What about Damian Matthew? Not surprisingly, to me anyway, Charlton have announced they will operate in the future without a reserve team. The writing was on the wall once we gave notice to Ebbsfleet at the end of last season. I'm not sure how I feel about this, yes the trend has been to allow younger players to go out on long term loans to one, allow them to improve and gain experience in a first team environment and two, to lower the short-term wage bill. Yet in my mind reserve football is still a critical part of a young player's development as well as a convenient place for injured players to get back to fitness by playing competitive football.

Sure I suppose our locale will offer us the opportunities to play various non-competitive friendlies to serve a purpose, I just hope for those that enjoy watching these games they are allowed access to them.

More importantly is what is going to happen to Damian Matthew? Matthew was "promoted" to reserve team manager following Mark Kinsella's upgrade to Parkinson's assistant. Once part of Chelsea's youth set up, he has in some quarters been compared to Brendan Rogers, the now manager of Reading and many Addicks feel he could do a similiar job at Charlton.

Steve Gritt swallowed the U18's role within his function as the club's Academy Manager and I for one am worried that we may lose the services of Matthew. No doubt this conundrum will be added to the list of others waiting news of the much coveted takeover.

Meanwhile I read that ex-Addick Ray Tumbridge (top right) passed away on Saturday aged just 54. When I was a wee nipper Ray was mostly a member of Charlton's (ex) reserve team but did make 48 first team appearances at left back mainly deputising for Phil Warman. He was released at the end of 1975/76 season and joined Weymouth. Sad news.  ¶ 15:48