Review of the week: Dykes makes World Cup appearance, Bree signs new Saints deal, former Charlton favourite Lee takes Hornchurch role and finance boss Warrick leaves
Family member of former Addicks striker is jailed and Burstow linked with Hull exit
It’s the latest review of the week. All of the major news on Charlton Athletic from the previous seven days - including touching on Lyndon Dykes gaining World Cup minutes for Scotland in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Bree is off the menu
Let’s be real here, it never looked likely that James Bree would be coming to Charlton Athletic this summer once spymaster Tonda Eckert took charge at Southampton.
The 28-year-old was a fixture of the Addicks team after he arrived on loan at the start of September and Nathan Jones told this website on more than one occasion that he would love to sign the right-sided defender, who scored in back-to-back Championship games against Blackburn Rovers and Derby County.
But Bree’s stay in SE7 was only until the middle of January, the last of his 22 appearances came in the 1-0 win over Sheffield United.
He then went on to be just as much of a first-team regular at Southampton under Eckert, who put down his binoculars and accepted a promotion after Will Still’s dismissal on November 2.
Saints confirmed on Friday that Bree, due to be out of contract on July 1, had signed a three-year contract extension.
“Football is never smooth sailing, as we all know,” Bree told the club’s official website. “When I first signed here it was a tough start, but I’ve absolutely loved my time so far. When it came down to signing a new contract, it was something that I was always thinking about doing. I can’t wait to keep going.”
BBC televised Scotland’s match against Haiti - with Lyndon Dykes introduced for the closing stages
Dykes off and running - for a little bit - at the World Cup
Lyndon Dykes made his first appearance at a World Cup finals in Scotland’s 1-0 victory over Haiti on Sunday morning.
The striker, whose Charlton Athletic contract expires at the end of this month, replaced Che Adams in the 75th minute.
It is the first time that the 30-year-old has played in a major international tournament. He missed out on Euro 2024 after suffering an ankle injury less than two weeks before it started.
Dykes had 10 touches of the ball against Haiti as the Scots started their Group C campaign with a victory. Anything less than that outcome would have left Steve Clarke’s side with a big challenge to qualify as they face Morocco on Friday before taking on Brazil on June 24.
Dykes completed three of his six passes and made two defensive contributions.
His heat map (graphic by FotMob) against Haiti is below.
Dykes is the fifth player to play in a World Cup finals to be contracted to Charlton. There was a piece on this site earlier in the week about how much the Addicks will receive in compensation while he is at the competition (a link is at the bottom of this review).
Scotland boss Clarke said: “It became pretty obvious to me early on it was going to be a one-goal game - thankfully we got the one goal.
“Everyone told us this was a must-win game and we won it against a really difficult opponent. Defensively we were great, we probably could’ve been a little bit better with the ball.”
While on the subject of international duty, Dan Kanu scored his second goal for Sierra Leone in a 3-1 victory over Liberia on Tuesday.
Rob Lee/Picture: Paul Edwards
Rob Lee takes DOF role
Former Charlton Athletic midfielder Rob Lee is the new director of football at Hornchurch.
The National League side announced his appointment on Wednesday.
Lee scored 65 goals in 343 matches for the Addicks before being sold to Newcastle United in 1992.
He started with Hornchurch before joining Charlton in 1981.
“This is where my dream began, and I’m honoured to come back and help shape the future of this club,” Lee told the Hornchurch website. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Hornchurch chairman Alex Sharp added: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Rob to Hornchurch FC in this formal capacity. Rob is a dear friend, and it has been a long-held ambition of mine to find a way to bring his knowledge and expertise into our club.
“To have someone of his calibre - a man who has played at the very highest levels of the game - now helping to shape our direction is genuinely exciting. We are determined to drive this club to heights it has never previously reached, and having Rob alongside us as we pursue that goal gives me enormous confidence that we can achieve it.”
