Slater: Promotion is the goal for Charlton

The Addicks begin the new campaign on Saturday week against Bournemouth with a virtually unrecognisable squad from the one which ended the last one in such disappointing fashion.

This will be Charlton’s third year in League One but Slater is convinced they now have the players to get the club back into the Championship.

When asked what he and the board expect this time around, Mr Slater replied: “It will have to be promotion, that has got to be the target.

“I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said we didn’t come to Charlton to run it as a League One club. It is losing millions and what we’ve seen for the six months is the football isn’t of the standard I know the fans want to be watching.

“This is why we are looking towards the long term in terms of the investment we’ve made in scouting and the youth.

“We knew we were going to have to support Chris in the transfer market over the summer and we are very confident we’ve brought in a handful of players who will really make a difference in this division.”

He added: “We don’t want to be playing a long ball game which is very physical because if we try that then we know there are another six or seven teams in the division who will play that game and we wouldn’t have a particular edge.

“Now we’ve got a few players who are really going to be comfortable on the ball with great movement.

“Although you’ve got to be a bit wary about friendlies, I’ve seen enough of Danny Green, Dale Stephens and Danny Hollands to know they are quality for this division.

“I think they will be competitive in the Championship as well, so I’m confident we are going to be in the top three or four. I have an expectation.”

Those expectation levels are sure to be matched by supporters and Mr Slater accepts the changes made during the summer have inevitabily led to such high hopes.

“I think so,” he admitted.

“It isn’t just the change of the personnel because everyone who supports the club knew that was coming as it was well publicised we had a lot of players coming towards the end of their contracts.

“There was always going to be a lot of activity in the summer.

“Players like Rhoys Wiggins were sought after, well regarded and seen as real quality for this division.

“Perhaps some of the players wouldn’t have been well known like the young Spanish lad Ruben Bover Izquierdo, who certainly wasn’t known to me, but there is some real quality coming through.

“We will see a much better brand of football.

“I’m convinced better performances will lead to more points and we will be significantly better this season than we were last year.”

However, Mr Slater also acknowledged things might not necessarily click into place straight away with a new team, although he added the early signs were encouraging.

“You always hope they hit the ground running,” he said.

“Stephens and Green look very comfortable together working down the right with Chris Solly. It is difficult to make an assessment on friendlies but I think it is perhaps going to take a little bit of time.

“It is always important to get off to a good start but I will call for fans to have just a little patience while the players gel.

“But if players are good enough, they should be able to work off each other pretty quickly, so I don’t have too many concerns about that.”

Despite pointing out Charlton were losing millions by staying in League One, Mr Slater conceded they could try again if things don’t work out this time.

However, failure isn’t on the agenda and the chairman is convinced the best squad in the division can now be found in SE7.

He explained: “The world will not come to an end if we are not promoted.

“I will not be happy but it isn’t going to be a catastrophe.

“When I look at the other teams in the division I don’t think there is much to be concerned about.

“Huddersfield looked very strong in the second half of last season but I’m not quite sure how much they’ve strengthened their squad.

“I don’t think Sheffield United or Preston are going to be able to mount enough of a challenge.

“It is very difficult, as we found as a club, coming down the divisions to adjust and both of those clubs have financial issues, so I’m not concerned about them.

“Sheffield Wednesday may be a sleeping giant and should be competing, but it is interesting they’ve signed a player we’ve let go and we’ve picked up Michael Morrison, who I think is a great young talent.

“Looking at the squads I think our one has got to be right up there, I really do.”

Mr Slater added: “As a chairman, you’ve got to keep level headed.

“But you look at this squad - and obviously you don’t want to put undue pressure on your management team - but we’ve got a good squad here.

“You are right about needing a bit of time to gel.

“It is good to get off to a good start but there will be a few teething troubles.

“We are going to lose games, of course we are.

“It would be nice to go unbeaten but I can’t see it happening.

“Overall I’m confident we will score more, concede less and that has to translate into more points. I’d like to say top six is an absolute guaranteed.

“I would be amazed if we finished outside the top six, I really would.”

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