Charlton Athletic appoint Kent born Ben Garner as their new manager on a three-year contract

CHARLTON ATHLETIC have appointed Kent born Ben Garner as their new manager having signed a three-year contract at the League One club.

 

The 42-year-old joins Charlton Athletic after an impressive season at Swindon Town, where his side scored more goals, had more shots, more shots on target and more possession than any team in League Two last season.

“It feels fantastic to be here.  I’m really pleased and can’t wait to get going,” Garner told the club website.

“Charlton is a massive football club both in terms of history and tradition and just as importantly in terms of potential and scope looking forwards.

“Attacking football is what I believe in, that is how I think football should be played and I will be looking to implement that from day one, both home and away.

“There is no differentiation in terms of how we prepare, how we will play, we will be consistent and we want to attack.  We want to have the ball as much as possible, creating chances, scoring goals and being on the front foot, playing with lots of energy without the ball.  I want the team to be positive and confident. I want the fans to enjoy coming to watch us play.”

Charlton Athletic’s CEO and owner Thomas Sandgaard, explains that Garner’s side’s attacking intent factored into the League One club’s decision to select him over many other candidates.

He said: “We are obviously striving for a much better season. We will have the best chance of success by creating more chances and scoring more goals than we did last season.

“Ben’s track record for playing attacking football matches that. We were also impressed with his history of improving and developing players, his man-management and his wide range of coaching experience in the top four tiers of English football. He’s a talented, young manager, who is highly respected in the football world.

“Our intension is to get all our teams, through all the age groups, playing with an attacking style.

“I’m really looking forward to watching Ben implement that style with the men’s first team next season and integrating our young talent.”

Garner will meet the Charlton Athletic squad for the first time when they return for pre-season next Thursday.  The team then travel to Spain on Saturday 25 June for a week long pre-season training camp.

Born in Pembury, Garner has coached at Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion and has managed Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town.

The Addicks were thirteenth-placed finishers in League One last season and Garner replaces club legend Johnnie Jackson, who parted company with the club on Tuesday 3 May.

Visit Charlton Athletic’s website: www.cafc.co.uk