Highly rated Charlton Athletic winger Jerome Thomas is thanking his lucky stars as his prospective move to Fulham fell apart in January when the then Addicks boss Les Reed thought he was not needed at the Valley.
Thomas is delighted to be at Addicks and playing in the first team again after Alan Pardew took over.
Charlton and Fulham had agreed a fee for the versatile midfielder and it looked as though a deal was on the verge of going through until it collapsed.
Thomas, who played for England U-21, signed for Charlton in 2004.
“I think Charlton and Fulham had got as far as agreeing a fee but for some reason the deal didn’t go through,” disclosed 23-year-old Thomas. I’m glad because I never wanted to leave and feel I can be a big success at Charlton.
“Les (Reed) basically told me I wasn’t needed at the club, which was disappointing because he was my manager at England youth level. But things can turn around quickly in football and I’m enjoying playing for Alan Pardew.”
In October 2006, Thomas, who had a couple of loan spells with QPR when at Arsenal, signed a new contract keeping him at the club until the summer of 2008.
