Thanks Lee really sorry to see you go and appreciate all you did in dire circumstances. Had faith you could get us promoted either this season or next but that's not to be now. Wish you luck in the future and will always give you a warm welcome on any Valley return you make. Will never forget the day at Wembley which you made happen.
I've been critical of Lee, perhaps overly so, but I am certainly not glad or pleased that it's come to this. Thanks for all the good times and respect always for that period where he was the manager of a club in absolute crisis but stuck it out.
Let's not let the bad overshadow the good - that day in Wembley was, is and always will be one hell of an achievement and a day that will last long in this clubs history.
Go enjoy some time fishing LB, you deserve some time to recover.
As others have mentioned above, the 18/19 was a great season, one of my favourite seasons following the club in fact. He united the club in very troubled times. He leaves a legend in my mind.
Thanks Lee for the many good times. I think in the end you became a little burnt out as a result of holding everything together for the last 2 years. You can be proud of your contribution to Charlton's history. All the best for the future.
He's our second best manager of all time and out of those with 100+ games in charge comes top:
Manager
Period
Number of
League Games in charge
Average
points over 46 games (3 points per win)
Percentage
of games won
Mike
Bailey
1980-1981
54
73.3
46%
Lee Bowyer
2018-2021
137
69.5
42%
Jose Riga
# 1
2014
16
69
44%
Chris Powell
2011-2014
146
68.7
40%
Jimmy Seed
1933-1956
677
68.4
42%
Phil
Parkinson
2008-2011
96
67.6
38%
Russell
Slade
2016
19
65.4
32%
Alan
Curbishley
1995-2006
450
65
38%
Steve
Gritt and Alan Curbishley
1991-1995
184
64
39%
Jimmy
Trotter
1956-1961
216
63.7
39%
Karl
Robinson
2016-2018
63
62.1
35%
Alex
MacFarlane
1925-1928 and 1928-1932
292
60.7
37%
Andy
Nelson
1974-1980
248
59.5
33%
Frank Hill
1961-1965
157
58.3
34%
Eddie
Firmani
1967-1970
117
57.8
31%
Bob
Peeters
2014-2015
25
57
24%
Alan
Pardew
2006-2008
83
56.5
31%
Walter
Rayner
1921-1925
168
56.1
30%
Alan
Mullery
1981-1982
42
55.9
31%
Theo Foley
1970-1974
180
54.9
32%
Lennie
Lawrence
1982-1991
357
54.6
30%
Albert
Lindon
1928 and 1932-1933
44
54.4
34%
Guy Luzon
2015
34
52.8
29%
Bob Stokoe
1965-1967
89
52.2
28%
Ken Craggs
1982
15
52.1
33%
Jose Riga
# 2
2016
20
46
25%
Karel
Fraeye
2015-2016
13
35.4
15%
Ian Dowie
2006
12
30.7
17%
Les Reed
2006
7
26.3
14%
For me this season was much of a muchness with 2019-2020: energetic highly motivated start, slump into relegation form, players dropped and moved on, replacements often mediocre. It was time for him to go, and I suspect his record will take some beating.
Good luck Lee (apart from when your new teams play us). Well done for sticking with it through some very tough times. Good time for both him and us I think, and I am pleased it has been his decision.
Seconded. (all of it, but especially the last bit)
Too many fans have underestimated his achievements with us. Whoever comes in will not have to deal with the extraordinary issues and obstacles he had to face. I really hope that Thomas has received wise counsel from Roddy and Mumford on what comes next. And that he gives whoever takes over the best chance, by taking himself off Twitter.
All the best Lee in whatever you do going forward, i am sure that the Wembley Final will stay in the memories of all CAFC supporters for ever, and personally, thanks for sticking with us through the very long and protracted dark times we all endured, and showing what Charlton meant to you. I for one will give you a standing ovation next time you visit The Valley, Good luck Lee.
I said it was the end of an era two weeks ago which was a tad prescient, but it was obvious, that Lee Bowyer was struggling, and he and Cafc needed to thank each other and move on.
Semi final, followed by play off winners, then the nightmare of relegation and this season which has been as flat as a pancake. LB will have learnt so much, on and off the pitch.
Lee Bowyer will get his mojo back and I have always shown him respect despite feeling he had lost his way.
Great memories of Wembley.
The next chapter starts for Cafc and Thomas Sandgaard will show his intent with the new manager.
He gave us some great memories. Spending the play off final with my boys at Wembley was a really special time. The play of semi was an epic as well. Bowyer gave us hope and something to be proud of again.
The time to go was right, and despite him apparently resigning for another job, he has saved any real lasting damage to his Charlton career. Shame it didn’t work out. Despite wanting him to go weeks ago, I did feel a bit sad when I heard the news.
Good luck to him in his next role, and he will certainly be getting a clap from me when he returns to The Valley.
