The South London Press has released a story about Charlton being taken over.

Here is what the SLP said:

Charlton takeover talks are close to an agreement

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

By Toby Porter

CHARLTON are in advanced talks with a multi-million pound British property company over the sale of the Championship club, the South London Press understands.

Sources close to the Addicks have revealed that an investment company is on the verge of completing the deal to take total control of the Championship club.

The purchase figure is unlikely to be revealed during the process.

The South London Press understands that representatives of the buyer visited The Valley and Charlton’s Sparrows Lane training ground this week and have completed their due diligence.

One of the factors that has made the club an attractive proposition is its low level of debt – it owes just £4million to banks, a reduction from the £7m owed when the club was taken over by Michael Slater and Tony Jimenez on December 31, 2010.

Another £7m is owed to former directors such as Richard Murray, but none of this is payable until the club is back in the Premier League.

Another crucial aspect has been the club’s performance in recent seasons. Under Chris Powell, Charlton had the sixth highest budget in League One, but were runaway champions in 2012.

And last season they finished ninth in the Championship despite having only the 17th highest budget in the division.

If the takeover does go ahead, the new owners are likely to give Powell a kitty to bring in loan players during the January transfer window. But they are likely to prefer to invest in player purchases next summer, rather than this winter, after there has been time to properly research Powell’s new targets under an increased budget.

Charlton will have been back at The Valley for 21 years next month. A campaign to return the club to its first permanent home won 15,000 votes in the 1990 local council elections, after Greenwich politicians had rejected planning permission for a revamp. The ground had been deemed unsafe and the Addicks were forced into the first ever Football League groundshare, at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, from 1988.

The club celebrates its centenary at The Valley in 2019.

Slater, who it is believed will remain on the board during a three-month handover period, said: “I am unable to comment on this matter.”

Clearly the article has been well researched and has far more substance than many takeover stories. Rumours of a takeover being ‘close’ have been around for a couple of weeks or so and, as mentioned previously, this could be the reason Chris Powell has gone public about possible new arrivals ahead of next week’s loan window deadline.

A bid by a property company always raises concerns amongst a football club’s fanbase. Is ownership of the club’s stadium the real object of the exercise is a question that many ask.

The current owners have been involved in property development and many Charlton fans feared for the future of The Valley. Stories of a possible move to the Peninsula have again surfaced recently.

The SLP have reported that a bigger budget will be available but Financial Fair Play regulations would prevent a wild spending spree.

If the deal goes through it will end the recent period of uncertainty about Charlton’s long term ownership.

If the deal goes through, the fans will wait with bated breath to hear what the new owners have to say.