Be part of online meeting with club directors - Wednesday 21st January 7pm

Stig

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

Operation...

Nah, as nice all that was, we need all the points we can get. 😉

Sword65pf

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

Are they going to be asked to subsidise train travel next?, I tell you what, I drive down, any chance of a splash of petrol!!?, I’m common I don’t have electric yet😜

llama_child_21cws

Rufus is a dogs name said:

We've had years of terrible ownership and either horrendous or non-existent communication/engagement with fans. We now have a set of owners who are holding the likes of these Q&As, including fan representation on the panel, and actively encouraging fans to submit questions, and the overriding response on here is negative. Obviously given the open forum they will respond to some questions with a bit of a politicians answer but overall thought they were positive but balanced. Rodwell being criticised for saying we deserved a draw on Tuesday... he's not that far wide of the mark and anyway what do we want him to say? 'We were crap and deserved to lose 5-0'.

'We want ownership who are transparent and engage with fans' ...'no not like that'

Over to the Luke Chambers thread 'We need bodies in the building to cover the left-hand side of defence' ...'no not that left-back' etc etc etc

We're not perfect of course, and this season was always going to be tough which naturally and rightly results in questions/criticism. But there are some very short memories on here. Give me this board/team/manager any day of the week over anything else we've had to go through over the last 10 years (and more).

People just want to moan and you cant make everyone happy. Yesterday was really good 👍 

Callumcafc

AFKABartram said:

We all critique and pull apart what’s said because that’s human nature. At the end of the day though it still gives us more than we had before the session, so it’s worthwhile, and no one comes across badly. 

I struggle to understand the ownership groups approach tbh. The club is unquestionably in a better place since they took over so I’m appreciative and acknowledging of that. But I just don’t get the strategy and my gut feel is there just isn’t the willingness to put the necessary funds there. Sensible and sustainable yes, but if we drop division our income will drop by around £12-15m a year, with a most likely higher wage bill. I just don’t think we’ve done enough to give ourselves a real chance of firmly staying in the division and planning for the next phase, it may well come down to good fortune if we do. 

I think this can be explained by the club management and owners are far less panicked about relegation than the fanbase are. 

I think if you asked the average Charlton fan now, they’d say relegation was 50/50 if not higher, while the bookies have it only 20% or so.

They could throw some more money at some more signings to make all the fans feel better but they have to look at things more critically and balance risk v reward.

stjohnshill

gringo said:

stjohnshill said:

Disappointing to hear Carter, a Charlton fan, say there is no financial value in ever offering any free coaches to away matches due to the home team keeping 95% of gate receipts. 

Not everything has to be about value. It’s a nice touch and a thank you to the fans, who would be very grateful. To offer it once or twice a season is fair and reasonable I think. I’m sure our billionaire owner can afford a few coaches once or twice a season 

but he's not wrong, he says that they are selling a large part of the away allocation already so free coaches would not make a huge difference to numbers, just subsidise the cost of those already going. Whilst thats nice to thank the support, its more important to focus the money on areas that will get the best impact, and I would say thats promoting home support, where we keep 95% of the gate money.

Blackburn for example was a prime game to put on a few coaches for free, given the train issues or any midweek game further away than 2 hours drive. I agree we should focus money on areas that best impact the club and enable the revenue to continue to grow, but surely they could spare a few thousand once a season 

valleynick66

Sword65pf said:

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

Are they going to be asked to subsidise train travel next?, I tell you what, I drive down, any chance of a splash of petrol!!?, I’m common I don’t have electric yet😜

This ownership appear to want to monetise all aspects of following the team. I understand that commercially even if I hate that’s the direction of travel. 

For that reason I doubt they will subsidise any away games or indeed any home games in any form. Haven’t seen ‘football for a fiver ‘ return for example. 

The logic seems to be we don’t need to. 

Enhancing the match day experience does not extend to reducing supporter costs. 

Harsh but true. 

Sword65pf

valleynick66 said:

Sword65pf said:

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

Are they going to be asked to subsidise train travel next?, I tell you what, I drive down, any chance of a splash of petrol!!?, I’m common I don’t have electric yet😜

This ownership appear to want to monetise all aspects of following the team. I understand that commercially even if I hate that’s the direction of travel. 

For that reason I doubt they will subsidise any away games or indeed any home games in any form. Haven’t seen ‘football for a fiver ‘ return for example. 

The logic seems to be we don’t need to. 

Enhancing the match day experience does not extend to reducing supporter costs. 

Harsh but true. 

I was being meddlesome, I don’t see why they should supply free travel for adults at the moment.

Airman Brown

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

I think it’s a very bad way of spending money - and I was closely involved in organising all the major free travel initiatives. 

