Charlton Director Steve Gallen shed light on Lee Bowyer’s contract situation amid uncertainty over the manager’s future.

Bowyer’s success in his short tenure at the helm has seen his name linked to managerial vacancies when they arise, most recently Cardiff City’s top job.

In under two years at the club, Bowyer has led Charlton to back to back League One play-offs, winning promotion last season and now showing his pedigree working under a tight budget in the Championship as his side hold their own.

Speaking at a fans AGM, former Head of Recruitment and now on the Board of Directors at Charlton, Gallen has somewhat put Addicks fans at ease but knows how precarious the situation is in keeping Bowyer at The Valley.

“I do worry about Lee leaving sometimes,” he said.

“I speak to him about it and I know he doesn't want to go anywhere.

“Lee's contract is up in the summer and he needs to be given a longer contract. He needs to be given some type of stability. We're desperate for it. Lee really wants that.

“Lee is desperate to stay and extend and then we can focus on looking forward to the next few years and not six months at a time.”

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Charlton sit 11th in the Championship as the January transfer window nears.

Keeping hold of Bowyer however remains the priority for Gallen who believes tying down the manager to a longer contract is required to avoid the hullabaloo that occurred four months ago when it looked like Bowyer and owner Roland Duchatelet couldn’t agree on a new deal.

“We cannot have all the confusion about whether Lee had left or not,” Gallen added.

“There was probably some cat and mouse going on between Lee and Roland calling each other's bluff but Lee was very calm about it.

“Roland is no fool, but he feels that potential buyers might stall if they want to bring in their own people and see that it will cost them a lot to get the current team out.

“But I agree with the fans that Lee must be given a longer contract, we need to stop planning window to window and start thinking longer term.”

As for what the fans can do to voice their opinions, Gallen felt a protest or a matchday boycott was not the answer, favouring more a vocal support for Bowyer during matches.

“Voice it at games. Roland watches the games and if the fans are singing things - in a dignified and positive way - it will get heard!”

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