I'm glad he was never sacked. He didn't quite manage to overtake Powell as my favourite manager in recent years, and Powell being jogged on by the Rat still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The reality is that last season Bowyer really was the only thing that stood between us and a total collapse and downward spiral. I doubt Thomas would have been quite so willing to take over a basket case that wasn't even running itself properly on the pitch, and the reason we're able to be competitive this season at all is because we had Bowyer and Gallen in who could put together a squad in short order and make sure we never had a point where we were truly dead in the water. Bowyer stuck through Roland, Southall, Nimer, Elliott and Farnell, and even if results weren't as good this season as we would have liked, we really should consider how lucky we are that we get to squabble over whether or not we should be making the play-offs this season when in September we were all glued to a court case that could have decided whether we got to go on existing. Bowyer really was the only positive during our darkest period - our last collective outpouring of joy before Sandgaard took over was Bowyer finally signing a new contract - and I'm not going to forget that. It's a shame that he doesn't get to then take us back up the leagues, and things weren't looking good in the past few weeks, but any future success if we get it will be had on the back of a foundation laid by Bowyer doing an incredible job in impossible circumstances while the people who were meant to safeguard our club attempted to destroy it. Thanks Lee.
Thank you for giving your all Lee and for putting up with more sh*te from some of those you were forced to work for than was remotely reasonable. Some very happy memories were had. Good luck in your career!
For me, he leaves with a net positive record. Yes, the last few months have been poor, but he did a well above average job to get us out of League One and almost keep us in the Championship. If anything, the more favourable times under TS worked against him; expectations are that we get out of this division at the first attempt. The next manager will have the same expectations, but fans of Ipswich, Doncaster, Sunderland and Portsmouth all have those same expectations. Good luck to Lee.
Lee’s departure puts me in mind of Kevin Keegan leaving England. Lee is certainly not a bad manager and will get other work, but like Keegan the concinnity of circumstances for Lee at Charlton right now are not in very much harmony. Very best wishes for the future Lee, I think when the dust settles your departure will look civilised and probably appropriate.
Shame how it ended, but some great memories along the way and his record is actually pretty good over his time here, must be up there in the top 3, made all the more amazing when you consider the circumstances he had to work under for the majority of his time.
He'll always receive a warm welcome I'm sure whenever we next play against a team he manages.
Thank you Lee for putting the passion and fight back into our club. Taking us to Wembley and giving us all a fantastic day out, unluckily relegated after having hands tied behind your back, bringing in fantastic players. Gutted you are going, the grass ain’t always greener on the other side and now those in the out camp might just realise what he did do.
Very sad to see you. Brought back the best atmosphere to the Valley in years. The Buzz around the place in the run in of the 18/19 season was incredible. That Donny semi final was probably the best atmosphere for a Charlton game that I've ever been at. That team was something special we played some excellent football all season. Wembley! What a day that was.
Then there was that run at the start of the Championship season - showed what he could have done with a little backing.
The events of Jan last year the fake takeover and the conmen trying to destroy the club had a greater impact on him than he would probably admit. I was hoping that he would have a fresh run at it from the summer but seems its not to be.
Good luck Lee, always remember that day at Wembley and the games at Charlton that led up to the playoffs. The team selections of the past few months have been a bit odd, and unsettled, but do we ever know the 'issues involved' and players fitness etc. Always loved the idea of having a manager that was one of 'own'. Hope Thomas gives Jacko a chance to prove himself as manager
Probably right for everyone for him to leave the club now. However, given that he managed the club under the dead hand of Roland and then under an even worse bunch of shysters, what he achieved was remarkable. Last season he had to deal with probably the worse injury crises in my 55 years of supporting Charlton, compounded by Chelsea recalling probably his best player. Despite that, it was only in the last few minutes of the season that we were relegated. This year we started off very well, with a run of clean sheets, but the near simultaneous loss to injury of our first choice centre back pairing has caused us to leak too many goals ( although we are still in touching distance of the play offs ). Despite all the bad luck he leaves us in much the same position that he found us and with many happy memories.
I do hope that this is the case and the respect is not lost despite this poor season.
He has my respect and thanks. Thanks for connecting with the fans whilst the club had neglected us for a few years Thanks for building a pretty decent team and getting us promoted. Thanks for letting my young kids hear a Valley crowd singing Lee Bowyers red and white army. I was struggling to keep my eldest interested in Charlton before LB, but thanks to him the boy got on board again. He will be gutted like me that Bows has gone. Mixed emotions today.
Thank you Lee for sticking with the club when it would have been completely understandable for you to walk away for your own health. I will never forget that day at Wembley and the great times you gave us. All the very best for the future!
Sorry to see you go, Lee. You stuck with us through one of the darkest times this club has been through and for that alone you deserve nothing but respect - there were times when it was you holding everything together. Good luck wherever you go (which sounds like it will be Birmingham City). Always a welcome at the Valley for those who fought for the future of CAFC and didn't give up.
