Addicks tipped for return to top flight

As a result, many of the bigger earners have been shipped out in a cull that has also seen many background staff made redundant and the women's football side abandoned: a move that shattered Charlton's hard-earned reputation as a family club in one fell swoop.
The main departure, as expected, was that of leading scorer Darren Bent who moved to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth #16.5million. He was accompanied out by Luke Young (Middlesbrough, #2.5m), Hermann Hreidarsson (Portsmouth, free) and Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax, #680,000).
Other players who had perhaps gone stale at The Valley and whose wages had to come off the bill have also moved on. Radostin Kishishev, Bryan Hughes, Talal El Karkouri, Kevin Lisbie and Simon Walton are now ex-Addicks while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's contract was not renewed and Scott Carson headed back to Anfield at the end of his loan spell.
But there are reasons for the Addicks faithful to be positive. The club has struck a balance by retaining Matt Holland in the centre of midfield, although news that the former Irish international will miss the first six weeks of the season following a cartilage operation is an early blow for manager Alan Pardew.
Fellow new signing Luke Varney - a #2m capture from Crewe - is also likely to miss the start of the season but his arrival, along with those of fellow strikers Chris Iwelumo from Colchester and Svetoslav Todorov from Portsmouth on free transfers, sees the club with arguably greater strength in depth than they had last season.
There are also high hopes for former Dulwich Hamlet star Chris Dickson, although another year in the reserves or a stint on loan appear the most likely outcomes for him, while Pardew is still on the lookout for another striker and a midfielder.
The defence has been bolstered with the arrival of goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, the versatile Portuguese Under-21 international Jose Semedo, French full-back Yassin Moutaouakil and Leicester captain Paddy McCarthy, while midfielders Dean Sinclair and Martin Christensen have also moved to the club.
Veteran defender Chris Powell has once again returned to the south-east Londoners for a third stint, this time as a player-coach.
But just as significant for the Addicks are the players they have been able to retain. Andy Reid and Darren Ambrose are both Premiership quality but have committed their futures to the club. Jerome Thomas will also remain and could be a big hit in the Championship while Jonathan Fortune has chosen to reject a move to Stoke to fight for his place at Charlton.
Supporters may be slightly alarmed by the fact that many of the new signings look like being Championship players through and through but, after last season's haphazard approach to spending, a period of financial caution is surely warranted.
And while the sales of Bent and Young have helped balance the books, Pardew looks to have built a solid team that is more than capable of challenging at this level. A lack of strength in depth is perhaps the greatest cause for concern but with a first-choice team Charlton fans may have a bit more to celebrate this campaign than last.
Their pre-season form has certainly been encouraging, losing just one game against Portuguese side Sporting Braga. What is vital, though, is that the Addicks start the season strongly.
Saturday (August 11) sees them come back down to earth after nine seasons in the Premiership with a home tie against Scunthorpe and building up some form of momentum from day one is crucial.
The bookies have made the Addicks joint favourites - with Wolves - to win the league and the pressure is on Pardew and his players to deliver. It could be quite a ride. newsdesk@wharf.co.uk
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