CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Last season was a real wasted opportunity, but probably as much as we could have expected given the long- awaited resolution of the club’s ownership in late September. The big talking point among the fans is our squad’s depth, and whether it will be strong enough to deliver the very bullish predictions of new owner Thomas Sandgaard.

I won’t be happy unless Charlton are promoted. League One has some sizeable clubs, whose fans will think the same, but we can’t afford to hang around at this level or the current positivity will dissipate. Our most underrated player is

Conor Washington – he impressed me last season and we missed him when he wasn’t available. Look out for centre- back Charlie Barker, who in September made his debut at 17. Didn’t look out of place. The one change I’d make would be recognising that rebuilding support in Kent ( plus south- east London) is vastly more important and realistic for Charlton than looking overseas.

Save the date for Ipswich away on April 30. The last game of the season, with both clubs hoping it’ll also be their last in League One. The best thing about matchday at Charlton is seeing the groups of home fans streaming down Floyd Road in the hour before kick- off – whether or not they stop to buy my fanzine, Voice of The Valley! The ground I’m most looking forward to visiting is Morecambe’s on a November Tuesday. What’s not to like? We’ve never played them.

Other clubs’ fans don’t know that we’ve got more fans 60 miles away on the Kent coast than in London, barring the south- east boroughs.

Our key player will be Jayden Stockley [ below], whose loan, now made permanent, from Preston proved better than his career record. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that he defied expectations. Nigel Adkins [ above] only arrived in March, but quickly made an impression. He wasn’t many supporters’ first choice – maybe he should have been. We’ll finish in the top six.