Charlton Athletic

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Reading have been forced to move their final pre-season friendly against Charlton Athletic to The Valley because of concerns over the condition of the club's newly- laid pitch.

The hot, dry weather has affected the growth of the grass at the Select Car Leasing Stadium and with the playing surface unfit, Saturday's match will now be played behind closed doors at Charlton's home ground instead.

"This is not a decision anyone at the club wanted to make, but it is the right one," Reading co-chief executive Joe Jacobson told the club wesbite., external

"We've invested significantly in providing the team with the best possible playing surface for the season ahead.

"Unfortunately, the recent spell of hot and dry weather has slowed the development of the new pitch and, after taking expert advice, we've concluded that protecting it now gives us the best chance of having it in the condition we all want for the start of the League One campaign.

Reading open their League One campaign at home to Luton Town on 15 August.

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Charlton striker Kaheim Dixon has joined Serbian SuperLiga club Novi Pazar for an undisclosed fee after two seasons with the Championship outfit.

Having initially joined from Jamaica Premier League side Arnett Gardens in 2024, the 21-year-old struggled to get a foothold in the first team, making just five appearances.

Jamaica international Dixon went on loan to Crawley Town for the first half of last season, scoring one goal in 16 appearances across all competitions.

Manager Nathan Jones told the club website, external: "Kaheim's game time has been limited in the first team and he's had a loan, but we felt the best thing for his career was for him to go and find somewhere where he can play regularly."

Paul Sullivan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I was absolutely delighted that we achieved our aim of surviving our first season back in the Championship since being relegated to League One in 2019-20.

Now we go again and I will not pretend otherwise, I am nervous.

Across the past 10 seasons, 14 of the 33 clubs promoted from League One have been relegated back to the third tier either immediately or within two Championship campaigns.

That means more than one in three have gone back down within two years, which is the warning for every club making the step up - promotion is one challenge, consolidation is another.

The split is exactly even between those who went straight back down and those who suffered "second season syndrome".

Wigan and Rotherham have each gone up three times in the past 10 years, while Charlton and Bolton have done it twice - a reminder that for some clubs, the challenge is not just getting promoted, but staying up and building on it.

When you look at the clubs that have come up from League One, a pattern begins to emerge. The bigger clubs have generally been better placed to stabilise, while medium sized clubs like Charlton have had to be far more careful. Smaller clubs, by contrast, often need everything to go right simply to stay standing.

My hope is that we can build on last season, push towards 60 points or more and keep Nathan Jones' upward trajectory going.

Time will tell.

Charlton Athletic have entered the race to sign English Hull City winger Abu Kamara, 22, who has been the subject of interest from Portsmouth since the start of the summer transfer window. (Hull Daily Mail), external

Free agent Nathan Redmond is currently training with Charlton Athletic but the 32-year-old English winger is not close to a deal with the Addicks. (Sky Sports), external

Want to read more transfer rumours? Check out Friday's full gossip column here.

Emily Herbert
BBC Sport London and South East

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Charlton boss Nathan Jones says the club are taking a patient approach in the transfer market.

"We're in a decent place. This is a patient window. We have the nucleus of a really good squad, but what we need to add is a bit more flair, a bit more quality and zest in one-v-one areas and at the top end of the squad.

"That takes a bit more time to get in, but we're confident that when the Championship starts we'll have everyone that we plan to sign."

Jones also played down the prospect of adding another striker immediately.

"Lyndon [Dykes] is someone we've had, and we like. At the minute we have six strikers, so something will need to change there if we're going to bring in another one," he told BBC Radio London.

"We are on top of all contacts. We are not pressured by anything or anyone."

Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City and Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs are monitoring Greg Docherty as the 29-year-old Scottish midfielder awaits news on a contract offer from Charlton Athletic, where he has a year remaining of his current deal. (Daily Record), external

Blackburn Rovers have rejected several six-figure offers for Irish defender Connor O'Riordan but would be willing to part with the 22-year-old if their valuation is met. (Lancashire Telegraph - requires subscription), external

Leicester City and Rangers are showing an interest in 20-year-old striker Ryan One, but Sheffield United do not wish to sell this summer. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Charlton Athletic are close to an agreement to sign French Dundee centre-half Billy Koumetio after several six-figure bids were rejected, with the 23-year-old keen on a return to England. (Daily Record), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Tuesday's full gossip column here.

The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 15 August 2026 - Derby County (H)

• 22 August 2026 - West Ham United (A)

• 9 September 2026 - Queens Park Rangers (H)

• 19 December 2026 - Millwall (A)

• 26 December 2026 - Southampton (H)

• 1 January 2027 - Swansea City (A)

• 2 March 2027 - West Ham United (H)

• 3 April 2027 - Millwall (H)

• 6 April 2027 - Queens Park Rangers (A)

• 1 May 2027 - Lincoln City (A)

See Charlton Athletic's full fixture list here.

The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.

The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.

So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.