Bowyer’s ex-Charlton boss Steve Gritt: I never thought Lee would go into coaching - he has to test himself now

Steve Gritt, joint-manager with Alan Curbishley when Bowyer made his Addicks debut in September 1994, knew he’d have a huge playing career.

But Charlton’s new caretaker boss was often dogged by controversy - on and off the pitch.

Addicks legend Gritt, 60, believes Bowyer wouldn't be in the position he is now if he hadn't learned from bad experiences.

He told News Shopper: “Everybody knew that he would go on to play for a bigger club than what Charlton were at the time. He played for England and he had a terrific career.

“I wouldn't have ever thought of him going into coaching, not from what I could see, but he was a young player then.

“He was still growing up, he was still very young to the game. He had opinions, he certainly spoke his mind. He was an aggressive player and I think that aggression was a little bit misplaced at times.

“He probably sometimes took it to places he shouldn't have done. But having said that, he knew when he made an error and he knew when he had to reel himself in a bit which he did.

Lee Bowyer during his Charlton playing days

“Now, I don't think he’d be in the position he is now if he hadn't learned from things he might've done wrong in the past.

“So he’s now in a position where he’s got more responsibility, a lot more responsibility than what he had at the start of the week.”

Gritt, who made 380 league appearances for Charlton in two spells, says Bowyer must grab his chance following the departure of Karl Robinson, starting against Plymouth today.

He added: “It’s up to him to take that forward and to test himself to see if he’s got the ability to make it as a manager.

“He’s obviously learned and taken things in with various managers and coaches he’s worked with. He’s now got the opportunity to work for himself. Let’s see what he can do.”

Gritt, now assistant manager at Ebbsfleet United, also knows the feeling of being a caretaker boss, having had a short spell at Millwall.

Bowyer left Charlton for Leeds United in a £2.8m deal in 1996, a record fee for a British teenager at the time, and went on to play for West Ham, Newcastle, Birmingham and Ipswich.

Now, he takes over an Addicks side who are five points off a top six place with ten games remaining.

When asked if he thinks Bowyer could lead Charlton to the Championship this season, Gritt said: “I think only time will tell. He’s certainly worked with a lot of good managers and coaches.

“For somebody who’s played at the level he’s played at, and if he hasn't learned from those people, then it could be very difficult for him. But he’ll have learned working with Karl.

“It’s really up to him, he has to now go into the role, if he sees things differently, then he has to be his own man. Whether he would've wanted the role this early, I don't know. That’s something only he can say.

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“But sometimes, you don't really know how you'll cope with it until it’s placed in your lap. That will be a telling thing to see over the next 10 games.”

Bowyer will be assisted by club captain Johnnie Jackson. The pair were part of Robinson’s backroom staff.

Jackson has been through the good and bad times at the Valley - and Gritt reckons he’ll be invaluable to Bowyer.

He explained: “The crowd will certainly get behind the two of them. Johnnie has been there for a long time now.

“He’s been there through thick and thin. It’ll be interesting to see how they play and how the results go.

“But Johnnie will be an important person alongside Lee because the two of them have various experience at various levels and he’ll need to lean on Johnnie at times.”

Takeover delays have brought uncertainty to Charlton’s future. Wantaway owner Roland Duchatelet has been trying to sell the club for the past year.

Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet

An Australian consortium are believed to be close to ending Duchatelet’s disastrous four-year reign in SE7.

And Gritt hopes the takeover is completed soon.

He said: “I’ve been as disappointed as anybody with what’s been going on in the background. It’s a different era now for the team and for Lee and Johnnie and all the other coaches.

“The sooner they can get the takeover resolved the better it’ll be for the present management team.

“If the present management team eventually take over [on a full-time basis] then great, if not then the new owners will come in and they’ll want to put new people into the team or club.

“But that’ll be up to the new owners if or when the takeover ever gets resolved.

“That seems to be the biggest problem and frustration for everyone at the club, the fact the takeover was going to happen at a certain time and people are still waiting.”

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