Charlton legend Derek Hales has warned that Coca-Cola Championship relegation is a certainty next year – unless players start scrapping for survival.

In an outspoken condemnation of the Addicks’ failure to halt a downward spiral towards League 1 after 14 games without a win, he singled out the decision to sign seven players on loan for criticism.

Hales said: “What on earth are Charlton doing signing so many players on loan? Their loyalties are with their clubs, not Charlton. What do they care about Charlton?

“I would clear out the lot and give Charlton shirts to Charlton players. Right now, the club need a passionate response to their unacceptable position and you won’t get that from loan players.”

He admitted that Charlton’s present side are “ordinary”.

He added: “I go to games looking for players to roll up their sleeves ready to battle and scrap and I don’t see it. At the Burnley home game, it was 20 to 25 minutes before a player put in a tackle.

“We look a side that has already accepted their fate of League 1 football next season. That’s unacceptable to the club’s wonderful supporters and it’s unacceptable to me.”

Meanwhile, Nick Davies has returned to Charlton to take up the role as the club's new head of sports science. He replaces Niall Clark who left the club at the weekend.

Davies previously worked for the club as sports scientist during Alan Curbishley's reign and followed him when he left for West Ham in July, 2007.