 'He fell over and couldn't travel.'

Somewhat surprised, the relentless journo repeated the question and got the same answer.

My first thought was that it reminded me of when Feesh had been sampling his collection of red wines and fell into his glass coffee table, sustaining quite serious injuries.   I should add that Feesh has made it clear that those days are over.

I am sure that Kaminski keeps away from alcohol, but there has been speculative comment that he had a hissy fit about being dropped.  I am sure that he is too professional for that, but the explanation offered by the manager is odd.

One fan suggested that if he had thrown his toys out of the pram he should be let go.  Mannion was doing a good job and we could get a second keeper more cheaply.

I know that I am getting a bit obsessive about QPR, but you can't open a newspaper or magazine without some minor celeb droning on about them.  This morning it's Giles Coren in his Times column celebrating their weekend win over Watford

Apparently Louis Theroux is also a fan but he and Lord Young of Acton are daggers drawn over politics but agree a truce when they are at Loftus Road.

Charlton take something from the Hornets' nest

Charlton drew 1-1 at Watford this afternoon, remaining 18th in the Championship.  Matty Godden scored the opener for Charlton in the second half after his introduction.   Godden had apologised for failing to take a scoring opportunity against Bristol City.

Unfortunately the home side equalised, but it was generally agreed that Will Mannion had a good game.

It was a lively start at Vicarge Road.  Tyreece Campbell, back in the side, got to the byline and dug out a cross but Lloyd Jones couldn't get over it and his header goes into the Rookery End behind the goal.  Coady was also back in the side which should please some online managers.   Unfortunately, he had to be stretchered off after a ball hit him in the face in time added on ihe second half.   {He has been discharged from hospital and given the all clear).

At the other end, Nestory Irankunda cuts inside and unleashes a terrific strike with his left foot which was brilliantly tipped away by Addicks keeper Will Mannion.

Charlton started the stronger and hit the post through captain Greg Docherty's close-range header.

Watford struck the woodwork too when Imran Louza's cross bounced off the bar before Mamadou Doumbia's strike just before the break was disallowed for an offside in the build up.

Godden scored his first goal of the season in style by controlling the ball on his chest in front of goal and swivelling to angle in a fierce finish, giving the Addicks hope of a league double in the fixture for the first time in 30 years.

Irankunda had other ideas, cannoning a piledriver off the bar and forcing Mannion to tip his shot away either side of his scintillating fourth goal of the season, continuing the 20-year-old's splendid form after netting twice for his country against fellow World Cup participants Curacao six days ago.

Mannion stopped a Louza shot while Goglichidze and Mattie Pollock sent headers wide as Watford pushed for a winner, before Coady's misfortune caused both sets of players to show their concern for the on-loan Wrexham defender.

Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London: "It's a good point. Watford have outstanding individuals who can change and win a game - players who have cost millions, talented individuals from all over Europe.

"When we got the goal, they made a plethora of positive subs. We found that difficult to contain but we didn't give them any clear-cut chances and, when they shot from distance, Will Mannion had a wonderful game.

"We need to get a win very, very soon, so it just settles everyone down and we can start planning. We'll probably have to lose every game to be embroiled in anything, but the message is to finish the season strongly."

Charlton parsimonious on agent fees

Charlton Athletic paid £904,698 in agent fees between February 4, 2025 and February 2, 2026 - with only Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn spending less out of clubs in the Championship, reports Richard Cawley.

Birmingham, promoted as League One champions last season, paid £1,996,502 while Wrexham, who were runners up, splashed £3,660,584.

Ipswich Town, beaten 3-0 by the Addicks at Portman Road earlier this season, topped the spending charts with a whopping £11,738,920.

Charlton paid £430,596 in the same period between 2024 and 2025.

Clubs and fans don't like paying out fees to agents.   Intermediaries may be necessary to the functioning of many markets, but that doesn't make them popular (think estate agents).

Charlton have clearly been cautious, but it also reflects their constrained budget compared with Championship rivals.  Yet this never enters into online debates about the performance of Nathan Jones as a manager.

