CHARLTON’S FALL HURT BUT IT’S NOT MY FAULT
Taylor defends decision to snub a contract extension
LYLE TAYLOR insists he is not to blame for Charlton’s relegation from the Championship.
The striker joined Nottingham Forest last week on a three-year deal having caused outrage at The Valley by refusing to play when his contract ran out after football’s restart from the Covid-19 lockdown. Taylor was not prepared to risk an injury that would have jeopardised his chances of a big move. Charlton ended up winning only two of their last nine matches and were relegated on the last day of the season after just a year in the Championship. Former AFC Wimbledon striker Taylor, 30, who scored 11 goals in 22 games last season, insisted: “I’m not blaming myself for Charlton getting relegated. I’m not happy they got relegated. It hurts. But nobody at the club blames me. I had messages saying, ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for the club’.”
Taylor had been linked with a move to Rangers before joining Forest. He said: “I was in a fortunate position where a lot of teams in the Championship would have taken me.There was interest from abroad.
“I had to weigh up what was the best move in terms of potentially playing at the highest level I can.
“People mistook that I meant I was going to go and play in the Premier League – no. I wanted to play at the highest level possible.”
Taylor came in for huge criticism when he refused to sign an extension – as did Chris Solly and David Davis, who was on loan from Birmingham.
TalkSport pundit Simon Jordan branded Taylor “dishonest”, and Taylor said: “There was a barrage of abuse nationwide for four days. I was abused for the decision I made, which is the best for myself and my family.That was tough to take.
“I thought, ‘It doesn’t matter what anyone says’. I’ve got to a position where I can call the shots rather than being told, ‘We’re releasing you’.
“I was getting abuse as a Charlton player in January when Matt Southall [then Charlton chairman] said incorrect stuff in the press.
“It was, ‘Lyle is greedy, he only wants this and he’ll never play for the club again’. I still get abuse. But I don’t care – I’ve earned this.
“I have still got a good relationship with manager Lee Bowyer. He understands my position.
“The way I play I’m one bad tackle away from an injury which could keep me out for a sustained time. I’ve worked to get to this part of the journey – I can’t risk that.”
The Addicks are still in a takeover battle which dogged their season, with Danish businessman Thomas Sandgaard closing in on a deal. Taylor said: “I feel sorry for the manager. He has had to work in ridiculous circumstances.”