Charlton Athletic had a successful first season back in the Championship under Nathan Jones.

The Addicks were promoted from League One via the play-offs a year ago and have since maintained their status in the second division.

The London club ended 19th in the rankings, six points ahead of the relegation zone and with several games remaining.

It was a rough finale to the season, as they won only one of their last nine league games, dropping down the standings in the final weeks.

It might be a busy summer at the Valley, as the club looks to enhance its first-team squad in hopes to return to the Championship next year.

Fans will be hopeful that the owners, Global Football Partners, would invest in the squad throughout the transfer window.

Additional investment required at Charlton.

Championship rivals Derby County have been connected with a change in ownership structure following interest from Turki Alalshikh.

According to reports, the Saudi Arabian is negotiating a deal with David Clowes to invest in the Rams, which might boost their hopes of promotion back to the Premier League.

When asked about the possibility of external investment in the Addicks, FLW’s Charlton fan analyst Chris Woodward stated that he would like to see more money invested in the team.

While he is concerned that new investment does not guarantee success and that they must continue to spend in a sustainable manner, he believes they are now unable to compete financially with larger clubs.

“I’d like to see further investment in Charlton but only under the consensus we were very careful in selecting or approving certain individuals who would like to invest,” Woodward said to Football League World.

“Take Chelsea’s present ownership, for example, or our prior ownership under Roland Duchâtelet, where greater money does not always translate into better or more successful outcomes.

“Our present ownership group has been extremely wise in not only rebuilding the players, but also the entire infrastructure of the club, all while ensuring that the club is run in a sustainable manner.

“However, if we are being brutally honest, Charlton doesn’t generate enough income yet to compete with bigger sides at this level, and with the new salary cap rules, we’re at a disadvantage.”

Woodward has stated that he would like further financial support because the present owners will not be willing to match the upper limit of the new spending guidelines, putting them farther behind their competitors.

“Owners can still put in an extra £33 million over three years, which could go a long way,” he said.

“However, our owners, who are willing to invest, aren’t ready to commit that much money just yet.”

“I believe we need and would appreciate further financial support, but it must be handled wisely and strategically, rather than simply throwing it away because it is available.

“Otherwise it could be very harmful for the long-term future of the club.”

Charlton returned to the Championship last year after winning the play-offs, and they have managed to stay there.

However, the summer transfer market provides the club with another opportunity to invest in the squad, and it is unclear what their plans are for the next months.

Jones will be looking to strengthen the squad in order to keep Charlton on track under his leadership.

The transfer market will officially open on June 15 and finish on September 1, leaving plenty of time to finalise the summer strategy.

Charlton’s owners will require additional cash to fight at the top of the Championship.

The team will require new funding from somewhere in order to compete for promotion in the future, or even to preserve their current position in the second division.

If the current owners are unwilling to fulfil the new expenditure limits, they may seek external investors to help bridge the gap.

However, the key will be to maintain a sustainable platform, as Charlton is well aware of the implications of overspending.