Hopes & Fears for 2010

As the New Year approaches I have found myself thinking about what I would like for 2010 and almost inevitably I contemplate what I wouldn't want......

Hopes.....

1) Automatic Promotion; obvious for all Addicks, I guess, but interesting that my highest hopes didn't include the title. Perhaps that's a Freudian acknowledgement that it's out-of-our-reach? Maybe us Charlton fans will just be grateful for small mercies...

2) Promotion via the Play-Offs; we would all settle for second best but it's not something you want to consider when you are second in the table and have been there for most of the season. If we get toppled by Norwich, then it will obviously become much more acceptable and our track record here is decent.

3) Financial Stability; the takeover trail appears to have gone cold again. Gold and Sullivan look like they have had the knock-back at West Ham, possibly until late 2010 and yet there has been no further speculation of their supposed Plan B. I've laid out my theory on this before and will be very surprised if anything comes from them which is why I think we are back to square one. Promotion this season might improve our financial status to the extent that we can cope in the Championship but anything better than that is clearly beyond the means of the current Board and Richard Murray has gone on record to that effect. Without promotion we face another tough Summer where it's hard to see how we could avoid selling players off and starting next year with a much weaker side than we have today.

4) A decent Pub in Charlton; matchday drinking has become an increasing problem. My once beloved Royal Oak has failed to recover from the loss of Ray and Penny. The current incumbents are having a go but the character of the pub went with the disastrous re-fit and no-one has since come close to getting the right staff and the right level of staff. Local trade has also been all but killed off. My views on the other remaining drinking venues is well known but we are in desperate need of some investment and I can't see it coming in the current climate.

5) Palace and/or Millwall to go into Administration; this might appear a little negative but it would be a major boost to morale for the boot to be on the other foot after several years of us being the whipping boys.

Fears..

1) Another year in League One; failure to go up this year with no improvement in the financial position of the club could see us consolidate as a League One club. It doesn't bear thinking about although I guess the likes of Leeds have survived it...

2) Millwall in the Play-Offs; it's the nightmare scenario, especially at Wembley. We would be outnumbered 2-1 as many of our supporters decided the risk of violence wasn't worth it and they would probably beat us on the pitch as well as on the way to the stadium.

3) Losing Bailey in the January transfer window (or to long-term injury); I don't think we'll let that happen but a determined big money bid from someone desperate to avoid the drop from the PL might be impossible to refuse. Without him we would lose our driving force....thinks of Robert Lee and Scott Parker.

4) Failing to make the Play-Offs; unlikely though that looks at the moment, it's not impossible and could have a catastrophic effect on the club. If we are to drop down to third or fourth, much will depend on our response, especially if we were to lose any key players in January. The consequences for season ticket renewals etc in 2010-11 would be grim. All those comparisons with seasons tailing off under previous management etc would be very hard to live with.

5) Walsall being off; I don't subscribe to the "it would be good to postpone this one" view. We need a win and we are probably in the right frame of mind for it right now. We also need the points to hang on to second. I have also bought three match and train tickets and don't to contemplate the hassle of looking for refunds etc.

All thoughts and comments welcomed!