All I want for Christmas is a takeover at Charlton, says Parkinson
Charlton manager Phil Parkinson is just like everybody else in the country right now and has high hopes of what he may get for Christmas this year.
While most people are wondering if they will receive the latest flash gadget or electrical appliance, Parkinson is optimistic that all the talk of the club being taken over comes to fruition.
Former chief executive Peter Varney is fronting a group of unnamed investors and there is great confidence that a deal will be struck on 24 December.
For Parkinson and everyone associated with the League One side, a successful takeover could mean that their long-term future is secured once and for all.
It was only in the summer that chairman Richard Murray had to restructure the club under a new company called Baton 2010 Ltd after Charlton Athletic plc was effectively wound up with debts of more than £30million.
Parkinson, who celebrated his two-year anniversary in charge last month, has worked wonders while there has been so much turmoil off the pitch but he is all too aware of how much progress they could make if this move is completed.
He said: “I am aware that there is something going on and the club is in a terrific position for any new owners to come in.
“The chairman keeps a lot of the talk away from me and that is the best way, as my main focus is on the training pitch and preparing the team to win football matches.
“But there is a great platform in place for the club to move forward and it is probably in the strongest position it has been in the two years I have been in charge.
“The clubs that are on a sound financial footing, where the manager knows where he stands and there is a good base to build from, tend to be the most successful.
“The chairman has got the ball rolling with the restructuring last summer but if we can go a step further and get a real stable platform to move forward, then Charlton can become a top Championship club at the very least again.”
It was only three years ago that Charlton were playing in the Premier League but the resignation of club stalwart Alan Curbishley as manager in 2006 began a freefall down the divisions that they struggled for some time to recover from.
Curbishley reigned at The Valley for 15 years, yet three more coaches had come and gone by the time Parkinson was given the post in 2008. Yet the 43-year-old is providing genuine hope that the club can return to the glory days and perhaps start a new era of his own.
He added: “What Alan did here was tremendous and, having worked alongside Richard Murray, I can see why they were successful.
“Ever since I have been manager, I have been working hard to implement some of the standards and disciplines Alan brought to the club.
“I'd like to think I have a few years to stamp my mark on the club like he did. I have been in charge during a difficult financial period but I feel it is in the best position to move forward since I have been here.
“If I can start to emulate half of what he achieved here, then I will be very successful.”
So far things are going well this season, despite
having to sell a number of players last summer to help balance the books. A number of free transfers have swelled the squad, while the £250,000 signing of striker and Evening Standard columnist Paul Benson from Dagenham and Redbridge is bearing fruit as he has scored seven goals so far.
Last season Charlton were beaten in the semi-final of the play-offs by Swindon and they are challenging for promotion again this term. On Saturday, they face Hartlepool, who currently sit in fourth place in League One.
Parkinson, who has established a reputation as one of the best managers outside the top flight, is certainly not short of ambition.
He said: “Every player and every manager wants to get to the top and I'm no different. I really hope I can be the man to lead Charlton back up the Leagues because nothing would make me more proud.”
First time I've read of him talking about the takeover.
Hopefully a new owner will give him time and some financial backing as we are still in a very good position to get promoted this season.
