Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has confirmed that he's meeting with Matt Southall tonight, ahead of the club's takeover by East Street Investments.

The reign of Roland Duchatelet is nearing the end as East Street Investments are awaiting their takeover of the club.

Duchatelet's five-year reign at The Valley has witnessed some of the clubs most darkest days but ESI are set to complete a takeover worth in excess of £50 million, and are just awaiting the completion of the EFL's standardised owners' and directors' test.

Southall will be the face of the movement at Charlton and will become the club's new chairman once the deal has gone through, and speaking to the club's media today, Bowyer said on current situation at Charlton:

“I’ve not had any more discussions with East Street Investments, but I am meeting with Matt Southall tonight."

With January fast approaching though, Bowyer will be keen to get the deal over the line in-time for the opening of the transfer market:

"It’s in the EFL’s hands, so we’re just waiting" explained Bowyer. "Maybe I can be brought up to speed tonight. January is coming up, so we need to know what’s happening."

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Charlton are in desperate need of some reinforcements with eight first-team players currently sidelined, and their form taking a subsequent hit.

The verdict

The fact that Charlton aren't in the bottom-three of the Championship is homage to the great work that Bowyer has done there.

He's been terribly unlucky with injuries so far but he's just about held it together, and now with the ESI takeover soon to be completed, Bowyer and Charlton have a lot to look forward to in 2020.