Tag: release

Charlton Athletic predicted to release Chuks Aneke

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Charlton Athletic’s league form has taken a downturn after a promising start to the season.

They began brightly, winning four of their first six matches, but that early season momentum has since faded, with just two wins in the following 10 games.

Albeit they saw off ten-man Burton Albion on Tuesday night, Addicks fans will still be expectant of improvements. So far, it is their goalscoring which has let them down, as they average just a goal a game with their top scorer being Matt Godden with five.

January will likely see them look to resurrect these problems, and it could spell the end for long-term servant Chuks Aneke, who has struggled to make an impact in recent years.

To get further insight on whether it could be Aneke’s last year at the club, Football League World spoke to their resident Charlton pundit, Ben Fleming.

Charlton Athletic: Nathan Jones provides update on Miles Leaburn situation

Miles Leaburn was substituted during Charlton Athletic’s 2-1 loss to Huddersfield Town last weekend

Time for Aneke to depart Charlton

Posed the question about the 31-year-olds future, Fleming was quick to admit he believes the striker’s second spell should come to an end in 2025.

“I think, in all likelihood, it will be his final season at the club.

“I was looking at the article from when we signed him, and this is his last year contracted with us. I can’t see a world in which we renew his contract.

“Nathan Jones isn’t one to give out injury news, but he (Aneke) started a few games on the bench, then wasn’t in the squad, and basically hasn’t been seen since—for four or five games.

“It makes no sense to have a player who cannot start games and is incapable of staying fit for long periods. That’s not a slight against him. I would love for him to stay fit, and I’m sure no one is more frustrated or disappointed than him.”

Speaking about the finances behind Aneke, Fleming added: “I would imagine he is one of the better-paid players in the squad, given that he came down from Birmingham. You can’t justify that financial outlay on a player who can’t start games.

“It would take an absolutely miraculous turnaround, where he gets fit in the New Year or the coming weeks, gets some substitute appearances under his belt, and starts at the end of the season. But I just don’t see that happening. Since he has returned to the club, he has not been a consistent starter at any point during this time.

“It is a real shame, as before he moved to Birmingham, he was the most prolific striker in the league by a country mile, looking at goals per 90. But if you can’t stay fit for a sustained period of time, then there’s just no way any club at this level will deem it a necessary risk, especially given the wages I assume he is on.”

Chuks Aneke isn’t the same player

From 2017 to 2021, Aneke proved his worth for Milton Keynes Dons and Charlton, as he persistently scored goals whenever given the opportunity.

Chuks Aneke 2017-2021
Season	Team	Appearances	Goals	Assists
2017-18	MK Dons	35	10	10
2018-19	MK Dons	41	19	3
2019-20	Charlton	20	1	2
2020-21	Charlton	39	15	2

While injuries meant that he could never play a starring role, his “super sub” persona often came in clutch for his sides. Unfortunately, since he returned to the Addicks, his hamstring issues have got even worse to the point where he can’t play persistent games.

This will surely see him depart in June, as he looks to restart his career elsewhere. At 31-years-old, you could argue that he still has some time in football left, and if he can stay injury-free, he could get back to his goalscoring ways.

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November 29, 2024

Southampton FC helping HMP Winchester prisoners deal with release

BBC

Southampton manager Russell Martin said the scheme could help reintegrate released prisoners into the community

A mentoring scheme run by a Premier League football club is changing the lives of prisoners as they are released, an inmate has said.

Saints Restart is run by Southampton FC’s charity arm – the Saints Foundation – to reduce reoffending rates for prisoners leaving HMP Winchester through advice and physical activity sessions.

On a visit to the prison, Southampton manager Russell Martin said it was helping prisoners “reintegrate into the community”.

One of the 70 inmates involved said: “Without it, there would be a lot of people struggling.”

The Saints Foundation has worked with prisoners at HMP Winchester

Working with other agencies, the Saints Restart initiative involves group workshops, physical activity sessions and one-to-one mentoring aimed at preparing inmates with less than six months of their sentence remaining, for life outside prison.

Since September 2023, a rolling eight-week programme of workshops has focused on issues such as finding accommodation, getting a job, substance misuse, family relationships and mental health.

Government figures from 2022 showed 67% of adults who were homeless when they left prison committed a further offence within a year.

Of those who were in work six weeks after being released from custody, 17% reoffended within a year, compared to 35% of those who were still unemployed.

Russell Martin said such schemes were a “massive responsibility” for the football club.

