Charlton Athletic appoint new coach as relegation rivals dealt 'disgraceful' blow

The Charlton Athletic revival under Nathan Jones is truly underway as the club looks to build on a latest win against Carlisle United when they travel to Fleetwood Town this weekend.

The Addicks have risen to 15th in League One as they look to put distance between themselves and a relegation battle against the likes of Reading, Cambridge United and Burton Albion.

Charlton feature alongside the Royals in your Thursday afternoon Championship round-up.

Charlton poach coach from Birmingham City

Charlton Athletic have invested heavily on the pitch since the turn of the calendar year and again after the appointment of Nathan Jones. The Addicks have now made a head-turning addition to the coaching staff.

The League One club confirmed on Wednesday night that former Birmingham City coach James Brayne had arrived at The Valley as Individual Development Coach. Brayne will work with first-team and academy players at the London club.

The experienced coach had spent more than a decade with the Birmingham City academy and has previously worked with Premier League champions Manchester City. Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham notably came through the Blues system under the watchful eye of Brayne.

Technical Director Andy Scott said: “James has worked with some elite players at Birmingham City, who have had a number of players that have come through their academy and into their first-team. They’re well respected for that, so we’re delighted to bring him in and secure his services. He fits in really well with what Nathan is doing with the first-team.

“We’ve got a lot of players that have come from the academy into the men’s first-team and we want to make sure that the individual development programmes that they’re currently undergoing in the academy are carried on and actually cemented so that they can improve in the areas that they need to work on.

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“James will be a good link between the academy and the men’s first-team. He’ll work closely with individuals and small groups of players across the U18s, U21s and first-team. His purpose is to make sure that the players are getting the development that they need, rather than just jumping into the first-team and expecting them to be the finished article.”

Reading delivered latest financial blow

Reading supporters have branded the sale of the club's training ground to local League One rivals Wycombe Wanderers as a 'disgrace'. The latest news comes in a time of financial turmoil for the club under Dai Yongge.

The Royals have had six points deducted this season as Yongge fails to fund the club and the BBC has reported that the Berkshire outfit had a cash shortfall of £1 million for March. That has left Reading looking for an immediate financial injection and the training ground sale has come as a result.

Reading Chief Executive Dayong Pang said: "Both parties will move forward with the process exclusively. The proposed transaction will directly support the short-term funding of the club until a full sale can be conducted."

Wycombe also released their own statement and said: "The parties are moving forward on an exclusive basis with the expectation of completion. In the interim, Wycombe hope that if a transaction completes it will provide Reading with necessary financial support to ensure that they are able to meet their ongoing financial obligations."

Reading supporters have been left seething at the decision. Well-known rock band and Reading fans The Amazons wrote on X: "‘Disgrace’ is a word overused in the football discourse but here it feels painfully apt. Selling off one of our few remaining assets to a local rival. After years + £millions of investment?! Hindering our chances of being bought. Destroying our chance of a future. Disgrace."