Charlton Athletic midfielder Josh Cullen has spoken out after his manager Lee Bowyer signed a new long-term deal with the club this week.

There has been plenty of frustration surrounding the seeming lack of action regarding the Addicks' boss and his future, but chairman Matt Southall and the rest of the new board finally tied their man to a three-year deal on Wednesday evening.

It is a move that Cullen feels is crucial for the club going forward as well.

“As players you want to be at a stable club and obviously with the new owners coming in and now we can just focus on the pitch and look forward to finishing the season in strong fashion," he said folliwng the club's 0-0 draw with Fulham, reported by London News Online.

“Before I was at the club I know he got them in the play-offs, came up short that season, and the following season he got us out of League One. He’s doing a great job now in the Championship.

“The work he’s done deserves to be rewarded.”

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Bowyer managed to get the Addicks promoted in first full season at the helm of the club, having acted as assistant to Karl Robinson prior to the step up, guiding them to play-off glory amidst a host of ongoing off-field problems.

But with new owners, East Street Investments, beginning to make moves in their new venture, optimism has rapidly returned to the fan-base, and this latest move will only add to that considerably.

The club currently sit in 19th place and just six points above the relegation zone, with a huge clash at home to Barnsley coming up following the FA Cup weekend.

The verdict

What Cullen has had to say here is a crucial insight into how the Addicks have been held back so badly in recent years.

If you do not have stability, players are never going to feel settled, which will have undoubtedly played a part in them losing the likes of Joe Aribo and Karlan Grant in recent years.

For the first time in a long, long time it feels like Charlton are now in a position to move forward and at speed, although waiting until the summer to judge the new hierachy would probably be wise.