Goodbye Then...

End of season then and its time to say goodbye to several people that used to 'work for us'. Some have gone on the bigger and better things and others sadly, not. But while most people these days have few good words to say when leaving the bigger teams, our ex-players seem to go out of their way to be nice to us.

One of those staying around in the fizzies next season will be Jamal Campbell-Ryce who in our penultimate game in April earned the MOM award in Barnsley's 3-0 win after scoring the first goal. "Some people say I never got the chance I deserved at Charlton but I don't hold grudges, if anything, I want to thank Charlton. They gave me my chance, gave me my first professional contract and helped me progress. Charlton have always given their youngsters a chance and they have always produced players, and that showed with Wagstaff and Shelvey playing a part in the game. When I came though Lloyd Sam and Michael Turner came through, and we are still playing now. Then you have the likes of Charlie MacDonald, Scott Parker, Jonathan Fortune and Danny Shittu."

And while we welcome our first signing of the close season in 26 year old palarse centre-defender and skipper Mark Hudson we can also say goodbye, for at least a year anyway, to another ex-player. Outstanding in the Play-Off final for Hull at the weekend, Michael Turner was one of the great hopes of the Addicks's youth set-up four years ago. As a youngster the defender was one of two players selected to train with Internazionale during the club's short-lived partnership with the Italian giants, and he also captained the club's reserves before turning 20.

He was named by Addicks boss Alan Curbishley in his final 16 five times in 2003/04 - but left for League One side Brentford in November 2004 without making his senior Addicks debut. "Having no experience in the Charlton first team was disappointing for me. Things were standing still there, so I moved to Brentford and my career has really started here. Alan Curbishley is a good manager and was good to me, even though he didn't pick me. Never mind, but little things like that do motivate you. I had a lot of good times at Charlton, and I'd like to thank everyone I've worked with since I joined the club as a youngster"

And to rub more salt in the wound, he was our own assistant manager Phil Parkinson's first signing when he was Hull manager back in 2006 and the central defender has since become a mainstay of the Hull backline, winning the supporters' player of the year award and the goal of the season prize last season. Parks was full of praise when he signed him, "He's a player that I've watched for a number of years, firstly with Charlton reserves and then obviously with Brentford. I like him a lot and believe he'll be an excellent signing for us because he's ready to play Championship football. Michael was the best central defender in League One last season and is ready to step up."

So good luck Michael next season in the Premier, you'll certainly need it.