Jordan Cousins wants to return to Charlton one day as a player or coach.
The Addicks academy graduate, 24, left the Valley to join QPR after the club’s relegation to League One in 2016.
Greenwich-born Cousins made 136 first-team appearances and says Charlton will always have a place in his heart.
The midfielder, who is running his sports summer camp Evolution Sports in Greenwich at the end of July, told News Shopper: “I’d like to go back there one day, later in my career.
“I’ll always be grateful to Charlton because without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
“It’s my local club. It’s five minutes from the house where I was brought up in. In the latter years of my career, when I get a bit older, and I’ve achieved what I’ve wanted to achieve, I’d love to come back.
“If not as a player, then working with [Charlton academy manager] Steve Avory as a coach and helping the young players. That’s the route I want to take after football.
“I want to be connected with Charlton in some shape or form further down the line.
“I feel the academy is such an important thing, it’s such a great thing that they’ve got there. It’s something I’d love to be a part of later on in my career.”
Charlton moved four points clear of seventh-placed Plymouth after beating promotion rivals Portsmouth on Saturday.
With Plymouth and Scunthorpe needing to play each other, the Addicks will secure a play-off spot if they win their remaining two games against Blackburn and Rochdale.
Jordan Cousins’ Sports Evolution summer camp takes place from July 30 to August 3 at James Wolfe Primary School
And Cousins, who captained Charlton in the absence of Johnnie Jackson and Chris Solly, hopes the club wins promotion via Wembley on May 27.
He said: “I always check up on their results. I always want to see them do well - I’d like to see them come back to the Championship.
“So it’s good that they're in the play-offs now and I hope that they stay there and get promoted. Charlton will always have a place in my heart, so I want to see them do well.
“I know other teams have got games in hand but I think if Charlton win their next two games, they’ll definitely be in the play-offs. After that, it’s about who can hold their nerves.
“It’s a good squad and they’ll have a good chance going into the play-offs. I want them to get back in the Championship, because the club and the stadium, everything around it, it’s a club that needs to be there.”
A 19-year-old Cousins was beginning to establish himself in the first-team when unpopular owner Roland Duchatelet bought Charlton in January 2014.
He starred under Chris Powell, Jose Riga twice, Bob Peeters, Guy Luzon and Karel Fraeye - managers who felt Duchatelet’s wrath.
The Belgian tycoon is close to ending his disastrous reign in SE7 - and Cousins believes his exit has been long overdue.
He added: “Roland didn't affect me as a player. But obviously in terms of the fans, he doesn't have the best relationship with them. Fans are important, they give the club that community, homely feel.
“I think it’s been a long time coming. The fans haven't been happy and the whole mood around the club hasn't been the greatest in the last couple of years.
“It’s a massive club, they have a good training ground, good stadium, and when the new owners come, it’ll give everybody a new start.”
Click here to find more information about Jordan Cousins’ summer camp
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