Bowyer is 'over the moon'

Lee Bowyer justifiably does not like the phrase 'sick as a parrot', but that is what he understandably has been often in recent months as he tried his best to juggle with Roland's parsimony. However, he has no hesitation in saying that he is 'over the moon' at ESI acquiring Charlton Athletic from Roland: Discusses his transfer plans for January

There is, of course, a need for EFL approval, but my working assumption is that the sale would not have gone ahead without the knowledge that it could be achieved soon.

The often shell shocked but now smiling supremo told Louis Mendez: 'Once I go home, then I’ll see Matt more frequently, I’m sure. Then we can have proper conversations and see where we’re going to go and what’s going to happen. I know for sure that we won’t rush into anything because, that would be stupid of us.'

'Our recruitment, with the bodies fit, is good. We’ve got good players in the building. I’d never disrespect the players that I’ve got because we were doing really well when we had a normal amount of players that we could pick from.'

CAFC Facts and Stats has commented, 'So Duchatelet buys the football club when they were 19th in the Championship just under six years ago and sells it on today in exactly the same league position. Let the rebuilding and hard work commence from tomorrow morning.'

We must not expect overnight results. The new regime needs time to settle in and start work without being distracted by professional pessimists, moaners and oppositionists. The question of who represents fans is always a potentially controversial one given the range of views among fans, but I hope that a constructive relationship will be developed with CAS Trust.

I am part of the generation of fans that sooner or later will be going to join Sam Bartram. However, I am confident that the club is now in good hands and after some dark years the future is bright. It will take some time to repair the damage inflicted by Roland's flawed experiment, but hopefully the divisions between fans will now heal and they will work with the board, just as happened in the years after the return to The Valley and 'Target 10,000.'

Result slightly dents euphoria

Football often spoils an otherwise good day out. Charlton fans have been celebrating the sale of the club by Roland to ESI and their feeling of euphoria was only slightly dented by a not unexpected 1-0 defeat by Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium this evening.

Charlton fans stayed behind to clap the team off. Congratulations to our loyal travelling support who made the journey close to the fringes of the wilder and woollier parts of Wales.

Dhanda finished off a smart team move with a 20-yard effort to put Swansea in front after just 14 minutes. It was the 21-year-old's second goal of the season, with both strikes coming against Charlton.

Steve Cooper's men missed a number of chances to extend their lead as they dominated the first half. Swansea grew in confidence, with the Addicks giving the ball away cheaply and allowing their hosts too much time to play.

The disappointment for Swansea was that they were not further ahead at half time against a weakened Charlton side who had lost Macaulay Bonne through injury. He was, of course, playing non-league last season.

Phillips made a fine save to deny Ayew after he was picked out by Wayne Routledge, and seconds later Byers' drive crashed back off the post. Roberts also flashed a shot narrowly over the top in a first half which saw just one notable Charlton effort, Tom Lockyer heading Conor Gallagher's corner straight at Freddie Woodman.

Charlton withdrew far from fully fit Lyle Taylor at half time. According to Louis Mendez, he has suffered a thigh injury. 'It doesn't look good,' said shell shocked supremo Lee Bowyer,

Even so, the Addicks improved after the break and made Swansea work hard to hold on for a victory which moves them up to sixth in the table. Substitute Alfie Doughty, brought back from non-league Bromley, almost levelled early in the second half when he broke the offside trap and raced clear only to drag a shot just wide of the post.

Swansea suffered a setback as centre-back Mike van der Hoorn - who was making his comeback from a knee problem - was forced off injured, and their defence was almost breached moments later as the unmarked Josh Davison, also an arrival from non-league, headed wide.

Byers might have ended Charlton's revival midway through the second half but his powerful effort was beaten away by Phillips. The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages, Woodman getting down well to deny debutante Davison in the last few seconds of stoppage time.

In general, however, the Newcastle loanee had relatively little to do during the game or as local sources put it, 'Anaml y byddai Charlton yn trafferthu.'

Swansea did start to sag in midfield towards the end of the game. For Charlton it was all boy's own stuff, but the valiant efforts of the youngsters were not enough to secure a point.

It was a welcome home triumph for the Abertawe side, who had only won two of their previous 10 games on their own patch. Charlton, meantime, have now won only once in 14 matches.

Desmond from Deal welcomed the new owners: 'They will soon see that a new manager is needed and they will have the wherewithal to be able to give Bowyer a decent pay off to develop his fishing lake business in France' said the near neighbour of the Kingsdown resident.

More sensibly, Jimmy Stone commented on Twitter: 'An over reliance on youth has been synonymous with Duchâtelet's time at Charlton. The result of that was again evident tonight. A pathway for our academy is great, but throwing players in too early damages them. One of a long list of things ESI must try to put right.' Amen to that.

CAFC Facts and Stats commented, 'No league football now for nine days. Fingers crossed on one or two back from injury plus another one through the door to join Green.'

Line up for Swansea

Youngsters Josh Davison and Ben Dempsey make their Championship debuts at Swansea tonight, while Lyle Taylor starts: Louis Mendez reports from the Liberty Stadium

Swansea fans appear to be in a discontented mood at the moment with the boo boys in evidence at the last home game, a drab 0-0 draw with Barnsley, although arguably they don't have that much to complain about: Just plain frustration

Wales Online has commented ahead of tonight's game: 'A win over a Charlton side that has won just one of their last 10 outings on the road, would be enough to take Swansea back into the top six, and would also go a long way to remedying the murmurs of discontent on the terraces.'

