This for me. Just went wrong. I think the last year prior to TS’ arrival was too much, just like I think it was for Powell running the club under threat of Admin before RD took over. Can’t begin to imagine how hard it was to run a football team under the nonsense of Southall and Nimer.
Really wish it hadn’t got as strained as it has been over the last few months, but that’s done now. I’m sure fresh surroundings for Bowyer at Brum will reinvigorate him, much in the same way a new manager will reinvigorate us.
Would be great to get someone in quickly so they aren’t joining in the summer and having to hit the ground running. The clear out will be key. With Bowyer going it’s the right time to move on pretty much all this squad. Fresh start needed all round
The way he conducted himself and spoke during the RD and ESI days, whilst producing some great results for the club should never be forgotten. There won't be many better days for me as a Charlton fan as the Doncaster game and then Wembley.
For me he was never the same manager after the championship injury crisis. Not sure what happened, but I've found it very difficult to get any enjoyment from our performances since then.
Maybe a fresh start will make him find his mojo again. But it feels like the right move for both parties.
Thanks Lee, you stuck with us through some pretty tough times.
You never really had a chance to really prove your managerial credentials with us. Whether you have what it takes to make it will be seen over the next eighteen months or so. Best of luck at Brum.
As said by many, thanks for the unforgettable memories Lee, you will always be welcomed back at the Valley. As well as the obvious playoff highlights, my lasting memory of Lee is the way he instantly sparked the fans support, in my 50 odd years of being an Addick I have never seen such sustained intense support home and away, please let us keep that going when we are eventually allowed back in the Valley.
I’m actually gutted. We should never have been relegated last season. We went up with a decent squad and needed it added to but instead it was decimated. We went down and the squad got even weaker. All during we’ve had to endure owners who were even at best not interested in us and at worst threatened our very existence. But one constant was Bowyer, he could have walked but choose not to. We had one real good season with him despite the owner selling everything and anything that wasn’t bolted down. It’s a shame Tommy didn’t ride into town a year earlier.
Still surprised as I thought he’d finish up the season at least! First big appointment for TS, we have to get it right. Good luck to Bow, wish him all the best.
As usual Bart’s comments spot on. Addicks were in Bow heaven for a decent period, felt great and kept this club alive if not more so, when dark forces tried to pull it apart from neglect and worse.
Shame his luck with players seem to run out and he didn’t seem to have what it took to get more out of them, if anyone could.
In some ways Bow epitomises the best aspects of competitive football, just get the feeling that was a double edged sword on the people management side.
He put up with a huge amount and prospered, ironically sad that once things started to get better behind the scenes (at least from the outside) he began to falter, perhaps it came too late, timing is all important some times.
Fantastic day at Wembley that me and the boy and the lads will always remember which in the grand scheme of things can be the best takeaway from the whole Charlton experience.
Very sad but not surprised and Lee leaves with massive respect and gratitude.
As in politics most footballing careers end in the sack in one form or another, it’s simply the nature of the beast and ‘twas ever thus.
Bowyer nearly pulled off the biggest footballing miracle in our history by keeping us up in the Championship last season under appalling circumstances but was thwarted by not one but TWO last second winners from the Tykes in consecutive games - absolutely unprecedented.
This season the magic has gone and its best that each party moves on - it’s sad but better that than we grow to resent a man who we owe so much to.
Despite the form this season I'm sorry to see him go.
Bow initially bought a toughness and belief to the side. The chancers arrived and left leaving a trail of destruction behind them. The turnaround under TS was most welcome, but was always a bit of a scramble given the time constraints. On top of everything, there is a global pandemic and Lord knows how that has affected everybody, including footballers and managers alike.
Good luck Bow, if anyone deserves a break and a change of fortune, it is you.
Can only wish all the best. Not many of us can understand what he and the boys had to put up with before TS came through the door. Thanks for some special memories with that day at Wembley topping the lot. Gawd knows when we'll go there again.
Cheers Lee, you were so so much better than what you got at Charlton and performed miracles.
Let’s forget the undeserved abuse you got on this site by people who have no idea how football works.
The good times - When it started Northampton away and then Pompey “ Bowyer had a dream “ and finally Shrewsbury- close The next season run, Donny away early doors massive turn out , the drama of the home game, Pratleys goal, the Final Wembley stadium the best day since 98. Covid and no supporters has really not helped us and I am sure we could have got more points especially late with the crowd. good luck and I am sure you will be a successful manger . CAFC
Good luck Lee,honestly without you i probably would have lost my littleun away from football,she lost faith with the Ducktwat years,but you rekindled her love for Charlton Ahletic always the underdog,but FAMILY FC...fulfilled my dream & promise to the baby bump as she was at the time,that in my lifetime I would hopefully take her in the red & white to Wembley...well the rest is history...thanks Bows for putting up with more shite than you should have had too,but pastures new for you & again for us,no grudges from me or me not so littleun now,you took us I believe as far as you could...all the best,apart from when we play against you
All good things come to an end and I will never forget Donny away with my two youngest in the play off semi final and all the family for a rare match together for the second leg . or being at Wembley with my eldest having aborted and lost a small fortune on our 2 flights to Barbados for a last minute loopy loopedy loop loop but I’m sure you’ll be back on the Portugal golf trip in a few years and you can tell me the truth about the strange cnuts who ran our club .
