"Self-centred" - Lyle Taylor action at Charlton Athletic still shocks to this day | OneFootball

The striker refused to feature for the Addicks and left the club picking up the pieces after his departure

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Lyle Taylor’s time as a Charlton Athletic player got off to such a brilliant start, but ended in a turbulent manner with the player refusing to play for the club before agreeing a move elsewhere.

The forward was one of the hottest properties in the Football League at the time, with his power and pace up top proving to be a constant thorn in many a team’s sides as Athletic returned back to the second tier.

With a 21-goal season in League One under his belt, the striker was in red-hot form during the 19/20 season before the worldwide pandemic put paid to football for the coming months, before resuming later in the year.

But as The Valley prepared to host matches once again, Taylor opted to sit on the sidelines instead of taking to the pitch, something that Football League World’s Addicks fan pundit Ben Fleming still feels strongly about to this day.

Lyle Taylor refusing to play for Charlton Athletic deemed shocking

Taylor had taken to life in the second tier admirably with Charlton, with 11 goals in 22 games proving he had what it took to cut it during his first taste of life above League One.

Five goals in six league matches to start the season had the Addicks flying out the blocks, with further match-winning strikes coming against Barnsley, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town as we headed into the New Year.

But with the entire world coming to a halt, and Taylor’s contract coming towards an end, player and club were at loggerheads regarding his future, with the lack of uncertainty surrounding his security seeing him refuse to take to the field once play resumed.

As a result, Charlton struggled to recreate their early-season form while their forward watched on, with Fleming still struggling to comprehend the actions of the club’s striker.

When asked what decision still shocks him to this day, the Addicks fan told Football League World: “I think that would probably be the decision for Lyle Taylor to refuse to play for us. It wasn’t a decision by the club, but it was certainly a decision by one of the players that shocked me.

“He had a really good season with us in League One and been a massive part of us going to the Championship and we had given him that opportunity by taking him on the season before.

“He had a good start in the Championship, and then obviously after Covid hit, and when play restarted he refused to play his contract was running out and he didn’t want to jeopardise a big move in the summer by getting a big injury in the remaining games.

“He has been on multiple podcasts and radio interviews defending the decision, and I think Lyle Taylor wanted some insurance put in place that would pay out in case he was injured and that would scupper a summer move.

“It was probably one of the most self-centred decisions I had seen in my life by a player, which was very disappointing given everything that we gave to him in terms of allowing him to play in the Championship, and providing that platform by bringing him in.”

Charlton Athletic suffered major consequences after Lyle Taylor decision

With their main source of goals refusing to play, Charlton knew they had their work cut out to score enough goals in their fight for safety, but tried valiantly to stay in the division all the same.

Two wins after the restart saw them start to allay their relegation fears, before the goals started drying up, with the ball hitting the back of the net just four times in their final seven matches, with relegation confirmed on the final day.

With just a point separating Athletic and safety by the end, Taylor’s inclusion could have made all the difference for his club, with his self-sustaining choice still not sitting well with Fleming to this day.

Ben continued: “He was a massive part in getting us promoted, but I don’t think one happens without the other, and to not repay that faith in any way, by not even sitting on the bench but refusing to play, and then having us go down on the last day of the season in the last few minutes.

“You think how different things could have been if he had played those last stretch of games and got us one more goal, won us one more game, or won us literally one more point.

“He got the move he deserved and wanted, but we ended up back in League One, but the fact that it still gets brought up today and the fact he has to defend it shows just what a bad decision it was.

“I don’t think any Charlton fan will forgive him anytime soon, but it is still pretty remarkable to look on a few years down the line.

“You have a contract and you can’t even repay that for a club that has given you such a good platform. It’s not good.”