Finance boss Warrick moves on
Ed Warrick’s three-year spell as chief financial and operations officer at Charlton Athletic is over.
The Addicks announced on Tuesday that Warrick had departed. They added that Warwick had left “to pursue other opportunities” but, as touched on during last week’s podcast, we’re led to believe that it was a club decision to make a change.
Ed Warrick (in the middle of the back row of the directors’ box) watching the game against Hull City in late April/Picture: Keith Gillard
Charlton have brought in Tony Brown, who had 12 years with Portsmouth before leaving in the summer of 2025, as interim chief financial officer.
Addicks chairman Gavin Carter told the club’s website: “I would like to thank Ed for his contribution to Charlton Athletic over the past three years. He has been part of an important period in the club’s development, and we wish him every success in the future.”
Warrick was one of the original appointments made by Global Football Partners after their takeover in July 2023.
He joins Charlie Methven (chief executive) and Andy Scott (technical director) in being moved on.
Alfie May/Picture: Keith Gillard
May’s family member jailed
The older brother of ex-Charlton Athletic striker Alfie May has been jailed for seven years due to threatening behaviour directed towards his family members.
The case, held at Maidstone Crown Court, heard that May, now at Huddersfield Town, installed security and discussed escape route plans with his wife.
May’s brother Dane waged an 18-month campaign of terror including threats of violence, rape and murder.
Kent Online has more detail on the case here.
Former Addicks on the move
Ben Purrington has signed for Bristol Rovers. He was part of the Cambridge squad promoted from League Two last season. Rovers manager Steve Evans said: “Ben is a super signing for us. I have tried to sign him a couple of times and, believe me, this boy had options this summer, so we’re delighted he’s joined us.”
Joe Aribo has been released by Leicester City.
Ross County have signed Richard Chin from Raith Rovers for an undisclosed fee.
Partick Thistle have handed Ben Dempsey a two-year contract. The midfielder had four years at Ayr United, making 158 appearances and scoring 21 goals.
Charlton sold Mason Burstow to Chelsea in January 2022/Picture: Keith Gillard
James Vennings has signed for Ebbsfleet. He had spent the previous two seasons with Braintree Town.
Tom McIntyre is on the hunt for a new club after the expiration of his short-term deal with Aberdeen, who he joined in February. He said: “It’s a very worrying time because being out of contract is a very scary place as all footballers know. I’m going to get as fit as I can get. The PFA does a pre-season program which I’ve signed up to and there’s been quite a few players over the last few years that have been doing that and gone on to get contracts.”
Mason Burstow could be up for grabs this summer with reports that Hull City need to raise £6million in player sales to ensure they do not breach spending rules. The 22-year-old striker scored 12 goals and claimed five assists in 53 matches on loan at Bolton Wanderers last season.
Reading friendly agreed
Charlton will play Reading on August 1 (3pm) as part of their friendly schedule.
Nathan Jones has lost both of his visits to the Select Car Leasing Stadium as Addicks boss - 2-0 on each occasion.
Femi Azeez scored both in February 2024, which was the Welshman’s first match in charge after succeeding Michael Appleton.
Charlie Savage and Sam Smith netted in Charlton’s most recent reverse in Berkshire in August 2024.
Reading finished 12th in League One last season. They sold Harvey Knibbs to the Addicks for a fee believed to be just into seven figures.
Content that appeared on this website last week
A pod version of that chat with Kevin James.
The latest podcast episode of South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition.
Charlton Athletic Women announce their retained and released list.
Tributes to Peter ‘Scoop’ Burrowes, a legendary Addicks figure who passed away at the age of 87.
It would be nice if you could have a chat with the people at 'The News' (Portsmouth) to find out what Tony Brown will bring to the party and his achievements at Portsmouth where I gather he was very highly regarded. Also Rich, why interim?
Get your very best ferreting boots on mate.
Tony started off as DoF at Portsmouth and finished as Chief Operating Officer (I think) are we not sure which role to give him?