Nigel Adkins named as new Charlton Athletic boss

Charlton have appointed former Reading and Hull manager Nigel Adkins.

Adkins has joined the Addicks on a two-and-half-year deal – following former manager Lee Bowyer’s departure to Championship Birmingham City earlier this week.

The East London outfit are currently sixth in the League One standings and newly appointed boss, Adkins, has told the club’s official website that they “have got a chance of winning promotion this season.”  

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me – something that has happened very quickly. I’m really pleased to be here and am looking forward to meeting the players and getting started. Said Adkins.

“I had a conversation with Thomas and he highlighted where he wants this club to go. It’s an exciting and long-term vision. Getting to the Premier League is something that we all want and something that I have done before. I want to achieve that again.

“The team got a great result on Tuesday night and now we need to keep driving on together, because we have got a chance of winning promotion this season.” 

Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard has explained his reasoning for selecting Adkins as manager was down to his “perfect experience” as the club look to replicate Adkins achievements at Southampton – where he secured back-to-back promotions from the League One to the Premier League during his two full seasons at the Saints.

“I believe Nigel is the perfect personality, with the perfect background and the perfect experience to get us to where we want to be. Both Nigel and I want us to playing football in the Premier League and I can’t wait to see us there.” Said Sandgaard.

“What I am doing with all the building blocks I am putting in place is slowly increasing the probability that we will win games. The rest of what happens is decided when the whistle is blown and the game starts. Everything I do on the inside, the infrastructure of the club and now with the new manager is to increase the probability that we’ll end up in the Premier League.”

New manager Adkins first game in charge of the Addicks is a London derby at Plough Lane against AFC Wimbledon on 20 March.