02:23PM, Thursday 25 February 2016
Yann Kermorgant issued a scathing attack on Charlton Athletic's 'deluded' owners as he prepares to face his former club on Saturday.
The 34-year-old striker, who joined Reading from Bournemouth in the January transfer window, played for the Addicks for two-and-a-half years before his surprise departure.
This week, the Frenchman explained how he wished to stay at the club before Roland Duchatelet took over in January 2014, and how Charlton's current state disappoints him.
"I’m gutted because I think they have wasted the club," Kermorgant said.
"When I left the club, I didn’t really want to leave. I wanted to sign a new deal, stay long-term at the club.
"I thought it would happen with the new owner, but finally when I had my first meeting with them I found out it was completely different.
"For me, they were completely deluded. They didn’t know too much about football."
Kermorgant foresaw the demise of the Addicks, who sit at the foot of the Championship with manager Jose Riga tasked wit the hefty challenge of salvaging their Championship status. Kermorgant doesn't see survival as very likely.
"I felt like they would be in trouble because that’s not how it works in football," he said.
"It’s different to a business at a football club, and it looked like their position was weird. I can see two years after where they are and where I am, and I can see it was the right decision.
"Now, they are bottom of the league and I can see them being relegated at the end of the season."
Kermorgant has not scored since he moved to Berkshire but is hoping he can get off the mark on Saturday and score for the first time against the Addicks.
He said: "Mine has been a bit of a change from last season where I finished so well and was on fire, scoring goals and assists in almost every game in the last five or 10 games.
"After I have not been given much chance in the Prem, so it affects mentality and your confidence. But now I start playing again (and) feel good - just need a goal now."
He added: "My goal will come soon, it is not important. If I score and we lose then I’m not happy. The most important (thing) is to win the game."
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