by Trevor Sturgess

Charlton Athletic Football Club's legal adviser Stuart Butler-Gallie has joined the Addicks’ board.

Mr Butler-Gallie, founder of Vertex Law, a commercial law firm based in Kings Hill, West Malling, is the League One club’s newest independent non-executive director.

He has been advising the club, now riding high in League One, for the past 12 years, but his links with Charlton go back much further as a supporter. He grew up in Bexleyheath.

Mr Butler-Gallie also acts for Vertex Law as Charlton’s company secretary and joins the board after a restructuring exercise designed to streamline the club’s operations.

Directors recently injected £7m into the club to ensure its financial stabiliity for the rest of the season, which they hope will end on a high note with promotion back to the Championship.

Mr Butler-Gallie said: "It is critical that the success the team is experiencing at long last on the pitch is matched by financial stability and good corporate governance in the board room.

"I am delighted to be able to work more closely with each of those directors who, yet again, have shown their support and commitment to the Club by making this additional investment in order to help secure the Club’s long term success."

Charlton plc Chairman Richard Murray said: "We’re very pleased that Stuart is joining the board as a non-executive director.

"He has been our corporate lawyer for many years and knows the workings of the Club inside out. His skillset will be a great addition to the Board in providing it with a truly independent voice."