Lee Bowyer admitted there were opportunities to leave Charlton after the end of last season.

Winning promotion at Wembley sent Bowyer's already high stock stratospheric and it was no surprise that his name was linked with several managerial vacancies throughout the summer.

Out of contract and with outgoing owner Roland Duchatelet seemingly reluctant to offer the figurehead the contract he wanted, and deserved, a move elsewhere looked certain.

On the 11th hour an agreement was made, and despite a bizarre announcement from the owner on the club website hours previous Bowyer put pen to paper on a new one-year deal.

Working wonders in the Championship with the lowest budget, Bowyer’s stock still remains high and his name continues to be linked with mangerial vancacies when they arise, most recently the Stoke City and Cardiff City posts.

With potential new owners East Street Investments looking to acquire the club, they’ve set out goals of tying down Bowyer his staff to long-term deals, a move welcome by the manager.

“I want the club to be successful that’s why I stayed,” he said.

“Everybody knows there was opportunities to go elsewhere and I decided to stay and hopefully that loyalty gets repaid.

“There’s been a small discussion (between Bowyer and ESI) just to say this is what we want to do.

“Tie myself and staff down, we’ll see if that happens, hopefully it does, but it’s not in our control, there’s a long way to go before that, the most important thing is the club gets taken over and we go from there.”

News Shopper: Bowyer with assistant Johnnie JacksonBowyer with assistant Johnnie Jackson

Fans await confirmation of the takeover as the English Football League have to approve the new owners before the takeover is completed.

Bowyer, despite remaining cautious, believes the takeover will occur.

“Everyone knows Roland is trying to sell and has agreed a fee,” he said.

“If this does happen then it’s a positive move for the football club which is the most important thing.

“It sounds good to me, things we are hearing are positive.

“Money to spend, new contracts, tying Lyle (Taylor) down, all these things I’m hearing, but let’s not get carried away, it has to be done first.

“I hope it does.”

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