Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer excited by Abu Dhabi consortium's takeover

Championship side are beaten by Swansea City to continue miserable run, but Bowyer insists everyone involved with club are 'over the moon' with new ownership

Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer on the touchline during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 2, 2020. See PA story SOCCER Swansea. Photo credit should read: Nigel French/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
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Charlton manager Lee Bowyer is hoping the takeover of the club by Abu Dhabi-based East Street Investments can secure their Championship footing after another defeat at Swansea City.

Yan Dhanda's first-half strike was enough to propel the Swans into the play-off places and seal a first win in three matches.

The injury-ravaged Addicks are now just five points clear of the bottom three after their miserable run of one win in 14 games.

East Street Investments' takeover of Charlton was confirmed four hours before kick-off by the English Football League.

But the optimism from the travelling Charlton fans disappeared in the 14th minute when Dhanda fired in the opener.

The Liverpool academy product started a clinical attacking move with a sweeping ball out to Connor Roberts, who charged down the right before playing it inside to George Byers.

Andre Ayew and Wayne Routledge exchanged passes during a neat build-up before Dhanda curled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of box.

And despite a late onslaught from the visitors, Swansea held on to move up into sixth.

In his statement put out on the club website on Thursday, new club chairman Matt Southall said that they had "plans in place to support Lee and his staff over the next month".

The former Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham player will be hoping this involves the financial backing to improve his squad in the January transfer window.

"I'm over the moon, everyone is happy, I'm happy, the fans are happy," said Bowyer of the takeover. "The most important thing is that the club is moving forward.

"We have a group of people who want to do good things for the football club.

"I've met Matt [Southall] a couple of times and positive things are being said.

"It can only mean good things for the football club but it won't happen overnight. We need to build up to be an established Championship side.

"I'm proud, I asked the young players to go out and grab their opportunity. I knew the youngsters would give me everything they got and they didn't disappoint.

"We were the better side in the second half and on another day we score one and go on and win the game but it wouldn't go in.

"The most important thing was that they didn't give in. I want to win every game, but I can't say anything there than I'm proud of them.

"They were a credit to the football club, to keep going on two days rest is tough, but they keep going and I can't fault them."