Charlton to become 5-a-side team

New manager Ian Dowie leads opening training session




At a hastily-arranged press conference, Charlton today confirmed that they had resigned from the Premiership with immediate effect in order to join the Greenwich & District Five-A-Side League (Division 4).

The departure of Chris Powell to Watford, the oft-rumoured sale of Luke Young to West Ham and the injury sustained by the club's only signing Cory Gibbs will not leave the Addicks with enough players to fulfil their fixtures.

Charlton will join nine other teams in the new League and new manager Iain Dowie confirmed he is confident of at least a 'top three' finish. They will open their 2006/07 campaign at home to Robert's Rockets, before facing tricky away ties at Barclays Bank (Bexleyheath) and the Fat Bastards.