The Swansea chairman commented: 'we all must stick together and encourage this young team to give them the confidence as they develop under Steve Cooper and his coaching staff.' The earlier than expected recall of striker Sam Surridge to Bournemouth appears to have hit morale.

Charlton are making only their second visit to Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium, having drawn 1-1 there in February 2009, when Nathan Dyer scored his first league goal for Swansea. Swansea have not lost their first league game of a new decade since 1960, when they lost 3-1 to Aston Villa.

Takeover complete

The takeover of Charlton Athletic by East Street Investments is now complete: Takeover

Presumably it still awaits approval from the EFL: there is no statement on the EFL website, but one would expect it to happen soon.

Chairman Matt Southall stated: 'most important is strengthening our links with both the fans and the Charlton community so they may understand our short-term and long-term plans for the club and how we intend to build on the amazing support and goodwill already shown to ESI.'

Matt Wright commented: 'Just one day short of six years since Duchatelet took control of Charlton. How long will it take to undo the damage caused? It's a good job Lee Bowyer has already made a miraculous start...'

No statement has yet been issued by VOTV editor Rick Everitt, but he has denied suggestions that no ownership would ever be acceptable to him, but has also stated that the fanzine will continue to state 'inconvenient truths'. Everitt has urged an early meeting between the new owners and former chief executive Peter Varney.

The Ramsgate-based fan has subsequently tweeted: 'Finally! It took fans seven years and 2.5 months to get back to The Valley and almost six years to get rid of Roland Duchatelet. The former turned into a great opportunity for Charlton and hopefully the latter will too. But that was definitely my last Charlton campaign, regardless!

He will no doubt be able to focus on his duties of leader of a minority administration on Thanet District Council. He has attracted considerable criticism, but it is my view that he has always had the interests of Charlton in his heart. I don't necessarily agree with him on all aspects of objectives, strategy and tactics, but I have no doubt that his heart is in the right place (SE7).

As for Roland, in the manner of Arthur Askey, I thank yew.

Green did not fit in at Preston

New Charlton loan signing Andre Green duplicated existing talents at Preston and this is why he did not get much game time, leading Aston Villa to loan him to Charlton for the rest of the season: Alex Neil explains why Green is leaving Deepdale

Green is a 21-year old winger who came through the Aston Villa academy: Career details

Although it always seemed likely that any loan signing from a Premier League club would be of an under 23 player, some fans were perhaps expecting something more. However, in a tweet Green said that he was excited about the challenge ahead at Charlton.

CAS Trust asks Who is Andre Green?

Forest Green Rovers, who are in bad need of attacking players, have put in a £25k bid for Leamington striker Josh March which would probably be acceptable to the cash strapped Brakes, although sell on clauses have always been an issue.

Bowyer will not just play kids in cup tie

Lee Bowyer has given an assurance that he will not just play youngsters in Sunday's cup tie against West Bromwich Albion, saying it would not be fair on them: Cup tie plans

The serene supremo said: 'I think it’s a case of us trying to get through the next two games and hopefully in the window we might bring one or two in early on so we can give them some minutes. That will be the plan. After West Brom I can always give some of the lads a couple of days off to recharge.'

Dinas Abertawe i ffwrdd

Over the past few weeks I have been chatting by e-mail to someone I knew a long time ago who then worked down Coventry fish market on a Saturday morning and was a keen Sky Blue. He now has his CBE, has retired to near Swansea and supports Dinas Abertawe. Mind you, my friend in Cardiff has both a CBE and was made a Dame Commander in very interesting circumstances.

I have to admit that I am envious of the half a dozen or so friends who made it to the Lords. When some of them have invited me for tea or lunch, I am aware that this is the plushest facility for the elderly in the UK.

I have been doing some consultancy work in Abertawe for a few years now, but found getting paid a bit of a struggle. The secret I found was to e-mail them in Welsh. Fortunately, I have two nephews from rural Ceredigion where the language spoken at home, school and work is 'the old language'. In football it doesn't seem to be used very much but, of course, the real Welsh sporting passion is egg chasing.

Nevertheless, Swansea City see tomorrow's fixture with troubled Charlton as a golden chance to secure three points. While admitting that the game will be a tough one, the mood at the Liberty Stadium is optimistic after a period when the Swans were not doing very well at home: Confident message from Swansea City man

Hope springs eternal. It has been a mixed bag of results in the Championship Relegation League today, but Wigan giving Birmingham City a blue start to the New Year today means that the Addicks are just five points off the drop zone. Even a point tomorrow would help, but Bowyer's stretched and injury ravaged squad face a tough challenge in Wales.

Desmond from Deal says: 'Mark my words! Defeat stares us in the face at Swansea and it will be down to Bowyer.'

One consolation of Leamington losing 2-1 to Gloucester City today in the A46 derby is that City was beset with moaners when they were 2-1 ahead. It's not just Charlton that has pessimists whose main pleasure is to criticise their own team.