Nigel Adkins appointed

Confirmation this afternoon of a badly kept secret, that Nigel Adkins has been appointed as the new Charlton Athletic manager. Rumours about Adkins have been circulating since very soon after Lee Bowyer resigned on Monday. The Bookies odds dropped to 1/6 which told you the word was out and confident money had been wagered on the 56 year old.

I think I am in at least a large minority who would not have chosen Nigel Adkins. Perhaps we were hankering after a sexier appointment. Adkins has been around but he's never really set the world on fire, particularly during his last three appointments at Reading, Sheffield United and Hull City. Someone I know said he had a 'Man at C & A' look and I think that captures my own initial reluctance. 

However, he is here now and on closer examination, you can see why Thomas Sandgaard was likely already sounding him out before Bowyer's decision to take on the poisoned challice of Birmingham City. Adkins has won promotion from League One three times previously and took Southampton from League One into the Premier League. That is clearly what Sandgaard wants so he is getting a man with experience of having done it, even if it was eight or nine years ago. I don't think he has been used to demanding huge transfer budgets either, so he looks like he can relied upon to do it conservatively.

Adkins is also a more realistic fit for us than Eddie Howe or Chris Wilder. Both of them have managed clubs like us but their most recent glory gives them a legitimate shot at bigger prospects in the short-term. Truth is, we are more Man at C & A than most clubs and perhaps Adkins will be a good match. 

Despite the social media grumbling, the bottom-line is he will be judged by the performances and results of his team. If he can get a new manager bounce, there will be few complaints and he must be looking at an outside shot at the play-offs. He was keen to remind us today at the Charlton press conference that he got Scunthorpe up via the play-offs after scraping in and seeing off Millwall in the final. That won't have been a coincidental reference to beating the Lions and in similar fashion Sandgaard answered a question acknowledging that it's still possible for Adkins and Bowyer to swap divisions this season, however unlikely that might be.

News that Adkins will be keeping Bowyer's backroom staff will also be well-received. Continuity is important and it also sends out a message that the offer of a job at Birmingham City isn't necessarily overwhelmingly attractive to everyone or even a step-up from Charlton Athletic. In terms of Johnnie Jackson specifically, it also suggests that Jacko is being measured and realistic about his own managerial development and that he perhaps recognises the value of learning first-hand from another experienced manager who has had some success in the game. That shows maturity and he will also have heard Sandgaard say that it would be a good opportunity for him in his progress towards one-day managing the club, maybe as Adkins' successor.

So for me, I think I am now happy with the appointment and will get behind the new manager. I don't expect us to make the play-offs. That was lost weeks ago under Bowyer in my mind, but it would be good to win the majority of our remaining games and put on improved performances in doing so. His first real test will be the calibre of squad he shapes during the Summer. For once it would be good to make some early transfer statements, secure the extensions of our better players and cut the chaff. How refreshing would it be to go into our pre-season friendlies with a largely completed new squad who can get game time and give us a chance to start the new season strongly.