A YEAR ago Charlton welcomed new owners and said goodbye to manager Phil Parkinson.

Addicks columnist MATT FRICKER looks back at the changes which have occurred at The Valley.

IT’S been a year since Charlton Athletic Football Club were purchased by CAFC Holdings Ltd and Michael Slater became the new chairman.

At the time I remember being apprehensive about what this would mean for my team.

After all, Phil Parkinson, who had led the Addicks to a promising play-off position on a shoestring budget, was sacked exactly one year ago today following a 4-2 defeat to Swindon Town.

That loss was the Addicks’ fifth league defeat of the season and of the squad who took part in the televised humiliation, only Johnnie Jackson and Scott Wagstaff remain.

To say a lot has changed is really quite the understatement.

In 2011 we saw a club legend named manager, our worst league finish in decades, our worst winless run of all time and that was all before May!

As the season ended a number of fans were concerned Sir Chris (as supporters had dubbed Powell during his playing days) may not have been the man to lead the Addicks in the battle to get out of League One.

But as the transfer window opened in the close season, we arguably took a huge gamble and completely overhauled the playing squad.

By the opening fixture against Bournemouth, some 16 first team squad members departed and 15 new faces had arrived.

The total transfer incomings for the Addicks are currently closer to 17 out and 22 in, the most recent being the swap deal which saw Paul Benson depart to Swindon and Leon Clarke join Powell’s side.

Since August Powell’s men have been simply phenomenal.

We’ve gained 54 points from a potential 72, winning all but seven matches in the process, which isn’t bad when you consider we’ve played 24 fixtures.

Charlton’s current points tally is even more impressive when you remember the Addicks only gained 59 points in the entire 2010/11 season.

We’re currently in a stronger position than Brighton were at this stage last season and what’s more, Charlton Athletic are playing some of the best football I’ve ever seen at The Valley and we’re only in January!

There’s a long way to go in the 2011/12 season but by the end of February, when we’ll have played another 10 leauge games, we should be able to gain a realistic insight as to where our final position could be.

I hope we’ll remain in the automatic promotion places but, as we all know, a year is an awfully long time in football.

Come on you Addicks!

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