Jack Payne became Ben Garner's sixth recruit of the summer when he signed a two year contract with The Addicks on Monday.
The 27 year old Londoner began his career at Southend for whom he made 77 appearances and scored 15 goals. Aged 21 he was voted player of the year in the 2015/16 season. His performances earned him a move to Championship club Huddersfield where he played 28 games in their promotion season to The Premier League in 2017. He wasn't, however, considered ready to play at the higher level and spent the last two years of his contract on loan in League One at Oxford and Blackburn in 2017/18 and Bradford City in 2018/19.
He then had a season at Lincoln before joining Swindon in June 2020. He made 78 appearances in his two years there scoring 17 goals. Most significant, however, is the fact that he scored 13 of them in 35 appearances under Ben Garner last season. He was also credited with 6 assists.
In total he has scored 28 goals at League One level in 183 games over six seasons. When we consider the 7 scored by Lee, Gilbey, Dobson and Morgan combined last season it does suggest that we might be treated to the sight of a goal scoring midfielder at long last.
Payne said: "I have played under the gaffer before and got on really well with him. I played some of my best football under him and I am just looking to recreate that here. He spoke so highly of the club and it was a massive factor, as well as many other reasons, in me wanting to be here."
Garner said: "It was important to add further creativity to our squad and we have done that successfully with the addition of Jack. He has fantastic technical ability and vision, allowing him to both score and create goals. Just as importantly Jack has the work ethic, character and personality that will really strengthen our dressing room. He is a first class professional who very much fits the culture and environment we want to have."
Here is the reaction of Swindon based reporter Johnny Leighfield (although he bizarrely seems to think Jack played two seasons in League Two with Swindon):
The full story from the CAFC website: