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LEE BOWYER starts the new season as he ended the last one – in limbo.
A deal for an Australian consortium to purchase Charlton from Roland Duchatelet has still not be finalised after months of negotiations.
And it means caretaker boss Bowyer will kick-off the new season at Sunderland tomorrow still not knowing how long he will be in charge.
Bowyer (right), who won six of his 12 games in charge to lead Charlton to the League One play-offs last term, said: “I thought the takeover was going to be done before the end of last season.
“I was told initially, ‘You have got three games’. I do not know when it is going to happen. It is out of my control and it is what it is.
“Roland told me the new regime might want to bring in their own people.
“Do I like it? Not really. I’d rather he had been saying ‘Look Lee, this is you in it – go and do it and get promoted’. But it’s not that at the moment. I just want to build on where we left off. We didn’t lose a game pre-season which is a good habit to get into.
“I’ve learnt I’ve still got a good set of players that are hungry and it’s been good for me to see them come together.”
The Valley has seen its fair share of demonstrations aimed at Duchatelet.
A protest group are calling for a fresh boycott of matches if the Belgian’s turbulent four-year reign has not ended by tomorrow.
It’s hardly the ideal backdrop to a season but Bowyer has at least been backed in the transfer market.
The ex-Leeds midfielder, 41, beat a host of clubs to sign Wimbledon striker Lyle Taylor and veteran midfielder Darren Pratley on frees.
Taylor said: “I hope the manager is here at the end of the season.”
SUNDERLAND boss Jack Ross still wants more – despite bringing in 11 new players this summer.
The Black Cats are gearing up for a season in League One, starting at home to Charlton tomorrow.
And new boss Ross is determined to make sure it’s their one and only campaign in the division.
Charlie Wyke’s £1m move from Bradford on Wednesday means a full team’s worth of new arrivals have joined since relegation last season and a change of ownership at the Stadium of Light.
But with more players still expected to leave before Thursday’s transfer deadline, Ross is still looking to make his title favourites stronger still.
“We still could do with a little more strength in depth in certain areas,” said Ross.
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“The window can affect things this week, if there were more outs then that would influence what we need to bring in.
“If the window closed now we are in a stronger position than we thought we would be ahead of the first game.”
Sunderland have been interested in Toto Nsiala and Jon Nolan this summer and both have handed in transfer requests at Shrewsbury.
Kilmarnock winger Callum Cooke remains on the radar too.
Ross named his new captain this week, ignoring experienced Lee Cattermole – who could yet still leave – in favour of handing George Honeyman the armband.
“Lee has trained fantastically well since I took the job, been supportive of what I have done on the training pitch, I can only talk from that side,” said Ross.
“His application and conversation, the personal relationship I had with him should remain private. I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“As long as that remains the case and he is in a good place he can be involved. I know how quickly things can change.”
Sunderland have sold 22,000 season tickets despite back-to-back relegations. The players trained at the stadium yesterday morning and the manager is focused on going up.
He said: “In terms of how I view my job, what I would determine a success to be is to get out of this league.
“I have always tried to set targets for my squads and for my individuals, and there has never been a thought in pre-season where we would readjust my targets. Right now success would be getting promoted.
“A lot of credit goes to the players who were here for the mood, the staff that were here and those I have brought here. They have immersed themselves in the club.
“I have felt a shift in the training ground, I couldn’t have asked for much more in the environment we have created. I think that would only grow if we win games.”