After a seven year stint in the Premier League under Alan Curbishley, Charlton have in recent years experienced relegation twice and now find themselves in League One.
2009 has already seen them set a new club record of 18 games without a win, but things are getting better. The Addicks currently sit second in the league having lost one of their last 11 games and have just received a significant financial injection.
90minutesonline spoke to Grant Wyn, author of Addick's Championship Diary, about his team and his hopes for this season.
How happy are you with the season so far?
Very happy.
Because…obviously you’re in second place, but what else?
Because the financial situation of the club now seems more settled and we have not had to sell our best players.
What are you expecting from this season?
Hopefully at least a play off place.
What are your greatest fears for this season?
Losing key players in the Christmas transfer window and fading thereafter.
Charlton have just received a £7m investment from their directors. Along with this and your current form, do you think anything other than promotion, possibly even automatic promotion, will be a disappointment for many Charlton fans?
Charlton fans are realistic. Many were expecting a mid-table position or even relegation. The extra money will cover debts and provide working capital, not much more.
And what will happen if you don’t get back up this season? Could there be along stay in League One ahead?
I think we would get back in a year or two.
Who’s your best player and why?
Jonjo Shelvey, outstanding for his age.
Why he is so outstanding?
Because of his ability to penetrate opposition defences and his dedication throughout the game.
And which player would you gladly see the back of? And why?
None really.
If you could sign one player from another team in League One, who would it be and why?
Jermaine Beckford from Leeds for his goal-scoring ability.
What’s Charlton’s best terrace chant?
Semedo, oh Semedo, he comes for Portu-gal, he ****ing hates Millwall.
What half-time snacks do you recommend at The Valley?
Never try them!!
What are your best and worst memories of supporting Charlton?
The best is winning the playoff at Wembley to secure promotion to the Premiership [a 4-4 game with Sunderland at the end of the 1997/98 season which Charlton won 7-6 on penalties. It is described on the Wembley Stadium website as “one of the finest games ever seen at Wembley”].
The worst is failing to recover from relegation from the Premiership [2006/07 season].
If you could change one thing at Charlton, what would it be?
Move the bloke who sits behind me elsewhere.
Where are Charlton going to be in five years’ time?
In the Championship.