The lack of front men at the club has been causing a heavy debate on Charlton forums and social media with fans concerned it may cost the club promotion back to the Championship.

After a fifth home league win on the spin for the Addicks since April, then most people won’t care who scores just as long as we end up with 3 points.

So does a Twenty League goal a season player guarantee who promotion? No, far from it, but it does go a long way. 7 of the 9 promotions have seen someone hit that total.

Charlton’s nine promotions have seen the top scorers and league goals scored as follows.

1928/1929: Champions of the Third Division (South). Fred Whitlow: 22 League goals. Total League goals scored: 86 from 42 games.

1934/1935: Champions of the Third Division (South). Ralph Allen: 32 League goals. Total League goals scored: 103 goals from 42 games.

1935/1936: Runners Up of the Second Division.
Harold Hobbis 23 League goals. Total League goals scored: 85 goals from 42 games.

1974/1975: Promotion from the Third Division.
Derek Hales 20 League goals. Total League goals scored: 76 goals from 46 games.

1980/1981: Promotion from the Third Division.
Derek Hales 17 League goals. Total League goals scored: 63 goals from 46 games.

1985/1986: Runners Up of the Second Division.
John Pearson 14 League goals. Total League goals scored: 78 goals from 42 games.

1997/1998: Promotion from the Old First Division.
Clive Mendonca 23 League goals. Total League goals scored: 80 goals from 46 games.

1999/2000: Champions of the Old First Division.
Andy Hunt 24 League goals. Total League goals scored: 79 goals from 46 games.

2011/2012: League One Champions.
Bradley Wright-Phillips 22 League goals. Total League goals scored: 82 goals from 46 games.

So would a proflic front man help this current squad? That goes without saying, but with less than 2 weeks before the end of the transfer window, the manager is going to have to pull another rabbit from his magician’s hat from the bargain basement/loan market, or ask the owner for more funds.

However the likes of Stuart Leary, Mike Flanagan, Johnny Summers, “King” Arthur Horsfield & Dennis “Daisy” Edwards have ended up with that 20 plus mark, but for other reasons failed to gain the bubbly at the end of the season.

With the likes of Holmes, Clarke, Magennis & Forster-Caskey in the eleven and god willing they stay injury free then should be able to hit 40 league goals between them. Chuck in another 30 goals from the rest of the squad plus a steady back four keeping that ball out, then why can’t promotion happen.

Bolton went up as Runners Up from League One last season. 68 goals scored, and only 36 goals conceded.
Their top scorers was four different players with only nine goals each! And that includes one of their centre backs.

Here’s hoping that elusive 20 goal poacher arrives soon, but if not, promotion can still be achieved.