CHRIS Powell admitted addressing the future of a number of players and staff will be first on his agenda if the proposed takeover of Charlton goes through.

The Addicks confirmed at the weekend they were in advanced talks with Belgian millionaire Roland Duchâtelet about buying the club and the deal is expected to be officially completed early in the new year.

Powell, his coaching staff and a number of players are out of contract in the summer, and following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday the manager conceded that it is his intention to tie people down to longer deals.

The SE7 boss said:“A lot of them deserve to have their futures secured.

“Obviously I will ask about my staff and myself and ask about their (new owners) plans for the football club.

“I want the players sorted out, they are the ones who go out week-in, week-out, and I know it’s down to me and I am responsible for my team and my club.

“You want to be rewarded, the players do, no doubt.

“They don’t want to be in a position in six months time where they don’t know where they’re going to be in the summer.

“That is the same for me and my staff, so we will see where it takes us.

“We’ll see exactly what is going to happen now if this investment goes through, and what the new people think.

“And obviously I’ve got to have discussions if and when it happens.”

Powell added: “I’ve got on well with the owners at the club now.

“Who knows what the future will bring?

“If I have a good relationship with the new people then great, I would like that to happen in an ideal world.

“But I can’t second guess, I really can’t.”

Powell has been deprived of funds since the club were promoted to the Championship in May 2012 and the Addicks boss admitted he will look to strengthen his side in the January transfer window.

But he is unsure yet whether some much-needed cash will be made available by the new owners to bolster his squad.

He said: “I don’t know what the intentions are, whether they’re going to spend money and allow us to do things like that.

“Of course it is an ideal time but until I have discussions and speak to people, the right people, then I am just guessing like everyone else.

“It might be the same (budget) as it is now, I don’t know.”

Powell added: “We’re all saying that new investment might mean investment in players - but it might not.

“We’ve got to make sure what the intentions of possible new owners are for the football club and whether they are looking to improve the squad.

“I’m sure they are because of where we are at.

“I would love that to happen and, I am sure that our supporters would as well.

“Ultimately, it’s the fans’ club.”

But despite being in the dark over whether funds will be forthcoming, Powell was keen to stress the point he does need to strengthen a squad lacking in numbers.

He explained: “We do need investment, we haven’t had any and we’re battling away.

“It’s my job to galvanise and try and gee up players that were at League One level and pushed themselves last year.

“We’re having to push them again with a smaller squad and a few academy products that have stepped up, but of course we want to be higher.

“As I said on the pitch at the end of last season, I want to push this club on.

“The last two years I had it exactly where I wanted it, but to move on, to push on, you have to improve your squad.

“We haven’t been able to do that, so the players have stepped up and fought away, as much as they can, and it’s brought us 23 points from 23 games.”

Powell added: “Do we want that to be better second half? Absolutely.

“But they keep pushing themselves.

“They need help, we all do. This club needs it.

“We want to move forward and if that’s with new investment and people coming in, then you want to know what their intention is for the football club.

“Let’s see what it brings for me, my staff, the players and more importantly the supporters of this football club.”

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