Aug 30
A few of those eagle-eyed had noticed Paul Hart’s absence from the dugout thus far this season, and yesterday the club announced that he has left the club.
We know the demands of working for Nathan Jones, Paul Hart knows that better than anyone so good luck to the 71-year old in I presume retirement or at least being home much more with the family.
Please click for moreNot ultra surprising this. Nathan Jones talked in glowing terms of Paul Hart yesterday during his auspicious first pre-match press conference. Hart has played a big part in Jones’ coaching and managerial career and rejoins Charlton about a decade after he left.
Hart is 70 and has had a golden post playing career mentoring and coaching, and as Jones said yesterday was heavily responsible for the careers of a whole team of players that played at the very top. The exalted Andy Reid being one of them.
Please click for moreOr more pertinently 8 years.
8 years of cultivation, schooling and coaching dedication. All for what? Maybe half a million quid. The complete opposite scenario of why Roland Duchâtelet wants to develop the academy.
Even though I had resigned myself to Poyet leaving, it was still a kick in the knackers yesterday when the club put out the statement on their website. Another year wouldn’t have hurt would it, but that’s gratitude for you. Me and you are the only thing loyal about football clubs.
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A real shame to see Paul Hart leave his role as Academy Director. For all the muck thrown at Slater and Jimenez, the latters connections was the main reason Hart joined the Addicks in June 2011. The previous owners then held off an offer for Hart from Nottingham Forest, but rumours have abounded since early this year that Hart would leave at the end of his contract and possibly take up a similiar role with the Premier League Champions.
So, the announcement on the OS is a little bit strange, suggesting that both Hart and Steve Avory were invited to apply for a new post of Academy Manager, the merging of the previous Academy Director and Head of Coaching roles held by Hart and Avory respectively. Reading in between the lines, it looks as if Hart didn’t take up the offer. Spin or not, I don’t know.
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Some good news earlier today as the Charlton’s U18’s won their Development League after beating QPR 4-3 away from home. Rangers were two points clear going into the final game of the season but in an exciting game the Addicks’ Brandon Hanlan grabbed the winner in the 88th minute.
The U18 Development League works the Play-Off system and as South Division winners we play the runners-up in the North, who were Crewe Alexander and QPR will play Huddersfield Town, the North winners.
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One has to assume that Alex Dyer, Damian Matthews, Ben Roberts, Laurence Bloom and possibly Keith Peacock will all follow Chris Powell out of The Valley car park, although Dyer and Matthews did take training today under the watchful eyes of José Riga.
My attention and concern now turns to Paul Hart. Duchatelet has spoken often about his respect for Charlton’s youth academy and Paul Hart must take the majority of credit for that. He and his team have done a tremendous job nursing and building a foundation for the future of the football club.
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Nottingham Forest made a big play this week to move Paul Hart back to the City Ground in a technical director role “but the Addicks were thought to want more than £500,000 in compensation for their current academy director.” (more)
We may not be filthy rich but it shows the new owners are able to demand silly money to keep key personnel and Hart obviously has an important role in the rebuilding of the club in the eyes of the board.
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Some more transfer rumours today. According to the South London Press we made a £300,000 bid for Bournemouth left back Rhoys Wiggins. Watford are in for him as well. Other names linked are Cody McDonald, scorer of 25 goals for Gilingham last season and League Two top scorer with 29 Clayton Donaldson from Crewe.
One official signing today was rather out of the blue, and that was Paul Hart joining the club as Academy Director. Hart has had a somewhat mixed time as a club manager but his success with youth players has been very impressive as Andy Reid, Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas, Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith and Paul Robinson will attest.
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Miami, Florida
