Next Charlton Manager Odds: Three names in the frame to replace Michael Appleton

Michael Appleton has left Charlton, so the South Londoners are out to replace the Mancunian – here are three candidates to come into the hot-seat…

1. Nathan Jones

Nathan Jones can split people and unit them in equal measure and, in the right context, that’s part of why he can be so effective.

Fiery, demanding, uncompromising, driven - and with even an unapologetic pinch of arrogance - Jones is one of the most outspoken managers in the English game.

Sometimes his way can backfire, as we saw at Southampton, but over a combined six years across two stints at Luton, his way created a siege mentality, and enormous success to boot which was crucial to the club’s journey from non-league to the Premier League in nine years.

Given that he’s since turned 50, it’s plausible that the post-Saints version of Jones is a more reflected and balanced person, still with the edge he had at Luton but less of the unnecessary extras.

Either way, Jones will bring the passion back to the Valley, and his animated touchline conduct should be well-received by natives used to a more passive type in Michael Appleton.

And, when people give him buy in from the off, success tends to follow.

That could happen at Charlton, where Jones would also bring the flexibility to adapt to an imbalanced, disjointed squad, albeit boosted by January additions.

Jones built a possession-based side in his first stint at Luton, operating with a diamond midfield that rotated seamlessly, and extremely attacking full-backs in Jack Stacey and James Justin who were integral to the 2018-19 League One title-winning season that he managed the first half of.

In his second stint, however, his side played a more direct, crossing style, especially in his final season, with two physical centre-forwards in Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, with the same intense always associated with his sides.

2. Michael Duff

Michael Duff’s disappointing stint at Swansea highlights the importance of ‘fit’.

The Northern Irishman doesn’t tend to show his emotions much – he’s brisk, level-headed and down-to-earth.

At clubs who get what he’s about, it’s not a problem because they can see a man who’s focused on his job: at Cheltenham, he held legendary status before his successful managerial stint, while Barnsley is a town that values honesty, integrity and a modest refusal to stand on ceremony.

Swansea didn’t, really, and that’s where his businesslike demeanour got confused with a lack of passion, which was never the case – not helped by results being undercooked, of course.

Plus, Cheltenham have built success historically with culture-led teams with strong characters under Steve Cotterill, John Ward, Mark Yates, and Gary Johnson (in the National League), while Barnsley  have had success with high-pressing sides in recent years under Daniel Stendel, Gerhard Struber and Valérien Ismaël.

With that context in mind, is it any wonder that those are the clubs Duff has had success at?

After Russ Martin reconnected Swansea with it’s core possession principles, Duff didn’t quite stay true to “The Swansea Way”.

It would be far too simplistic to label the 46-year-old as a long ball merchant, because his Cheltenham and Barnsley side mixed their game up superbly, but they didn’t prioritize possession at all costs – and Swansea as a club, do. 

However, the disappointing results speak far more to a cultural and stylistic mismatch than any slight on Duff’s ability, even if it’ll be perceived as such in the eyes of some Championship clubs, making him more attainable in League One, where he’s already worked wonders two seasons running.

If Charlton could land Duff, it would resemble a serious statement of their ambitions next season.

3. Mark Bonner

Mark Bonner inspired Cambridge to promotion from League Two on a bottom four budget in 2020-21, his first full season in management.

The following year, Bonner led the U’s to a safe midtable finish on an even more limited budget in League One, along with a memorable FA Cup victory at Newcastle.

Those two achievements show what the 38-year-old is capable of, and the challenges brought by the subsequent 18 months have only made him stronger.

2022-23 was an awkward campaign for Bonner, as contract situations began to play on the mind of certain players and focus shifted slightly, while the funds were scarce – although a positive January window contributed to an improvement in performances in February and March, that then led to an April resurgence as the U’s stayed up on the final day.

In a high-pressure situation, Bonner stayed calm, whilst understanding the position, kept his sense of humour and stayed authentic to himself, where many would have lost their cool.

As such, two of his three full seasons in management have been roaring successes, and the third was a reasonable achievement that only strengthens him as a person and as a manager even more.

The lack of squad depth, which had been a problem in the first half of last season, resurfaced in 2023-24 as injuries tool their toll, but even then a bright start meant Bonner was sacked in November, with the team four points above the drop zone.

After a couple of months to rest and reflect, Bonner has earnt himself a crack at League One at an ambitious club who can give him more to work with in terms of resources.