Exclusive: Charlton Athletic appoint Phil Chapple as head of recruitment – Valley return for ex-defender

Charlton Athletic have appointed Phil Chapple to head up their recruitment.

The South London Press understands that the 58-year-old, who recently left Luton Town, is coming back to play a key role in their upcoming transfer window activity.

Norwich-born Chapple played for the Addicks. He was signed for £100,000 from Cambridge United in 1993.

Chapple took on the chief scout role at Charlton in 2007 and then had a brief spell in Phil Parkinson’s coaching team before reverting back in 2009.

He joined Fulham in 2015.

Chapple has a strong bond with Addicks manager Nathan Jones. Jones was in charge at Stoke City when Chapple went there as head of first-team recruitment in September 2019. Prior to that he had been Brighton’s European scout.

At the time of that appointment, Jones told Stoke’s website: “I’ve known Phil a long time, having worked with him at Charlton. He has a fantastic record in terms of talent identification and he’s someone whose judgement I trust implicitly.”

Chapple became head of scouting operations at Luton in February 2021.

Jones told the Hatters’ website at that time: “I took him with me to Stoke, where things didn’t quite work out, but we are absolutely delighted to get him on board here.

“His eye for talent is excellent. He’s right at the cutting edge of things with his decision-making and what he sees is very good, so we are delighted to have him.”

Charlton parted company with technical director Andy Scott in February.

PICTURE: ALAMY