Review of the week: Charlton Athletic midfielder reveals late season surgery, AFC Wimbledon friendly announced and Karl Robinson sacked by Salford City
Hills bounced back from Spurs "bombshell" by taking on Addicks challenge and club confirm 10k season ticket sales for second campaign running
The latest review of the week is out.
This should wrap up all of the major Charlton Athletic news from the previous seven days.
Greg Docherty celebrates after Charlton’s 2-1 win over Hull City guaranteed Championship survival/Picture: Kyle Andrews
Doc went to the doc
Greg Docherty has revealed that he had surgery at the end of last season.
The Scottish midfielder made the revelation when Charlton posted a thread on X getting updates on players who are away on their summer holidays.
Docherty went with his family to Corfu and told the club’s social media account: “It was shortly after I had surgery on an issue that I picked up during the Hull game, so it was the perfect chance to recuperate.”
The 29-year-old did not make the squad for the final day of the campaign at Swansea City.
Docherty has made 89 appearances for Charlton since signing on a free transfer after being released by Hull City in July 2024.
Other Addicks footballers who provided travel updates were Harvey Knibbs (New York), Miles Leaburn (Tokyo) and Ibby Fullah (Barcelona).
Dons friendly
Charlton have announced their third pre-season friendly - AFC Wimbledon on July 25 (3pm).
The Addicks lost 2-0 at Plough Lane in July 2024, which is a further indication that warm-up fixtures mean very little as that campaign ended in promotion from League One. Ryan Johnson and Josh Kelly were on target for the Dons.
“I’m really disappointed with lots of stuff,” said Charlton boss Nathan Jones after the reverse. “It’s not about the result, it’s about the performance really.
Thierry Small on the ball against AFC Wimbledon in the 2024 friendly/Picture: Kyle Andrews
“It’s a bit of a wake-up call for me in terms of, going forward, what I need to do. So it has served its purpose in that way, albeit in a disappointing way.”
Kelly will not be scoring against the Addicks again this pre-season as he is one of four departures from Johnnie Jackson’s squad.
Wimbledon are still in talks with German defender Patrick Bauer, who is due to be out of contract this summer.
Bauer scored the late winner for Charlton in their 2019 League One play-off final win against Sunderland.
The Dons finished 19th in League One last season, four points clear of safety.
Hills: Spurs sacking left me dumbstruck - I had to rebuild confidence before taking Charlton boss position
Karen Hills has revealed how her sacking by Tottenham Women in December 2020 felt “like a bereavement” and that she needed a period to rebuild her confidence before taking the Charlton Athletic manager’s job.
The former Addicks defender and co-head coach Juan Amoros were dismissed by Spurs despite winning the Premier League Cup twice.
Hills was appointed as Charlton head coach in March 2021.
The Addicks will be a WSL 1 side next season after winning their play-off against Leicester City in May.
Reflecting on her exit from Tottenham, she told Making A Manager podcast: “It was a moment that I wasn’t really sure how to respond or react. It wasn’t expected - no-one prepares you. A piece of paper just got put in front of me and I was told there would be a press release going out in about an hour.
“I went outside and got in my car, with Juan, and we were both a little bit dumbstruck. I got straight on the phone to my wife and told her that I’d lost my job. It was a really surreal moment.
Karen Hills has clocked up more than five years as manager of Charlton Women/Picture: Keith Gillard
“It was during Covid as well. I went home and you feel a little bit lost and embarrassed. You think ‘what am I going to do? This is all I’ve ever known.’ It took a good while to build my confidence up, because I felt that I had lost everything.
“The first two weeks is like a bereavement because everyone is still texting you and making sure that you’re okay. I had some fantastic texts come through that really help you. But then everybody goes back to what they are doing and you’re left to pick up the pieces.
“I’ve had some amazing mentors along the way that have really supported and looked after Karen and my brand - built me back up. They made me jump on a call every Monday morning - to make sure I was up. I got a French bulldog puppy, called Bobby, and he gave me a purpose to get out in the mornings, someone to feed and walk in the parks. Keep a routine going, because that is all I’d known.
“Slowly and gradually you build yourself back. You surround yourself with people that love you and want you to do well. Eventually you turn a corner and I was ready to go again.
“I was apprehensive (about the Charlton job), because I had been at Spurs with Juan for 13 years. But I needed to step into it and actually embrace it - not think about it too much. What could be the worst that could happen?
“So I took the team on and embraced the challenge. Keith Boanas was already there, as one of the coaches, and he supported me. Eventually I found my way again. Sometimes that self-belief is really important. You are there to do your best and sometimes your best is okay.”
Sophie Whitehouse saves a penalty during last month’s play-off tie against Leicester at The Valley/Picture: Paul Edwards
Whitehouse in contention for yet another award
Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse has been shortlisted for WSL 2 Players’ Player of the Season.
Whitehouse already has an impressive amount of personal accolades under her belt for the 2025-26 campaign, including the WSL 2 Golden Glove and winning the club’s two Player of the Season awards voted for by the fans and also her fellow team-mates.
The 29-year-old was named in the WSL 2 Team of the Season.
Other nominees for the WSL 2 award, which will be announced at the 2026 PFA awards on August 25, are Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City), Emily Syme (Bristol City), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Ashleigh Weerden (Crystal Palace), and Ellie Brazil (Southampton).
Karl Robinson paid ultimate price for League Two play-off failure
Karl Robinson was sacked by Salford City on Tuesday, nine days after the club’s League Two play-off final defeat to Notts County.
The Ammies had a chance of automatic promotion on the final day of the regulation season but finished fourth.
Former Charlton manager Robinson had led Salford, who still have Manchester United legends Gary Neville and David Beckham as investors, to their highest points tally in the EFL and their most wins in a campaign.
BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone said: “They have taken a bit of time to assess what went wrong at Wembley and the season as a whole. They have concluded it was not good enough.
“One more win would have taken Salford up and they had a run in February where they lost to Newport, Cheltenham and Shrewsbury, who finished 18th, 19th and 20th in the league. That wasn’t good enough.
“On the final day they went to Crawley, who finished 22nd, the lowest finish without getting relegated to the National League. If they had won they would’ve gone straight up. They didn’t - they drew.
“In the end Karl Robinson has paid the price for under-performance.”
Salford issued a statement.
“This decision has been reached unanimously by the club’s board and executive team following a thorough review of the football operation.
“Karl has conducted himself throughout his time at Salford City with professionalism and integrity. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the club and has been fully dedicated to helping us achieve our ambitions, both on and off the pitch.
“These decisions are never easy, but we believe this is the right moment to make a change as we look ahead to the next chapter in Salford City’s development.”
Sho-wn the exit door
Kidderminster Harriers have released former Charlton youngster Tobi Sho-Silva.
The National League side have extended the terms of David Davis until next summer.
“He is integral to what we are trying to achieve and this demonstrates his loyalty to Kidderminster Harriers after receiving significant offers and interest from other clubs,” said manager Paul Wotton.
Season ticket sales break 10k barrier
Charlton have announced that they have sold more than 10,000 season tickets for the second successive campaign.
“It is the first time in over a decade that the club has surpassed that number of season-ticket holders in consecutive seasons,” said the club in their story about the milestone.
Season tickets can be purchased here.
Content that appeared on this website last week
Podcast version of South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition’s exclusive chat with Scott Minto.
Bromley keen on striker Daniel Kanu.
Exclusive interview with Lawrie Wilson - and the fans’ favourite’s unforgettable chant.
Lawrie Wilson/Picture: Keith Gillard
The thought of Leaburn in Japan is making me chuckle. Talk about head and shoulders above the rest…