Charlton Athletic have terminated Greg Docherty’s contract after two years at the club.
The 29-year-old midfielder has left after having scored five goals in 90 appearances since he joined in July 2024 on a free transfer and appointed captain a month later following his release from Hull City, and he helped the Addicks regain promotion to the Championship via the 2025 League One Play-Offs.
Docherty has penned a farewell message thanking Charlton for entrusting him as captain and reflected on a memorable play-off campaign and subsequent survival which fulfilled his aim to consolidate their Championship status.
“To be named captain of such an iconic football club was nothing short of a privilege. I felt the weight and expectation that title carries, but I can wholeheartedly say I gave my absolute all to represent the club properly every single day with the upmost respect that I felt it deserved through the good and the bad moments.
“I joined the club with one aim: to help make Charlton an established Championship club again. Being the first captain to lead the club to promotion and then safety the following season is an achievement I am, and always will be, immensely proud of.
“Thinking back to the play-off campaign fills me with so much pride. From the first-leg pitch invasion at full time, to seeing 40,000+ red flags and shirts at Wembley and lifting the play-off final trophy, it’s a feeling I don’t think will ever be replicated.
“It goes without saying that I am devastated to be leaving this club but football moves fast. I’m so proud of what I achieved here and I leave behind an amazing chapter in my football career, an incredible group of teammates, staff and people behind the scenes who make this club what it is, along with genuine friendships that I’ll cherish for a long time.
“I’ll always be grateful for my time at Charlton and everything the club has given me, but football moves fast I’m now excited to see what the future holds.
“Thank you for all of your support. It’s been a pleasure.”
Manager, Nathan Jones thanked Docherty – affectionately known as ‘Doc’ – for his graft and work to help Charlton get back into the Championship and stay up, and for his understanding that the club’s evolution meant that his game time would of been limited and gracefully parting company.
“Doc from the moment that I met him was everything that I believed he was. He’s a leader, an unbelievable pro and he should take his rightful place in the history of Charlton Athletic.
“He captained the football club through a tough time to promotion in his first season and then he was instrumental in pretty much all of the wins we had in the Championship last season – we needed our captain, he showed up.
“The tough thing is, we want to evolve, we want to improve on every level and it meant that Doc’s game time was probably going to be more limited than he wanted. We had open conversations around that and felt that this was the best way forward.
“Doc has been an inspirational captain, he’s been wonderful to deal with every day, I cannot speak highly enough of him. He leaves the club with masses and masses of respect, with our thanks and our gratitude and with a real heavy heart because we’re going to miss him.
“We thank him for everything. He gave us, and certainly gave me, one of the greatest days I’ve ever had, at Wembley. I wish him all the best, he’s always welcome back at this football club.”
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