Charlton’s off-field instability risks entirely undoing manager Dean Holden’s progress on the pitch.

The positive for the club is that both Holden and Thomas Sandgaard, who continues to remain the owner, look set to discuss an extension of the manager’s contract.

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Holden spoke to South London Press and said: “I’m sure over the weekend talks will begin.

“We have not yet started the talks on that.

“Thomas has indicated to my representative that he wants to get a deal sorted quickly.”

As the threat of legal action against Sandgaard from the consortium, who had struck a deal to buy the club for £8.5 million, brews under the surface, the distraction of losing their talented manager would be even more destabilising.

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Charlie Methven, the former Sunderland director, was leading this consortium and they believed they had a deal before a late U-turn from Charlton's Danish owner. 

More pressingly, Charlton play Derby, who are six places boave them in fith, on Saturday. The last time they played each other Charlton grabbed a 1-0 victory in August, but since then so much has changed.

Since Holden took over at Christmas, he has led the side to a respectable five wins, one draw and three losses and jumped up to 11th in the table.

 

Reports earlier this week suggested a new bidder, Marc Spiegel, was prepared to pay more than the £8.5 million the group led by Methven are believed to have agreed, but nothing fresh has emerged since. The silence brings unhealthy speculation.

So much of good ownership is about getting good results, and Charlton must be hoping the team continues to improve on the pitch.

The club is looking up, playing better football and getting results, but the mess off the field could derail this.