Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer devastated by relegation and doubtful over future

Bowyer, who took charge of Charlton in 2018 and guided them to the Championship via the League One play-offs, was utterly despondent

Lee Bowyer on the touchline as Charlton are beaten by Leeds (PA)

A devastated Lee Bowyer said he had “never felt so low” after Charlton were relegated to League One on the final day of the Championship season.

Charlton were hammered 4-0 by champions Leeds United on Wednesday evening to seal their fate, at the end of another season of turmoil off the pitch including a transfer embargo, a takeover and a public boardroom split.

Bowyer, who took charge of Charlton in 2018 and guided them to the Championship via the League One play-offs, was utterly despondent.

“I’ve never felt so low in my life,” Bowyer said, talking on TalkSport. “I’m not in a good place today. We have had to juggle a lot. There is so much that has gone on that no one even knows about. It has been frightening really, it is scary to see that things like this happen behind the scenes at a football club.

“I said to [assistant] Johnnie Jackson last night, ‘could we have done more?’ And Johnnie said we are getting blood out of a stone with this group of players. We were pushing and pushing them and couldn’t get any more out of them. We just needed help. We couldn’t bring players in this January when we desperately needed help. We had no help. If you keep cutting corners, this is what happens.”

The manager also sounded doubtful about his future at the club beyond the summer, and is set for talks with owner Paul Elliott as fears of entering administration grow.

“I have to be fair. Paul Elliott didn’t have to step up and and he stepped forward and put money in the bank. What will happen now, I don’t know. I will chat with him now and see what is going to happen going forward. We are still under an embargo – we can’t plan for next season. We can’t make any plans.

“We are losing so many players, loan players and players who are out of contract. How are we meant to rebuild? I don’t know what is going to happen. I just feel for everybody at the club.

“The game last night was frightening. The difference between the two teams was unreal. I played there [at Charlton] as a kid and came back as manager. We went into the play-offs and won promotion in my first full season. I will always have that bond there.

“There have been some great times this season too, some great performances. But I don’t know [about my future]. It’s not the right time to talk about my situation. The most important thing is I speak to Paul and see where we go. I have never felt so low in my life.”