In news that has pleased me but might not go down so well with Chris Solly, Charlton have snapped up right-back Simon Francis from cash-strapped Southend. The 25-year-old follows former Roots Hall compatriot Alan McCormack to the Valley and once he is match fit, should slot in as our first choice number two.
Up the other end of the field, Sky Sports is reporting that we are closing in on the signing of Oldham striker Pawel Abbott. The gangly frontman was the Latics' top scorer last term with 13 goals, and even though he is not as prolific as he was in his Huddersfield days, the Pole's height, strength and ability to hit the target will bolster our strike force - sorry, give us a strike force.
That same article also informs us that Charlton have bid for another unnamed striker. I have heard rumours that this elusive figure is York's Richard Brodie - who scored an absolute bucketful in the Blue Square Premier last season - but it could also be on-trial Icelander Gunnar Thorvaldsson, who is still contracted to Danish club Esbjerg fB.
The Addicks' final pre-season friendly takes place this weekend, with Parky's boys visiting Vicarage Road to take on Watford. The old cliche is that friendly results don't matter - in this case, though, I'd have to disagree. The Hornets look one of the weakest Championship sides on paper, so we really should give them a stiff examination and aim to get in the groove ahead of the League One opener against Bournemouth next Saturday.
I hope Therry Racon is given a substantial time on the pitch in Hertfordshire, to reassure me that he is staying more than anything else us. I haven't heard too many rumours about the Frenchman swaggering through the exit door but he has had a quiet pre-season and I still have my suspicions he could be off.
The classy ex-Marseille man has not always bossed our games the way he should but - with the possible exception of Johnnie Jackson - he is our only central midfielder who can devise attacking openings and should he head for pastures new, it would be a substantial loss.
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