Charlton Athletic have appointed Steve Waggott, the leader of the club's charitable trust, as their new chief executive officer.

The 53-year-old succeeds Peter Varney, who said in March he planned to leave Charlton at the end of the season.

Waggott told BBC London 94.9: "It's been one of my dreams to run a football club, it's a great opportunity.

"When Peter decided his tenure had come to an end after 11 fantastic years I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring"

Waggott added: "I have nothing but full admiration for the job Varney's done."

when we get back into the Premier League to redevelop the Valley and to go up to 40,000 Steve Waggott

"We've got plans if and when we get back into the Premier League to redevelop the Valley and to go up to 40,000.

"We have a whole range of progressive pathways to take on in the next few years but the next generation of fans is key and the work out in the community in schools and youth centres is vital to that growth."

As the chief executive of the Charlton Community Trust Waggott is well aware of development in the local area.

"It's my job to factor the club into everything that's going on within the growth of the South East of England.

"But one of the first things I've got to really do is sit down and discuss how we're moving things forward next year on the pitch."

"It's going to have to be a team approach on and off the pitch to get us back into the Premier League and we've got to build on everything that has been delivered under Peter Varney's remit of the last 11 years and kick it onto the next level," he added.