Lee Bowyer is ready to walk away from Charlton if owner Roland Duchatelet does not meet his contract expectations when talks over the manager’s future resume this week.
Bowyer’s contract expires at the end of next week and it is understood the prospects of Charlton losing the 42-year-old are rated as “50-50”.
Bowyer has made it clear he wants to stay at Charlton and still hopes an agreement will be reached. But Duchatelet has made him a low offer that would put his salary in line with managers in the bottom half of League One.
Bowyer has asked for a deal that reflects the job he has done in leading the Addicks back to the Championship.
One source said: “The whole thing is a shambles”. Negotiations will continue but there is a real chance that Bowyer could walk out on Charlton just weeks after guiding the club to promotion. Bowyer hopes it will not come to that but it is understood he has become increasingly frustrated at the situation.
He said last week: “All I wanted is to be treated fairly.” But Duchatelet’s offer last week was significantly lower than Bowyer has asked for.
The situation is coming to a head and Bowyer’s future is likely to be resolved by the end of the week.
Despite the uncertainty around Bowyer’s position, Charlton today made Leyton Orient striker Macauley Bonne their first summer signing. The 23-year-old, who scored 23 goals in the National League this season, joins for £200,000.
