Saga ends as Simon signs
Patience paid off for Simon Francis when the right-back became Charlton's fifth summer signing on Friday morning.
The 25-year-old joined the Addicks from Southend United for an initial £35,000 fee on a two-year deal, and was delighted to link up with his new club eight days before the new League One campaign kicks off.
"I'm really pleased,” Simon told CAFC Player. "It's been a bit of an ongoing saga, but I'm really happy to be here and I'm glad it's all finally done. It was great to be out there training with the boys and getting ready for the season.
"I had to be patient. It's been very frustrating for a number of reasons I don't want to go into.
"It's been a frustrating time for me over the summer, and pre-season has been hard for me because I haven't had any games, and not a lot of ball work. I've been doing a lot of running on my own with the fitness coach at Southend.
"I wanted this move to happen as soon as possible. I knew a while ago that the gaffer was interested in me and as soon as I was told of Charlton's interest I wanted to talk about it and get down here. I'm glad it's done now."
Francis was Southend's player of the season last campaign, missing just one league fixture as, beset by well documented financial off-field problems, the Shrimpers slid to League One relegation.
And he immediately linked up in SE7 with one familiar face in the shape of summer midfield signing Alan McCormack, who was also at Roots Hall until the summer.
"It was great to get out training," said Simon, whose lack of significant match action makes him a doubtful participant in Saturday's pre-season trip to Watford. "It was good to meet all the boys.
"Obviously, I know Macca from Southend, but it was good to do some ball work and work on possession. That's what I've missed. I've been doing a lot of running but I just want to get on the ball and start getting used to match situations again.
"Although Southend got relegated, which was disappointing, I had a good season," added Simon, whose career began at Bradford City when he was spotted playing for Nottingham College.
"I picked up the player of the year award and only missed one league game through suspension. I didn't miss a day of training, so injury-wise I stayed pretty fit.
"That's what helped me, really. It was a good season and I'm glad I can end it on a high with someone like Charlton coming in for me and saying they wanted to sign me."
Francis, whose senior career started at another Valley, Valley Parade, debuted for the Bantams as a 17-year-old in 2002, but left the club after administrators accepted a £200,000 bid from Sheffield United.
He only played 15 times for the Blades in just over two seasons, featuring on loan at Grimsby Town and Tranmere Rovers before arriving at Southend in summer 2006.
And he was twice on the losing side against the Addicks as the Shrimpers lost 1-0 at The Valley in December before Kyel Reid's stunning late strike earned a 2-1 away win at Roots Hall in February.
"It wasn't that great at The Valley, and we didn't get the result we wanted," recalled Francis. "At home, though, I thought it was a great game, a great game for the neutral to watch and it was a great win for Charlton."
Francis was a prominent figure in the match in Essex, seeing one free-kick brilliantly saved by Rob Elliot before hitting the crossbar with another fine set-piece after the break.
In between times, he produced a miraculous goalline clearance to foil David Mooney, but the Shrimpers were unable to hold onto their interval advantage as a cracking contest went the way of the Londoners.
He admitted: "It was exciting right until the last minute. I think we played really well that day; it was probably one of our best games of the season.
"If we had put a few more performances like that together, we might have had a chance to stay up. It was more what happened off the field that really affected the team on the pitch."
McCormack was also on Shrimpers duty that entertaining evening, and Francis revealed that the Irishman had played a part in his arrival in SE7.
"I only know a few lads from playing against them. When you bump onto them on the pitch you get to know their names and faces and that sort of thing," he said.
"Obviously Macca's the one that I know from playing with him at Southend, but I'm sure it won't take me long to get to know all the boys' names. I wasn't planning on seeing him [McCormack] that soon after the season finished, though!
"I met up with him in the summer a few times, so that was pretty good and we talk a lot. He's told me a lot about the club, and it's always good if you know someone who is here.
"He's told me what a great move it was for him and I'm obviously pleased for him and glad to get a deal sorted for myself as well."
So what can the Valley faithful expect of their new recruit this season?
"I'm a right-back and I like to get forward a lot, I think the manager knows that," Simon continued.
"He told me he is going to allow me to do that as much as I can, to bomb up and down, and work with whomever is the winger in front of me.
"First and foremost, I want to prove I am a good defender at this level and hopefully take the team up a level. I know I can play at this level and hopefully I can push on with Charlton and get up to the Championship."
Francis was left impressed at the stature of The Valley when playing at the fabled venue late last year, and is hoping to bring the good times back to SE7.
"As soon as you mention the name 'Charlton Athletic' and you come to the training ground and you see The Valley, it's a Premier League set-up," he said. "That's one of the reasons I came here.
"It's a great stadium. I hope we get the same crowds as we did last year, because it was a great atmosphere when I played there for Southend.
"I know there is a real Premier League feel to home games, given the size of the stadium, and I hope the fans get behind us and we can win as many games as we can.
"We don't deserve to be in League One and hopefully I can be a part in getting the club promoted."
That promotion dream will kick off next Saturday against AFC Bournemouth and, despite his lack of pre-season action, Francis will be working hard to play a part against the Cherries.
"Personally, I want to play as many games as I can, and I hope to be fit for the start of the season," he said.
"I'll be doing a lot of the fitness work with Donough Holohan and working with the boys and the manager. If he feels I'm fit enough, which I want to be, then hopefully I'll start the season.
"It's only a week away, and the manager knows - and all those boys who were here before and those who have come in know - that we have got to be there or thereabouts, in the top two or the play-offs.
"A club of this stature has got to be looking to get automatic promotion."
CAFC Player continues to have all the big names this summer, bringing subscribers interviews with Francis joining the likes of Phil Parkinson, Dailly, Kyel Reid, Mark Kinsella, Jackson, Chris Solly and Donough Holohan, while fans will be able to hear live commentary from every Charlton fixture - home and away - this season via the video website, courtesy of the club's official radio partners, BBC LONDON 94.9.
With yearly subscriptions available from just £34.99, or £3.99 per month, CAFC Player is the place to be for all your Addicks news, views, action and reaction.
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