Mark Robins accepts Chris Powell’s departure from Charlton has changed the dynamic of Town’s next match but insisted: “From my point of view, it’s all about us.”
Jose Riga, the technical director of AC Milan’s academy and like Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet, a Belgian, looks set to become the new manager at The Valley following Powell’s sacking with the South-East London club bottom of the Championship and having been beaten at League I Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
The timescale of any appointment is not yet apparent, and Robins said: “The managerial situation there is just another challenge for us to overcome alongside beating a team who we know will be desperate for three points and playing on what we know is a difficult surface down there.
“Charlton have made a decision which is totally out of our hands, and while we know about their players, it means we are less sure about which of them we will be facing.”
Former Charlton and England player Powell, 44, had been in charge since January 2011 and was the longest-serving manager in the Championship and the ninth-longest in the Premier and Football Leagues.
He led the club to the League I title in 2012, the same season Town went up through the play-offs, and a ninth-placed finish in the Championship last term.
Robins, appointed by Town just over a year ago and now the 41st longest-serving manager in the top four divisions, added, “It’s a major surprise to me and I am really disappointed for him.
“Chris has done marvellously well. He brought Charlton up as champions and took them to the quarter-finals of this season’s FA Cup.
“Unfortunately they have slipped to the bottom of the league, and even though they have games in hand, that seems to have been a trigger point.”
Powell had been in talks with Duchatelet over a contract extension, but they have been unable to reach agreement on a number of issues in recent weeks.
Duchatelet, who also owns Belgian club Standard Liege and has links to four other European sides, took over at the start of January.
Five of the Charlton’s six signings in January came from Duchatelet’s other clubs, while they sold striker Yann Kermorgant and midfielder Dale Stephens to Championship rivals Bournemouth and Brighton respectively.
Duchatelet has also said players could be transferred from Charlton to Liege, who are chasing a place in next season’s Champions League.
“The situation put a strain on the working relationship between Chris and the board,” the Duchatelet, 67, in a statement on the Charlton website.
“Therefore I think it is best for all parties that we part ways at this stage.
““Given the club’s position in the league and the number of important fixtures upcoming, I felt this difficult decision was unavoidable.
“We will look to quickly appoint a replacement who we feel will give us the best chance of avoiding relegation.
““I can assure supporters this was not an easy decision, but it has been made with the club’s future in mind. Time will tell if it is the right decision.”
Charlton lost 2-0 at Sheffield United, therefore missing out on a Wembley semi-final appearance, and Robins added: “That result was obviously a bitter pill for the club to swallow.
“I thought Sheffield United deserved to win, but having said that, Charlton had a big chance to go one up, and Sheffield took advantage of their escape with two quick goals.”
It is expected that Riga, who has managed several sides in Belgium including RAEC Mons and Liege, will be assisted by Karel Fraeye, currently head coach at Belgian club Eenddracht Zele.
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