'This is the right time for Championship promotion'

Lee Bowyer on Charlton Athletic being better-equipped for challenge that lies ahead than League One play-off winning crop of 2019

Lee Bowyer has a perfect record with Charlton Athletic at Wembley.

He bossed them to League One play-off final glory in 2019 against Sunderland and took on a watching brief at the national stadium for last month’s 1-0 win over Leyton Orient.

The scenes of jubilation and joy at Wembley has sparked his desire to get back into the managerial game.

The 48-year-old watched every minute of the Addicks’ 2025 play-off campaign. He was working for Sky Sports at Adams Park - a tense 0-0 draw. Then he was a part of the pre-match legends parade organised by Charlton for the return leg in SE7 before being in the Royal Box on May 25 along with two other managers who have won promotions for the club, Alan Curbishley and Chris Powell.

“I went to the semi-final and really I wanted to go and feel the atmosphere, but from the stands - because I knew it would be sold out,” said Bowyer. “When you are down on the touchline, as a manager, it is a completely different thing. You know it is a great atmosphere but, for me, I’m in the game.

“The chairman Gavin (Carter) invited me to the final, which I thought was a nice touch. Maybe he just thought I was a good luck charm, I don’t know! It was a nervy game. To be fair, none of the play-off games were particularly enjoyable on the football side of things. But the most important thing is that they got promotion. It doesn’t matter how you do it, does it?”