Hornets fear their sting may not be enough

Current Watford boss Ed Still has said that the 2-1 defeat for the Hornets at Loftus Road on Saturday effectively ended their promotion hopes.  They no longer had a realistic chance of getting into the play offs.

Still called on his side to bounce back against Charlton on Monday, even though it might be too little, too late.

Watford struggled to create chances against the Super Hoops, although they scored a spectacular goal from a free kick.

The Hornets are just a few places above Charlton in the middle of the form table.    Their home record is better than their away record, having won ten, drawn six and lost just four at Vicarage Road.

Having been unbeaten in seven league games against Charlton between 2006 and 2012 (W3, D4), Watford have now lost four of their last six against the Addicks (W1,D1) 

Following their 1-0 win in August, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over Watford for the first time since 1995-96. 

Watford have alternated between not scoring (4) and scoring (3) in their last seven home league games.  Charlton are unbeaten in their last five away league games (W2, D3), having been winless in their previous nine on the road (D3. L6).

Watford have been plagued by a lack of inconsistency and an inability of their key players to score.

Veteran Charlton supporter Rick Everitt looks on the bright side of life: 'Charlton have only won twice at Watford in the last 50 years - 4-3 in 2013 and 2-1 in 1996 - but haven’t visited since the infamous 5-0 thumping in 2015, although they picked up three away wins and two draws there from 1971-74, all of which I saw (23rd visit tomorrow!).'

BTW, Lord Young devotes his Spectator column this week to the travails of being a QPR supporter, at least the space isn't used for another attack on Everitt: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-travails-of-supporting-qpr-apply-to.html

A contrast in managerial styles

It's unusual to see Charlton's game the lead on the front page of The Times sports section or to see a two-thirds of a page report above that on Millwall's victory at Boro.  The explanation was, of course, Roy Hodgson.

The Times did note the contrast in styles between the two managers.   'The home manager. Nathan Jones, well known for his antics, bellowed instructions from the touchline.  Hodgson, by comparison, only reacted when he needed to, gesturing to his players with hand movements about key tweaks he wanted to see from them.'

A post match mystery was the appearance of Rick Everitt in the press room after the game.  He had been absent for more than 20 years.  He was, of course, for some years sports editor of the much lamented Greenwich Mercury.  He even game me the occasional assignment covering youth FA Cup games in the Midlands.

One rumour was that he has been signed up by The Oldie as their football correspondent.   Others have suggested that attacks on him in the right wing Spectator have given him a role at the New Statesman.

More prosaically he may have been signed up by the Isle of Thanet News.

Shipshape and Bristol fashion

Charlton went down 1-2 to Bristol City at The Valley this afternoon.  They started brightly enough with a great effort by Harry Clarke, but then Scott Twine put Hodgson's heroes ahead.

Last ditch Dykes equalised on 29 minutes with the assistance of Kelman.

The visitors then went ahead from a free kick delivered by Scott Twine.   Noah Eile was able to score after Mannion fumbled the ball.

Charlton seemed lethargic with the crowd of nearly 21,000 subdued.

But then a series of substitutions livened things up and there were a number of opportunities in the last ten minutes of normal time with the keeper saving with his legs from Dykes and Campbell sending the ball off target.    The keeper also had to make a great save from Matt Godden.

Ramsay had to make an excellent tackle to prevent the Robins going 3-1 ahead.

The referee behaved as if his retirement plan was with Hargreaves Lansdown as every marginal decision went the way of their works side and he was taken in by their play acting

In truth it was the usual incompetence.  We should stop sending referees to Specsavers and use a more up market optician like Bayfields.

Charlton remain 18th, eight points above Leicester City.

Frustrated manager Nathan Jones said: At the start of both halves, we were poor and that's cost us the game today.

"We work every single week on starting fast and being front-footed and in the first 50 seconds, we mess about it and give a corner away and that sets the tone.

"It was a game we could have drawn or won in the end but we didn't show enough quality in the final third and some of our defending was so un-Charlton like, it was crazy.

"The start killed us. When we're in the game, we know we're going to be strong late on attacking that end, but we're not giving ourselves a chance.

"It's a carbon copy, the last three home games, we're not learning from that and that's tough to take."