Johann Berg Gudmundsson says Jose Riga deserves the chance to fire Charlton back into the Championship.

Riga, 58, returned to Charlton in January following a successful spell in SE7 at the backend of the 2013/14 season.

The club’s board hoped Riga would instigate another relegation escape, but the Addicks’ four-year stay in the Championship came to an end last month.

Despite suffering relegation, Gudmundsson hopes Riga stays in the Valley hotseat and is given an opportunity to secure immediate promotion from League One.

When asked whether Riga has the ability to lead a promotion charge next season, the Iceland winger said: “Yeah I think so, definitely.

“But as I say, I don’t know if he’s going to stay or not. So we’ll see about that but he can definitely do that [if he stays].

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“He deserves to stay and I hope he stays but we will see what happens in the summer, you never know in football.”

Charlton have only won nine of their 45 league games this term, conceding 77 goals during the dismal season.

Their fate was sealed after the goalless draw at basement club Bolton on April 19.

Gudmundsson insists the summer will be critical to the club’s hopes of bouncing straight back to the second tier of English football.

The 25-year-old, who is set to represent Iceland at Euro 2016, said: “Obviously what happens in the summer is a big factor.

“What players are going to stay – we will have to wait and see. Obviously the club wants to keep their best players but you can’t predict [these things].”

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