Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet was praised for his efforts in the transfer window as it was revealed it was his decision to keep Lyle Taylor.

The Belgian businessman is seen as a hate figure amongst Addicks fans but manager Lee Bowyer gave Duchatelet the credit he deserves in keeping their star striker at the club.

Duchatelet rejected a number of bids for the former AFC Wimbledon man on deadline day, resisting the chance to cash in on their prized asset who has just one year left on his contract.

Bowyer, speaking on the eve of his side’s first home game of the season against Stoke City revealed he had little say in the transfer saga that unfolded involving the 29-year-old forward.

“I know he (Duchatelet) gets a lot of stick but there’s times he needs praise and he deserves it yesterday,” Bowyer said.

“He could’ve easily taken that money.

“I don’t know how many bids they made in the end six, seven, eight, and they made a very very good offer for Lyle taking into account we paid nothing for him.

“The last one I thought we were going to lose him but the owner said no.”

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Bowyer was under no-illusions of the difficulty the club would’ve been in had they lost their top scorer from their promotion winning season last season, even if they were able to re-invest the transfer fee, believed to be around £4million, back into the squad.

The Addicks boss also sympathised on a personal level with his talisman that a big money move across the capital to Griffin Park failed to materialise.

“If we lost Lyle Taylor, then we would’ve been in big big trouble.

“He’s a massive player for us, and with the money that we pay, we couldn’t replace him, it’s impossible.

“It’s obviously a difficult situation for a lot of people but that happens in football.

“It’s not something I can control, Lyle can’t control.

“I respected that it was a move that could change his life.

“He was disappointed that things didn’t quite go a certain way, but I think he knew the situation all the way along.

“Now he’s ready to put his head down and get going again.

“I’m sure we aren’t the only club to deal with a difficult situation like this, but now the window is closed, we know where we stand and we can move on as a group.”