REACTION | Robinson heaps praise on captain Johnnie Jackson after final-day victory

George Jones reports from The Valley

Karl Robinson heaped the praise on club captain Johnnie Jackson after he skippered the Addicks to a 3-0, final-day victory against Swindon Town at The Valley.

Jackson has played more than 250 games in Charlton red and he is set to take up a player-coach role next season.

Goals from Josh Magennis, Jake Forster-Caskey and Ricky Holmes saw the Addicks ease past the Robins and afterwards Manager Robinson reserved applause for his inspirational captain.

“We played him off the striker in the second half to try and get him a goal!” the Manager said.

“When he got in behind, I was praying that he would score but he just couldn’t get enough on it.

“He has been, and continues to be, an amazing captain and person, and hopefully we’ll have some news next week about what we’ll be doing with him next season.

“We’ll be making some staff changes and Jacko is still going to be an integral figure at this football club.

“He’ll certainly play next season but today was his last game as just a player. It was emotional for him when he came off.

“Next season, he’ll be focused on the coaching and picking the team with me. I don’t think you can do that if you’re solely a player – you have to throw yourself into it.

“He wants to manage this football club one day. Over the next three or four years we have got to build something here that allows him to get to where he wants to get.”

The Addicks’ victory was their third in a row and fourth in five matches, and Robinson hopes that will stand them in good stead heading into the new season.

He said: “We’ve started to build up bit of moment and to develop a style of play. We have rode our luck on occasions, with some poor finishing, so we are still a long way off where we want to be.

“Our performances over recent weeks have been ok and I think you can see from our recent results that there has been an air of confidence about us.

“There were two players in the stand today that we are trying to sign. Hopefully they’ll be impressed and hopefully we can get some deals done in the next few weeks.”

The Manager also thanked the club’s fans for their backing.

He said: “Everyone has their own opinions [in regards to protests] and my job is purely on the football. I just have to try and give our fans something to cheer.

“Today, they got behind the team when we needed them and hopefully they were proud of their team.”