Peter Varney has played down talk of a Charlton return.

The former Addicks chief executive is leaving his role as Ebbsfleet vice-chairman and director tomorrow.

Varney has been involved in leading a consortium to buy Charlton from unpopular owner Roland Duchatelet in the past.

And his sudden departure has fuelled rumours that he is part of a potential Charlton takeover.

But he has distanced himself from the notion.

Varney said: “Please ignore the nonsense you may have read on social media in the last week.

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“Allow me to put the record straight on a few mischievous comments that have been made.

“I am not representing or involved with any buyer looking to acquire Charlton Athletic.

“A couple of years ago I was asked to broker a meeting with an overseas investor I had met on several occasions who was looking to invest up to £100m into the club.

“But the owner declined to take up an offer to meet me and the investor either in Belgium or London.

“He accused me of being a billboard salesman and a middleman (for the record I never sought a penny from him for the introduction) – which was insulting from someone I had never met.

“I am not retiring due to old age. I would like to carrying on working as long as I can.”

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