Charlton are facing a difficult summer and it got worse yesterday as Preston announced the signing of Patrick Bauer.

The 26-year-old has been a key player for The Addicks over the past three years, after initially struggling during his first season in The Championship.

Losing Bauer is a blow, not least because the club now has just two centre-backs contracted to the club for next season and one of those - Jason Pearce - has been linked with a move to Portsmouth.

Charlton fans will never forget the contribution Bauer made - his winning goal at Wembley last month will certainly live long in the memory.

Our FLW Six Point Opinion takes a look at his time at Charlton and how much of a miss he will be.

Is it a surprise that he has left?

"Yes and no. It is a shame he hasn't stayed at The Valley where the fans adored him, particularly as the club finally appears to be heading in the right direction.

"The club needed him to consolidate next year and will likely feel let down that he has left, and the German may have been rash in his decision with a takeover of the club in the offing.

"Despite that, he is joining a club which should challenge the top half of the division, which Charlton are currently unable to do. Alex Neil seems like a great manager to work for and that will have persuaded him further, as would the likely increase in wages."

How much of a miss will Bauer be?

"He was immense for Charlton last season, so naturally he will be sorely missed. They only conceded 27 goals in the 35 League One games he played last season, which is an incredible record.

"Bauer was also of great benefit to his team-mates. He was brilliant at organising the defence and was a calming influence over the other defenders. Charlton could bring in a great defender but they will still be lacking Bauer's leadership qualities.

"A positive for Charlton is that much of the team's defensive solidity is due to the way Bowyer organises his team from from to back. His system allows for new players to slot in and fulfil a similar role, so if a good quality Championship defender comes in Bauer may not be missed as much as first thought - but it will be difficult to bring in that player."

Will he be easy or difficult to replace?

"A lot depends on the budget Lee Bowyer and Steve Gallen (Head of Recruitment) will have to work with but great defenders like Bauer can rarely be found for cheap, so unless Charlton have a considerable amount to spend he will be difficult to replace.

"Tom Lockyer has been linked recently and he would be a great signing for Charlton, but he doesn't share the imposing presence that Bauer has and could take a while to adjust to the next level up.

"With the future of the club still unknown in regard to the ownership, Charlton will find it difficult to bring anyone in. With that delaying transfers it becomes less likely that the club will be able to land their top targets and therefore will struggle to find an adequate replacement."

Does his decision signal that the future of the club remains unstable/unclear?

"It certainly doesn't send out a good message. If the takeover had been completed he may have waited a little while longer to see the club's plans for the future, and the possibility of an improved contract offer.

"However, it was always a possibility that he could leave to a club like Preston. Bauer is clearly ambitious and Preston currently have a greater chance of success than Charlton - takeover or no takeover - so it is very likely he would have moved on anyway.

"The worry for Charlton fans is that he is not the only one who may move on. Joe Aribo is currently in the same situation, he doesn't know what the club can offer him and he is being approached by a club which is well run and bound for success in Rangers, so it is likely he will follow suit and depart.

Should Charlton make his replacement a priority this summer?

"Bowyer and Gallen previously stated that attacking reinforcements were the priority, but now Macauley Bonne has arrived this should be put to the backseat - at least until they bring in a defender.

"Charlton will have a busy summer on their hands regardless. They are now down to a worrying number of first-team players, and the likes of Pearce and Anfernee Dijksteel have been linked with moves away.

"Bauer was crucial to the Charlton team last year and although Lyle Taylor scored the goals, without the centre-back Charlton would not have been promoted. That means they must focus all their efforts on brining in someone with as much quality, otherwise they rise relegation."

Does Bauer's departure Charlton are more likely to be relegated next year?

"Unfortunately for The Addicks it does. Bauer is a very difficult player to replace and it is very likely that his replacement will not meet the standards he set.

"It is difficult to judge at this moment whether Charlton are likely to be relegated, as by the time their first match against Blackburn comes around their squad could look completely different.

"The club needs to organise things on and off the pitch very soon. They have made progress this week with a new signing and Bowyer extending his deal, but they have much to do to be ready in time. If they fail to prepare they could easily get off to a slow start and it will be an uphill struggle from there."