Lee Bowyer: It was a difficult decision to leave Charlton Athletic

CHARLTON ATHLETIC have announced the resignation of their manager Lee Bowyer, so he can take charge of Championship club Birmingham City.

Bowyer, 44, took over as caretaker manager in 2018, leading the club to the League One play-offs two years in a row, resulting in the club’s promotion to the Championship in 2019, before suffering relegation to the third tier of English football last summer.

Owner Thomas Sandgaard said in a statement: “I would like to thank Lee for everything he has done for Charlton. I have enjoyed working with him and wish him the best for his future. Our focus now is on finding the correct replacement to take this club forward.”

Bowyer said: “It was a difficult decision to leave. Everyone knows how I feel about the club. I could have gone before but I felt it was the right thing to do to stay and help the club through the tough times we’ve been through. 

“We had some amazing times and some tough times. It has been emotional leaving. I’d like to thank all the players that I’ve worked with and the staff for the hours and hours of hard work that they did. I also want to thank the supporters. We wouldn’t have had those great memories without them. 

“The club is now in a place with a good owner that cares and wants to improve the place and I hope the club can continue to grow. It will always hold a special place in my heart.” 

Assistant manager Johnnie Jackson will take the team for Tuesday’s home game against bottom-six side Bristol Rovers.

Charlton Athletic sit in eighth-place in the League One table, having collected 52 points from their 35 league games, just a couple of points adrift of the play-off zone.

Bowyer played for Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, West Ham United, Newcastle United, Birmingham City and Ipswich Town.

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