Lee Bowyer hopeful Charlton takeover is close

Charlton boss: Lee Bowyer
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Giuseppe Muro20 December 2018

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer has been told a proposed takeover of the south London club could finally happen in January.

An Australian consortium remain the favourites to buy Charlton from owner Roland Duchatelet, though the make-up of their group is thought to have changed.

Businessman Andrew Muir appeared to withdraw his interest in an Australian newspaper interview in October and the consortium are thought to have linked up with other investors from outside Australia.

Charlton fans will be cautious because a takeover has seemed close in the past and has not happened. Addicks staff have been losing hope that a takeover by the group linked to the Australians will ever be completed but Bowyer is optimistic a deal is now close.

“I heard two or three weeks ago that it was quite positive and it could happen any time,” said Bowyer today. “There is a chance it could happen for the January transfer window.

“Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later. I have heard it a couple of times now but nothing has changed, so let’s hope it happens this time.

“It could be as early as January from what I have heard. Maybe at the end of January. The owner wants it to happen and I would like it to happen and then everyone knows where they stand and what is happening.”

Duchatelet is thought to be asking for around £35million for Charlton. Lieven De Turck, who is negotiating for Duchatelet, said last month that the group linked to the Australians had yet to submit key documents to the EFL to finalise a deal.

It is approaching a year since Duchatelet confirmed he wanted to sell Charlton and employees have been told for months that a takeover is on the horizon.

De Turck claimed last month that five parties remain interested in Charlton, including a British group.

Bowyer hopes a takeover is finalised in January and new investment gives him transfer funds to strengthen his squad’s promotion bid.

Charlton have risen to fifth in League One after six wins in seven matches and they are now just four points off the automatic promotion places.

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