Ambrose vows to make most of fresh start
Darren Ambrose admits it was the frustration at being squeezed out of Newcastle’s plans which prompted his summer switch to Charlton.
The 21-year-old is among seven players to have left Newcastle this summer, some of them in the most acrimonious of circumstances.
Welsh striker Craig Bellamy was offloaded to Blackburn after his public falling-out with manager Graeme Souness.
French winger Laurent Robert, who has joined Portsmouth on a year-long loan deal, was fined a total of four weeks’ wages by the Magpies for his public criticism of Souness and the club.
But while Ambrose was disappointed to find he had no future at St James’ Park, he did at least leave the club on good terms.
“I don’t think I got as many chances as I would have liked up there,” said Ambrose.
“It was obviously one of the reasons why I came to Charlton. I am looking for a regular first-team spot.
“It was frustrating up there. I got a few games under Bobby Robson and I was disappointed I didn’t get a lot of chances but it wasn’t to be.
“I have nothing bad to say about them. I enjoyed my time at Newcastle. I just wasn’t in their plans.
“Hopefully I am in Charlton’s plans this season.”
Ambrose has put that difficult time behind him and he is now determined to play a key role in Charlton’s push for European qualification this season.
“Charlton was always a club I wanted to come to when I heard,” he said.
“I had a few other offers but I wanted to come to Charlton because the manager is a big name, well respected in football.
“We are getting a big squad now, some good players and I think this season we will be challenging for Europe.”
Manager Alan Curbishley has been determined to spice things up at The Valley after Charlton’s season faded out to an 11th-place finish.
Curbishley wanted more cutting edge in attack and Ambrose is looking forward to linking up with striker Darren Bent, his old Ipswich team-mate.
“We have a really good understanding that just comes naturally,” said Ambrose.
“I like playing attacking midfielder, getting in the box and scoring goals. Hopefully we will both be in the team this season.”
Only three sides conceded more goals in the Premiership than Charlton last season, so Curbishley has been particularly anxious to bring competition and depth to his defence.
American defender Jonathan Spector has joined on loan from Manchester United, experienced full-back Chris Powell returned to Charlton from West Ham, and Gonzalo Sorondo today completed his loan move from Inter Milan.
Sorondo spent last year at Crystal Palace, where his performances caught the eye of Charlton boss Alan Curbishley who has an option to sign the Uruguayan international permanently once the initial loan deal has expired.
“We let more goals in than most clubs last year so that has got to change,” said Curbishley.
“As soon as we got 40 points last year we were actively looking for new players.
“Andy Johnson may have been first on the list (of Palace’s best players last season) and then perhaps Sorondo.
“He acquitted himself very well and at the end of the season he played right. He is an aggressive centre-half and once again another player who wants to come and join us.”
