Charlton Athletic are on the cusp of something great, but they are also standing on a precipice looking down at potential disaster.

It's a fine balance at the Valley right now.

They've got a good playing squad, highly motivated and battling for each other. It's a blend of tough, committed players such as Patrick Bauer, uniquely talent youngsters such as Joe Aribo and time-served professionals like Lyle Taylor.

Together, they've given the Addicks a great chance of getting back into the second-tier, all under the watchful eye of one of the brightest young managers in the business.

Few could have foreseen Lee Bowyer's success in the dugout. A fiery, controversial character on the field, he never screamed future gaffer during his playing days. Once they finished and he retired to his carp lake in France, it all looked to be over for him.

He's now found himself in the hot seat at the club who gave him his breakthrough and he's surely repaid that favour.

His Charlton side are committed and able, but there's something altogether more pensive and measured about Lee Bowyer the manager.

It's a great blend and within a couple of weeks it's either going to scale new heights, or be gone for good.

The club have yet to tie Bowyer down to a new deal and he's requested face to face talks with the owner's representatives.

He's also hoping to secure Joe Aribo, so pivotal to their success, on a new deal. If those negotiations do not go well, Charlton could fall backwards.

There's a feeling at the Valley that Bowyer and his side are performing in spite of the owner, but if the hated Roland Duchatelet really does want to sell up, he should make them an attractive prospect for buyers. That means securing their biggest assets on new deals.

A failure to do so will see Aribo and Bowyer leave, along with a number of other out of contract stars. Success in the talks could spark a chain reaction of players penning deal, whether they're in League One or the Championship.

The entire future direction of the club hinges on those critical conversations, so the owner should be making them a priority.