Negotiations between Charlton and Lee Bowyer will be ‘last’ on the list of contracts discussed according the manager.

With himself and a number of first team players out of contract in the summer, Bowyer believes maintaining the services of playing personnel trumps that of his own.

Dillon Phillips recently signed a new contract with the club keeping him at The Valley until 2021 and Bowyer hopes more will follow suit.

“The players for the club are more important than myself at the moment,” he said.

“We are working on trying to secure the younger lads because they are the future of the club.

“Then the further along the line we get with them, then we’ll start looking at the senior ones to see where they are and whether they want to extend them.

“Mine will probably be last.”

Joe Aribo and George Lapslie are two of those whose contracts expire and the club will be eager to tie them down to longer deal or risk losing them for nothing at the end of the season.

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Earned a Contract

Regarding his own future Bowyer admitted it his first full season at Charlton has not been without issues but would be open to extend his stay at The Valley.

“It’s been hard at times especially with the window just gone, but I think I’ve earned another contract.

“I can see myself staying here, I can’t see why not, I think I’ve done a good job.”

One of those difficulties Bowyer refers to is the failed recruitment of a striker in January. Bowyer was keen to offer free agent Joe Mason a deal at the club but was denied doing so by the owners.

Asked whether he understood the rational in the decision Bowyer said:

“No, all I can say is we asked if we could bring Joe in and he said no we can’t bring in anybody.”

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