I'll always have a lot of time for Lee, he reignited my interest in CAFC when it was in danger of fizzling out completely. I think what he had to put up with behind the scenes was worse than even Lennie Lawrence endured....it's gone a bit wrong this season, but I'll always wonder like with Chris Powell how he would have done with some proper backing after they got promotion.
I felt he had to go for much of the last three months, but as much as anything else my feeling was based on what the unraveling season could do to him as well as the club. Just too many things weren't working out.
I wish him the very best and a hugely successful future career.
Pretty sad that after all the crap he had to put up with,when we finally get some stability,he is not here to show what he can do under"normal circumstances".I often queried his team selection,but never at any stage did I feel he was not the man to lead us forward,I am sorry to see him go,wish him all the best,and hope we make the right appointment. I do feel over the last few months that this matter has been discussed with TS,and quite possibly we may already have Irons in the fire.
Very sad to see him go. He reconnected the fans to the club after a series of hapless managers and owners. Wembley was unexpected and relegation was unlucky. It just seemed to go pear this season for some reason. Wish him all the best in the future.
Lee, you came in when the very heart and soul had been ripped out of the club. We were playing in front of small crowds, including a nearly empty east stand. You brought the club back to life and the passion returned.
You got us promoted against the odds and the win at Wembley was one of the best days of my life. We started so well in the Championship, but the harder you worked the more kicks you received from the owners and finally a couple of the players.
Then when ESI all but put the club out of business and tried to bring in Dave Jones to sell off all the players, you stood firm and wouldn't allow it. If you had walked away the club may well have folded.
This season went pear shaped after the many injuries and I feel it right that you make a fresh start elsewhere, although I think a good long holiday is needed after all you have endured.
I wish you every future success and I will always be indebted to you.
Comments
Really wish it hadn’t got as strained as it has been over the last few months, but that’s done now. I’m sure fresh surroundings for Bowyer at Brum will reinvigorate him, much in the same way a new manager will reinvigorate us.
Would be great to get someone in quickly so they aren’t joining in the summer and having to hit the ground running. The clear out will be key. With Bowyer going it’s the right time to move on pretty much all this squad. Fresh start needed all round
For me he was never the same manager after the championship injury crisis. Not sure what happened, but I've found it very difficult to get any enjoyment from our performances since then.
Maybe a fresh start will make him find his mojo again. But it feels like the right move for both parties.
Just has that air of its best for everyone at this moment in time.
You came in, did us proud and made a lot of us fall back in love with a club we slowly grew distant from.
Thanks Lee for giving us our Charlton back. Without you, no Sandgaard.
Good luck for the future.
THANKS!!!
We had one real good season with him despite the owner selling everything and anything that wasn’t bolted down. It’s a shame Tommy didn’t ride into town a year earlier.
Fantastic day at Wembley that me and the boy and the lads will always remember which in the grand scheme of things can be the best takeaway from the whole Charlton experience.
As in politics most footballing careers end in the sack in one form or another, it’s simply the nature of the beast and ‘twas ever thus.
Bowyer nearly pulled off the biggest footballing miracle in our history by keeping us up in the Championship last season under appalling circumstances but was thwarted by not one but TWO last second winners from the Tykes in consecutive games - absolutely unprecedented.
This season the magic has gone and its best that each party moves on - it’s sad but better that than we grow to resent a man who we owe so much to.
Would of been nice to see you here for a full season with the shackles off but it wasn't to be.
Bow initially bought a toughness and belief to the side. The chancers arrived and left leaving a trail of destruction behind them. The turnaround under TS was most welcome, but was always a bit of a scramble given the time constraints. On top of everything, there is a global pandemic and Lord knows how that has affected everybody, including footballers and managers alike.
Good luck Bow, if anyone deserves a break and a change of fortune, it is you.
The next season run, Donny away early doors massive turn out , the drama of the home game, Pratleys goal, the Final Wembley stadium the best day since 98.
Covid and no supporters has really not helped us and I am sure we could have got more points especially late with the crowd.
good luck and I am sure you will be a successful manger . CAFC
or being at Wembley with my eldest having aborted and lost a small fortune on our 2 flights to Barbados for a last minute loopy loopedy loop loop
but I’m sure you’ll be back on the Portugal golf trip in a few years and you can tell me the truth about the strange cnuts who ran our club .
It may not have gone the way I hoped this season, but I will always be grateful for that over the previous two seasons.
I wish him the very best and a hugely successful future career.
I do feel over the last few months that this matter has been discussed with TS,and quite possibly we may already have Irons in the fire.
Wish him all the best in the future.
We were playing in front of small crowds, including a nearly empty east stand.
You brought the club back to life and the passion returned.
You got us promoted against the odds and the win at Wembley was one of the best days of my life.
We started so well in the Championship, but the harder you worked the more kicks you received from the owners and finally a couple of the players.
Then when ESI all but put the club out of business and tried to bring in Dave Jones to sell off all the players, you stood firm and wouldn't allow it.
If you had walked away the club may well have folded.
This season went pear shaped after the many injuries and I feel it right that you make a fresh start elsewhere, although I think a good long holiday is needed after all you have endured.
I wish you every future success and I will always be indebted to you.
Respect