Charlton Athletic once again find themselves in a precarious position this season. They are 16th in League One following a loss to Plymouth Argyle last Saturday, and news this week suggests their manager Dean Holden has been approached for the vacant Oxford United job.
For Charlton, losing their talented manager would be just another chapter in a tumultuous season for the Addicks. The concern is significant for Charlton fans because they have witnessed a couple of years of off-field turmoil at their club.
Holden’s contract is only valid until the end of the season, but a few weeks ago there was confidence a renewal would be signed with talks arranged with current owner Thomas Sandgaard.
READ MORE:
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- The importance of ensuring Dean Holden stays as Charlton manager
Since then, there have been no updates which suggests nothing is signed, leaving him potentially tempted by Oxford’s approach.
The potential takeover of the club still looms large, the latest update was that the Danish owner had moved on to other suitors as the deal with a consortium headed by Charlie Methven collapsed. This led to a threat of legal action by that group.
While chaos reigns away from the pitch, the season is at a crossroads for Charlton. They will not be too disheartened by Saturday’s loss to second-place Plymouth, but the next two games may well determine the type of run-in the fans can look forward to.
They face Accrington Stanley, who are in 20th place, before taking on 21st place Morecambe. The gap between them and Accrington, which is now just seven points, could quite easily dissipate within a week, leaving the team scrambling for safety.
Charlton must ensure Holden stays at the club because, with him, they are in the best place to ensure safety and build from there into next season - hopefully under a more stable ownership.
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