Manager Slade aiming to bring new era to Charlton

Charlton's new manager Russell Slade has revealed there is no clause in his contract that gives him full control over the club's transfer activity.

He was recruited yesterday having agreed a three-year deal to leave his role as Cardiff's head of football and become the sixth managerial appointment of owner Roland Duchatelet's two-and-a-half-year reign. He is also the first to be given the title of manager, instead of head coach, and Duchatelet's first domestic recruit.

Recently-relegated Charlton hope to secure an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship and to regain the trust of their deeply-unhappy fans who have consistently protested against the club's hierarchy.

Belgians Duchatelet and chief executive Katrien Meire have been the main targets of their criticism amid beliefs their so-far unsuccessful recruitment of playing and coaching staff is responsible for their decline.

They have also been accused of interfering with past team selections, and did not succeed in securing first-choice Chris Wilder as manager, as he left Northampton for Sheffield United instead. Slade's disclosure of that detail will therefore concern many, though he insists his contract states he will select the team.

Asked if he had a written agreement that he will have full control over transfers, Slade responded: "It's not in the contract, but it's certainly a verbal agreement that we will discuss everything, in terms of recruitment.

"Picking the team is certainly in my contract.

"I will have huge influence over the comings and goings but it will be an open discussion.

"We got to work on a few targets yesterday. We've got a shortlist. (And) nobody will be leaving on the cheap."