Anger Grows Over Bonuses

Public anger reached a crescendo last night, following annoucement of a plan to pay millions in bonuses dubbed 'reward for failure.'

The recipients are all footballers with Charlton Athletic, a once successful and profitable institution, brought to its knees by the ineptitude of its management.

Despite the unprecedented scale of recent losses, some of the bonuses are believed to be contractual, whilst others are set to be paid to ensure so-called 'talent retention'.

"We're all embarrassed by recent results," admitted Addicks supremo Richard Murray, "...but if we don't pay these bonuses, the players will simply move elsewhere."

Indeed interested scouts from Bromley FC are already believed to be sniffing around, ready to pounce upon any unhappy players.

Many of the deals were agreed during the boom times, although Murray was swift to acknowledge that the payment of bonuses must appear abhorrent to most Addicks supporters.

"Fans have to understand that as ridiculous as it might seem now," Murray interjected, "...but at the time we signed him, there were other teams interested in Darren Ambrose."

Murray was pleased however to confirm that the remuneration of Charlton's strikers is heavily weighted towards 'goal bonuses'.

"We might have gone into administration otherwise," he laughed, "...poor Luke Varney was almost penniless when he left."