Last roll of the dice

The Board of Charlton Athletic gritted their collective teeth yesterday and handed Phil Parkinson the funds necessary to strengthen the squad yet again in a final bid to secure promotion. Three, yes three, new faces have arrived at the club in the wake of injuries to Elliot and Burton; goalkeeper Tony Warner joins from Hull, Matt Fry from West Ham and we also have the unlikely signing of Brighton's Nicky Forster.


35 year-old Warner has had more clubs than hot dinners and made by far his most appearances in goal for Millwall. Not sure how he would feel playing against the Lions in the play-offs? Matt Fry is a 20 year-old defender on West Ham's books who made a number of loan appearances for Gillingham earlier this season. That leaves ageing Top Gun, Nicky Forster, who has also done the rounds. Most notably he's featured in protracted spells for Gillingham, Brentford, Reading and Brighton helping himself to goals wherever he has been. 


My guess is that Tony Warner has been bought to enable Parky to demote Darren Randolph once again. I hope I am wrong here because I believe Randolph deserves his chance. Matt Fry's signing is a curious one because we look to have enough in defence to survive the remaining fixtures. Forster's is clearer cut but I am left wondering whether any 36 year-old striker is ever capable of getting more than a handful of goals. Deon Burton disproved this theory early on this season but has reverted to type, although he would , no doubt, point out that he's been playing with a hernia for months. Having said that, I'd rather have a Forster than a Mooney at this stage in the season when we need goals now, not in ten games time.


The "no-more-loans" brigade have their next batch of complaints ready-made but I, for one, have to applaud the Board for their courage and their commitment to this season's campaign. Shame it hasn't quite been matched in all other quarters.