Maybe, just maybe....

The Government are engaged in a game right now about just how severe and wide-reaching their budget spending cuts will be in the Autumn. Figures of 25%, 33% and 40% are being bandied about. It's causing all-sorts of speculation and consternation in the media and adding timber to Union bonfire stockpiles. The one thing we should know is that the figures at the upper end of these expectations are simply unachievable and won't be risked by a fledgling coalition government. No, they will look to stretch the boundaries but they want to keep us onside and take as much early medicine as they can in order to get some signs of recover coming through in year three of their term.


This has got me thinking about the mindset of the Charlton board this Summer and I am wondering if they might just have a few unexpected surprises up their sleeves. The cost cutting so far has been fairly dramatic but largely in line with fans expectations following the ultimate failure of last year and the need to keep the wolf from the door.  We are down to less than a full team right now and the costs of that and the remaining staff and running costs must be close to covered by the likely season ticket sales and match-day attendances of 10-15,000 this season?


I suspect there will be a final trimming of club staff following the "at risk" letter of redundancy that was delivered last month but with barely five weeks to go until the start of the 10-11 campaign, we must be about to bring in at least six new players. If we can re-sign Dailly and if Sam Sodje is fit enough to play again, we should have the semblance of a solid back four. Fraser Richardson remains and we have to hope that Kelly Youga is finally ready to return to the side. With Basey, Solly and Llera in reserve, we look to have the basis of a solid back-four with Robbie Elliot restored to the green shirt.


We will need goal-keeping backup but that shouldn't be a significant expense and we can always move for a loan if anything happens to Robbie. It's in midfield and upfront where we will need to strike it lucky and where we need to spend whatever money we do have (on wages). With Bailey and Lloyd Sam gone, we need central defensive cover as well as wide players on both the left and the right. A left winger was arguably missing all last season, so it would be really good to start with both this time around. Scott Wagstaff might even get a start and a prolonged spell this year but we don't even have cover on the left. 


In the striking berths we will have to see something from Akpo Sodje that we haven't seen much of thus far. Maybe he needs a proper striking partner but that's unlikely to be Deon Burton. Either because it hasn't happened so far or because Burton will take the offer of playing his final season or two elsewhere. What's for sure is that we need two new front-men and even that may require Tamer Tuna to be further brought on this year. 


So, a minimum of six in my book and I am guessing you can do pretty well in the market at around £3,000 a week right now. That would mean an additional wage bill of c £1m on a year's terms which might be achievable and give good value if it means we can be competitive again this season. Money is obviously tight but the Directors found £7m last year to sustain the challenge and you have to think they can find a million now if the club is finally close to an even-keel. Money will need to be kept back for emergency loan signings although the acquisition of Donough Holohan may well be an attempt to keep as many of the first-team squad playing for as long as possible and quicken the return of any who do find themselves on his treatment table?