We have to take our comfort where we can find at the moment, so today's win at Portsmouth brought much needed relief for Charlton fans everywhere. How refreshing to start a New Year with a victory and not another morale-sapping result.
I was returning home from New Year celebrations in deepest Kent this afternoon, so missed all bar the last ten minutes of the match. I can't comment on the game but I am assured we were good value for the points once again at Fratton Park. As Charlton supporters we know all about hoodoos and curses but you have to feel a tad for Pompey who have now been beaten at home by us on seven consecutive occasions. Our record against Millwall is dire, but we haven't suffered a run like this.
The points lift us six clear of the drop zone and move us up to 16th in the table. I am pleased for the diehards who made the trip today, as I am for Dean Holden. It's not his fault he is associated with the group of desperados attempting to hijack control of the club from want-away Sandgaard. I am sure all he wants is to make a success of things until May and hopefully gain a longer contract. Whatever happens in the next four months, we cannot afford to be relegated - it would be catastrophic. We all need to get behind Holden and hope he can garner enough points to keep us in League One.
The transfer window is now open and we will soon get a feel for the metal of the would-be owners. For me, it's pretty clear than Sandgaard would not be spending incrementally if he were still in charge and not having planned his exit. Therefore, whilst Charlie Methven has a period of exclusivity to complete a takeover, I think we have to view any player moves this window as being directed and under-written by him and his paymasters. After all, Andy Scott has been recruited on a six week contract to oversee that. I expect it to be deck-chair shuffling as I have said previously, and all done within the existing pay envelope. So expect some exits to make headroom and sales of anyone we can get a fee for. That would be acceptable to Sandgaard as he will benefit financially if the takeover doesn't go through and I don't believe Methven's group will have the funding for strengthening the team - that's not the game-plan for this takeover.
No surprise to see Simon Lenahan appear at Oxford on Thursday or again today at Portsmouth. His role will become clear, I am sure, if and when Methven appears at a press conference to tell us he is the new CEO and to confirm who the owners of the club are. There must have been a spare place in the Range Rover, as Stewart Donald was also with the gang watching his second consecutive Addicks game. He couldn't be planning on getting in on the action, could he? This is going to be a hard watch.
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