Lee Bowyer on his happiness as Charlton boss – and admits there is a lot of loan interest in midfielder

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Lee Bowyer has stated his happiness at Charlton Athletic – admitting it would take something “special’ to lure him away.

The Addicks manager was the odds-on betting favourite for the vacancy at Huddersfield Town as our paper went to press yesterday.

Bowyer was shortlisted by West Bromwich Albion this summer and was also linked with QPR last season.

The 42-year-old, revered by Charlton fans after leading them to League One play-off glory and up to third place in the early Championship standings, is only on a deal until next summer.

“Nothing has changed from last season,” said Bowyer. “We did well and there were some clubs interested in the summer. It’s flattering, because it means you are doing the right things to be noticed or even to be linked to these jobs.

“It’s good that other people on the outside recognise what a good job we are doing here.

“Everyone just goes on the odds and thinks ‘but that means he is leaving’. So it’s crazy. I’ve not heard anything. Nothing has come through to me.

“I haven’t spoken to my agent and he hasn’t called me. I don’t know where it has come from.

“I’m not going anywhere, because I am contracted here and I’m happy here. If anything was to take me away from here it would have to be special, that’s the reality of it – because don’t forget my contract runs out in June.

“How could I not be happy here? We’re sitting in a good place in the league. Obviously it is early days yet, but it’s good. We’re working hard and we’re improving. We’ve put together a squad that are going to get better as we go along.”

Bowyer admits he is torn over whether to let midfielder George Lapslie or striker Macauley Bonne go out on loan before Monday’s deadline.

“There has been loads of interest in George but I want to keep him really,” said the Charlton boss.

“There are clubs interested in Macauley. It is whether it is best for him to go and play 20 games between now and January or stay with us, because he is improving all the time even just training with us. It is a catch-22 with him.

“George is another tough one, because I brought him on the other day and he was excellent. He is in and around it and we are going to pick up injuries. I don’t want to leave us short.”