My memory of supporting Charlton is a small amount of extreme highs and lows that I will remember forever over the 99% of mundane and forgettable experiences. Lee gave us all one of the best at Wembley and I’m eternally grateful, thank you. Good luck and I hope you have a successful career wherever you go.
Comments
Let's not let the bad overshadow the good - that day in Wembley was, is and always will be one hell of an achievement and a day that will last long in this clubs history.
Go enjoy some time fishing LB, you deserve some time to recover.
Good luck, Lee.
Manager
Period
Number of League Games in charge
Average points over 46 games (3 points per win)
Percentage of games won
Mike Bailey
1980-1981
54
73.3
46%
Lee Bowyer
2018-2021
137
69.5
42%
Jose Riga # 1
2014
16
69
44%
Chris Powell
2011-2014
146
68.7
40%
Jimmy Seed
1933-1956
677
68.4
42%
Phil Parkinson
2008-2011
96
67.6
38%
Russell Slade
2016
19
65.4
32%
Alan Curbishley
1995-2006
450
65
38%
Steve Gritt and Alan Curbishley
1991-1995
184
64
39%
Jimmy Trotter
1956-1961
216
63.7
39%
Karl Robinson
2016-2018
63
62.1
35%
Alex MacFarlane
1925-1928 and 1928-1932
292
60.7
37%
Andy Nelson
1974-1980
248
59.5
33%
Frank Hill
1961-1965
157
58.3
34%
Eddie Firmani
1967-1970
117
57.8
31%
Bob Peeters
2014-2015
25
57
24%
Alan Pardew
2006-2008
83
56.5
31%
Walter Rayner
1921-1925
168
56.1
30%
Alan Mullery
1981-1982
42
55.9
31%
Theo Foley
1970-1974
180
54.9
32%
Lennie Lawrence
1982-1991
357
54.6
30%
Albert Lindon
1928 and 1932-1933
44
54.4
34%
Guy Luzon
2015
34
52.8
29%
Bob Stokoe
1965-1967
89
52.2
28%
Ken Craggs
1982
15
52.1
33%
Jose Riga # 2
2016
20
46
25%
Karel Fraeye
2015-2016
13
35.4
15%
Ian Dowie
2006
12
30.7
17%
Les Reed
2006
7
26.3
14%
Navigated the club through some very difficult times, I think only Lennie Lawrence had to cope with worse than you did
Wembley 2019 will always be the highlight for me
You leave with your head held high, which can’t be said for many Charlton managers post Curbs, apart from Sir Chris
Too many fans have underestimated his achievements with us. Whoever comes in will not have to deal with the extraordinary issues and obstacles he had to face. I really hope that Thomas has received wise counsel from Roddy and Mumford on what comes next. And that he gives whoever takes over the best chance, by taking himself off Twitter.
I for one will give you a standing ovation next time you visit The Valley, Good luck Lee.
Semi final, followed by play off winners, then the nightmare of relegation and this season which has been as flat as a pancake. LB will have learnt so much, on and off the pitch.
Lee Bowyer will get his mojo back and I have always shown him respect despite feeling he had lost his way.
Great memories of Wembley.
The next chapter starts for Cafc and Thomas Sandgaard will show his intent with the new manager.
Good luck to him in his next role, and he will certainly be getting a clap from me when he returns to The Valley.
Very best wishes for the future Lee, I think when the dust settles your departure will look civilised and probably appropriate.
He'll always receive a warm welcome I'm sure whenever we next play against a team he manages.
Very sad to see you. Brought back the best atmosphere to the Valley in years. The Buzz around the place in the run in of the 18/19 season was incredible. That Donny semi final was probably the best atmosphere for a Charlton game that I've ever been at. That team was something special we played some excellent football all season. Wembley! What a day that was.
Then there was that run at the start of the Championship season - showed what he could have done with a little backing.
The events of Jan last year the fake takeover and the conmen trying to destroy the club had a greater impact on him than he would probably admit. I was hoping that he would have a fresh run at it from the summer but seems its not to be.
Thanks for everything Bow.
Hard work starts after the last game....(ideally before then but you can’t have everything).
Good luck to him.
He has my respect and thanks. Thanks for connecting with the fans whilst the club had neglected us for a few years
Thanks for building a pretty decent team and getting us promoted.
Thanks for letting my young kids hear a Valley crowd singing Lee Bowyers red and white army. I was struggling to keep my eldest interested in Charlton before LB, but thanks to him the boy got on board again. He will be gutted like me that Bows has gone.
Mixed emotions today.
Good luck Bows.
Good luck wherever you go (which sounds like it will be Birmingham City).
Always a welcome at the Valley for those who fought for the future of CAFC and didn't give up.