Charlton caretaker boss Lee Bowyer up for the challenge

Lee Bowyer has vowed to do things “my way” after taking over as Charlton caretaker boss following the departure of manager Karl Robinson, who looks set to join Sky Bet League One rivals Oxford.

The Addicks are currently ninth in the League One table, five points off the play-off places with 10 games remaining.

Charlton, who are in the process of seeing a takeover from Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet completed, announced Robinson’s exit on Thursday morning was by “mutual consent”.

Director Richard Murray told the club’s official website an agreement was reached “that is best for everyone involved.”

Following Robinson’s departure, reports gathered pace the 37-year-old is now set to take over at Oxford, who have been without a permanent boss since Pep Clotet’s dismissal at the end of January.

Former Leeds and Newcastle midfielder Bowyer came through the Charlton academy and returned to The Valley at the beginning of 2017 as a member of Robinson’s coaching staff, before being named assistant manager last summer.

The 41-year-old, who also played for West Ham, Birmingham and Ipswich as well as earning one England cap, has been preparing the squad for Saturday’s match against play-off rivals Plymouth, assisted by veteran Addicks midfielder Johnnie Jackson.

“I’m ready for the challenge, it is a new challenge for me and I’m excited about it,” Bowyer said on the club’s official website.

“Football is a game of opinions and I’m going to come in and if I’m going to be in charge, which I am, then I’m going to do it my way. I’m positive and I’m looking forward to that.”

Bowyer felt his first training session at Sparrows Lane had been “very sharp” as minds soon focused on the challenges ahead.

“We’ve got 10 games left and if you can win seven of those 10, hopefully all 10, but if we win seven of the 10 then we’ll be in the play-offs. Then if we’re in the play-offs it is in our own hands,” Bowyer said.

“I think over two legs we’ll beat any of the teams that are in the play-offs and then the final is what it is. We all want to get promotion that is why we are here, no-one more so than me.”

Robinson joined the south-east London club in November 2016, having previously been in charge at MK Dons.

In a message to Charlton supporters posted on the club’s official website, Robinson revealed it had “been a whirlwind few days”, but added he was “sad” to be leaving.

Bowyer maintained there were no hard feelings as the Addicks looked to move on.

“For me I’m grateful to him for bringing me back here, I think he’s left the team in a good place, just outside the play-offs,” Bowyer said.

“It’s a lot better than when he came, I wish him all the best and hopefully I can finish off what he started.”