The 2016/17 season is one that will not be remembered fondly by Addicks fans.
Many were anticipating a successful campaign, with a tilt at the play-offs the minimum objective.
Russell Slade spoke of a 92 point target at tge beginning of the season, but the former manager’s win at home and draw away theory was quickly derailed.
Karl Robinson has been unable to turn the club’s fortunes round thus far. But the great thing with football is there is always next season.
Some clubs are already selling season tickets for next campaign, and there is little more than a two week gap between the Championship Play-Off Final and the release of the 2017/18 fixtures.
The Premier League will announce their fixtures for next season on Wednesday 14 May, with the EFL following a week later on 21 May.
The draw for the opening round of the League Cup is traditionally made the day before the EFL fixtures are released.
The competition will be sponsored by Thai energy drink company Carabao for the next three years, and will be called the Carabao Cup.
The EFL season will kick-off on the weekend on 5 August, with Sky commencing their live coverage with a game on Friday 4 August.
The first round of the Carabao Cup will be played during week commencing 7 August.
The Checkatrade Trophy will again start with a group format, though it is not yet known if Premier League academy sides will be invited to participate.
The league programme will be disrupted by the usual international breaks. There will be no Premier League or Championship matches played on the weekends of 2 September, 7 October or 10 November.
Lower league clubs with three or more first team squad players players involved in international matches will be able to apply for their games to be postponed.
It will be a very different looking Charlton side that takes to the field for the 2017/18 season.
Declan Rudd, Nathan Byrne, Jay Dasilva, Frederik Ulvestad and Jordan Botaka are all loanees who will return to their parent clubs at the end of this season.
Others, such as Johnnie Jackson, Roger Johnson, Andrew Crofts and Adam Chicksen will be out of contract at the end of June.
Players such as Ezri Konsa and Joe Aribo will be targeted by other clubs, while others may seek a move away from The Valley, and the club may also wish to move certain players on.
Robinson has been concerned with the injury situation at the club, and believes an intense pre-season will remady the problem.
The manager has said the players will report back two weeks earlier than at other clubs, so training at Sparrows Lane will begin in mid-June.
The early start may mean the Addicks go on a mini tour before the traditional curtain raiser at Welling.
It will be a busy summer for Robinson and those behind the scenes. There will be major surgery to the squad, and with the players reporting back earlier than usual, the manager will want the deals for new arrivals to be done as early as possible.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic