As predicted by Uncle Ron on the official site last night midfielder and player of the year Nicky Bailey has left Roots Hall to take residence at the Valley on a three year deal.
Pleased to see the medical was passed so quickly, hip must have been bad.
A word to Mr. Pardew, I hope you don't miss out on promotion, as Nicky has shown, making the play-offs just isn't good enough.
It looks a good deal compared to the £175,000 we paid for him from Barnet but in these crazy days of modern financial dealings in the football world who knows what the true amounts involved are. (I noticed a forum post saying the original payment to Barnet was £35,000, so how much have we really got upfront from Charlton?)
All the quotes from management and chairman were on previous front pages and nothing new has been added. Disappointing definitly the word of the day and we've got nothing more to add, though we'll all probably hear a few things about young Nick in the pubs and at the ground on Saturday. Remember, families are present.
Still, these are his first words to the Charlton official site, now don't laugh.
New Charlton midfielder Nicky Bailey has pledged to give his all after clinching a dream switch to The Valley on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old joined the Addicks on a three-year deal from Southend United in a package that could rise to £750,000, and is champing at the bit to get stuck in to Championship football.
"I'd known about the interest for a few weeks, so it was great to finally sign. I can't wait to get out there now and show what I can do," Nicky told the official website, moments after completing his switch. There are some good quality players here, but my job now is to try to push them and get in the team - and get the club promoted."
Bailey hit a dozen goals for Southend last season to finish as the club's top scorer and was named player of the year in his first campaign at Roots Hall.
And he was delighted to reach the second level of the English game nine years after being rejected by London rivals Fulham as a youngster.
"For whatever reason, Fulham didn't sign me on YTS terms at 15," said Nicky, who dropped into non-League with Sutton United before helping Barnet back into the Football League in 2005. "I've had to work hard to get back to the position I am in today. It's been great to make my way back up from non-League after being released. I've always believed in my ability and now I've got a great chance to show I deserve to play at this level."
Over 100 games and handy goalscoring in tandem with tough-tackling at Underhill persuaded Steve Tilson to splash out £175,000 and take him to Roots Hall last summer - and the switch to The Valley means he has moved from the Conference to the Championship in five seasons.
And the newcomer hopes his all-action attributes will make him a firm fan favourite in SE7 as he goes straight into contention for Saturday's Championship clash at Watford.
He said: "Fans can expect someone who will give 110 per cent no matter what the score of what the circumstances are. I'm an all-action player. You'll see me straight away as I'll be in people's faces. I love my tackles and doing hard graft for the team, and obviously love getting forward and scoring goals as well."
Converted from a striker to a midfielder while with Sutton, Bailey once grabbed 19 goals from the centre of the park for the Gander Green Lane club.
And he added: "I scored quite a few for Sutton and have carried that on. I'm someone who likes to get into the box as often as I can and hopefully chip in with a few goals."
A former teammate of Dean Sinclair at Barnet, Bailey featured for Southend in their first league game of the season on Saturday, but was not involved in the Shrimpers' midweek Carling Cup defeat to Cheltenham Town.
He added: "I've never played at this level before, but I'm confident I can make the step up. Obviously each time I've moved up there have been a few questions hanging over my head, and it was up to me to prove I wasn't a bad buy. It's up to me to live up to my reputation and go out there and produce some good performances. I'm ready if selected on Saturday [against Watford]. I'll be giving my all, as I always do, and we'll hopefully get three points."
Aside from making his mark on the first team, Bailey's target is simple - to play in the top flight.
"I want to play in the Premier League with Charlton," he said. "When you sign for a new club, especially a big club like this, then the first aim is to get as high up in the league as possible and see where that takes us at the end of the season. I'm hopeful that we make the play-offs at least, but I'm hoping for automatic promotion."
The concentration now has to be on finding a replacement and good luck to Tilly there with two weeks to go to the end of August. As ever, a loan deal might be on the cards first.
If it is the Moose and Grant on Saturday TLG knows everyone in the away end will be 100% behind them and the rest of the team.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!