“I spent a lot of time visiting friends and people in prison growing up,” he said.

“The power of something like this that the club can offer and attach themselves to is way beyond winning or losing a football match on a Saturday.

“Hopefully it can keep impacting lots of people’s lives.”

Steve, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, is 54 and serving an 18-month sentence having been in prison three times before

He said: “I was starting to get depressed and really anxious.

“Restart has made me feel positive, it’s been that bridging voice, between us and what happens next.”

Southampton manager Russell Martin held a coaching session at Winchester Prison’s gym

Another inmate whose name has also been changed, Andy, said: “You’ve got a routine [in prison]. Going back to daily life when you’ve got to stand on your own feet again – its a shock to anyone.

“This gives you some guidance to help you on your way when you out.

“You can ask the questions that are needed – it helps you process things, these emotions and anxieties, that’s all going to help when you’re released.”

He said the element of sport within the scheme was “massive”.

“If you are struggling to deal with anything – you can vent using sport, you can meet other people – it’s like a free medicine, it makes you feel good,” he added.

The mentoring contact continues after release, with departing inmates met at the prison gate before being taken to approved accommodation.

The pull of the football club is then used to keep people on track and help break cycles of reoffending.

Jed Haney of the Saints Foundation said: “The power of the badge is that everyone wants to be involved with a Premier League football team and upon release it’s a big carrot that can be dangled.

“But, also turning up to watch games with their family – especially if they have children – taking them to a game is huge.”

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November 19, 2024
English pop legend is set to release his first single in 12 years – after his smash-hit 1992 debut made him a household name
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By Chikamso Chukwuenyem For Mailonline

Published: 04:05 EDT, 7 September 2024 | Updated: 04:05 EDT, 7 September 2024

An English pop rock legend is set to release his first single in 12 years – after his smash-hit 1992 debut made him a household name.

Chesney Hawkes, 52, last released music in 2012 when he put out his third studio album, Real Life Love.

Son of Chip Hawkes, Chesney is best-known for his first single The One And Only, written by Nik Kershaw.

The One And Only featured, along with Chesney, in 1991 British comedy-drama Buddy’s Song.

The song was number one in the UK for five weeks and even reached the top-10 of the US charts.

An English pop rock legend is set to release his first single in 12 years – after his smash-hit 1992 debut made him a household name

Chesney Hawkes, 52, last released music in 2012 when he put out his third studio album, Real Life Love

Son of Chip Hawkes, Chesney is best-known for his first single The One And Only, written by Nik Kershaw

Now, Chesney is launching the ultimate comeback, in collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga producer Jake Gosling.

Get A Hold Of Yourself will be released on September 18 and is available for pre-sale now. It hopes to approach the success of The One And Only, unlike its predecessors.

Chesney told The Sun of the track, which will play on Radio 2 on the same day: ‘It’s really strange experiencing this all again – three decades later and with three decades worth of growing up.

‘It’s taken a long time to feel confident enough to really throw myself back into a project but growing up and feeling much more comfortable and freer within myself has allowed that to happen.

‘That’s what Get A Hold Of Yourself is about – getting hold of yourself and being free and not giving a f**k what people think. I think people are going to be surprised that this is a Chesney track. I can’t wait for people to hear it and think they will be surprised by the video for it!

In April, Chesney revealed that he squandered £8.2million after finding such huge success aged just 19.

Speaking on the My Dirty Laundry podcast, Chesney revealed he burned himself out with ‘utter exhaustion’ due to his ‘crazy’ lifestyle.

Admitting he can relate to fellow stars Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, he urges young people in the industry to ‘be careful and make sure they don’t burn out like he did.’

Chesney’s new single Get A Hold Of Yourself will be released on September 18. It hopes to approach the success of The One And Only, unlike its predecessors

Chesney admitted: ‘I did that classic thing when I first made it of just blowing everything. I bought a state of the art studio. I bought everyone in my family a car. So yeah, we had fun.

‘My brother Jodie is my drummer and he was with me through the whole time. And yeah, we enjoyed it, because we were young. We were 19 and 17, and we toured all over the world – America, Japan, it was an amazing time.

‘It was like living in the eye of a storm. So I had my family and the people around me in this kind of bubble, you know?

‘I would be thrown into the hurricane and I’d be gone. And then I’m off to Sweden and then I’m off to New York. I never knew where I was waking up for that first year. It was mental. It was really crazy.’

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English pop legend is set to release his first single in 12 years – after his smash-hit 1992 debut made him a household name
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September 7, 2024