Nigel Adkins Returns To Football Management

Nigel Adkins remains a big favourite amongst Saints supporters after taking us to back to back promotions, since he left Southampton he has had mixed fortunes, so we will all be pleased to hear that after a two year hiatus he is back in the game.

Charlton Athletic have appointed ex Saints manager Nigel Adkins as their new manager, the 56-year-old has agreed a two-and-half-year contract and succeeds Lee Bowyer, who left earlier this week to become Birmingham City's head coach.

Adkins has been out of work since leaving Hull City at the end of his contract in the summer of 2019.

He takes over a Charlton side who are in the final play off spot in League One, 10 points off the automatic promotion places and more importantly for Saints supporters 3 points above Portsmouth languishing in 10th position after a poor run.

It will be a tough task for Adkins to keep the Blue Few at bay, they have two games in hand and indeed having played 36 games the South London club have played more than all of their rivals.

"I believe Nigel is the perfect personality, with the perfect background and the perfect experience to get us to where we want to be," Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard told the club website.

"Both Nigel and I want us to playing football in the Premier League and I can't wait to see us there."

"It's a really exciting opportunity for me - something that has happened very quickly," Adkins said.

"I'm really pleased to be here and am looking forward to meeting the players and getting started.

"I had a conversation with Thomas and he highlighted where he wants this club to go.

"It's an exciting and long-term vision. Getting to the Premier League is something that we all want and something that I have done before. I want to achieve that again.

"The team got a great result on Tuesday night and now we need to keep driving on together, because we have got a chance of winning promotion this season."

If Nigel Adkins takes the club to the Play offs Saints fans will be delighted as it will more than likely mean that Pompey will miss out and be condemned to a tenth consecutive season in the basement of the Football League.

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