The club has hiked away travel fares. It could probably make the same money at lower fares if it was more flexible about places provided, but that (and Valley Express subsidy) would be a far better use of funds than free away trips.

I won’t comment on the programme last night as I haven’t had time to watch it, but I am surprised to see the club taking display ads in the Metro to advertise the women’s matches. These are unlikely to be cheap or cover their costs. London wide advertising is very inefficient for CAFC and there is limited revenue from these games. This isn’t a criticism of promoting the women’s team. I’m just doubtful there’s a business case for this.

cantersaddick

golfaddick said:

SDAddick said:

MarcusH26 said:

fenaddick said:

I take it not much of interest has been said?

Not a huge amount bar it sounds like ownership are ready to invest big on the women's side. 

That's good, they could be on the cusp of getting promoted and their record over the past year is excellent. Go on the lasses. 

Unbeaten all season & last match won 10-0.

Replicate that with the means team & even I would be happy.

That's the only match they've won by more than one goal in that unbeaten run. You'd still be moaning.

KiwiValley

A question of no consequence: where was the forum filmed? I didn't recognise the location out the window behind them

fenlandaddick

This is really poor

9. We have only the 3rd lowest playing budget - I thought it was suggested (but may have misinterpreted) on that basis NJ is only expected to avoid relegation 

Imaging getting promoted and not investing to make sure you stay up.

If we get relegated this will bite them on the arse 

LargeAddick

KiwiValley said:

A question of no consequence: where was the forum filmed? I didn't recognise the location out the window behind them

Meantime Brewery I believe.

Stu_of_Kunming

fenlandaddick said:

This is really poor

9. We have only the 3rd lowest playing budget - I thought it was suggested (but may have misinterpreted) on that basis NJ is only expected to avoid relegation 

Imaging getting promoted and not investing to make sure you stay up.

If we get relegated this will bite them on the arse 

You do know there are limits on what we can spend, right?

fenlandaddick

Stu_of_Kunming said:

fenlandaddick said:

This is really poor

9. We have only the 3rd lowest playing budget - I thought it was suggested (but may have misinterpreted) on that basis NJ is only expected to avoid relegation 

Imaging getting promoted and not investing to make sure you stay up.

If we get relegated this will bite them on the arse 

You do know there are limits on what we can spend, right?

That really depends on how the owners wish to play this.

Just imagine getting relegated for the sake of a quality player in midfield. What a waste that would be.

I'm sure it won't happen, but just imagine.

Sword65pf

Airman Brown said:

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

I think it’s a very bad way of spending money - and I was closely involved in organising all the major free travel initiatives. 

The club has hiked away travel fares. It could probably make the same money at lower fares if it was more flexible about places provided, but that (and Valley Express subsidy) would be a far better use of funds than free away trips.

I won’t comment on the programme last night as I haven’t had time to watch it, but I am surprised to see the club taking display ads in the Metro to advertise the women’s matches. These are unlikely to be cheap or cover their costs. London wide advertising is very inefficient for CAFC and there is limited revenue from these games. This isn’t a criticism of promoting the women’s team. I’m just doubtful there’s a business case for this.

Just an observation Airman, you never comment on the actual football on the pitch, wondered if there was a reason for that? 

letthegoodtimesroll

fenlandaddick said:

This is really poor

9. We have only the 3rd lowest playing budget - I thought it was suggested (but may have misinterpreted) on that basis NJ is only expected to avoid relegation 

Imaging getting promoted and not investing to make sure you stay up.

If we get relegated this will bite them on the arse 

The smart move is always to have an appropriate budget that you can increase as and when opportunities and needs arise to strengthen the squad. Other team’s budgets in this league are higher because they are most likely saddled with past mistakes. 

That we have probably funded much of this seasons increase in playing budget through the extra revenues just means that the owners/backers who will have already seen glimpses of their investment paying off will most likely be more willing to support further expansion of the budget through their own pockets as well as bringing on additional investors who will want to jump on board.

Henry Irving

fenlandaddick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

fenlandaddick said:

This is really poor

9. We have only the 3rd lowest playing budget - I thought it was suggested (but may have misinterpreted) on that basis NJ is only expected to avoid relegation 

Imaging getting promoted and not investing to make sure you stay up.

If we get relegated this will bite them on the arse 

You do know there are limits on what we can spend, right?

That really depends on how the owners wish to play this.

Just imagine getting relegated for the sake of a quality player in midfield. What a waste that would be.

I'm sure it won't happen, but just imagine.

Yet we're still set to lose around £13m which is the limit (£39m over three seasons) allowed according to the directors.

So the club needs to increase income and the meeting mentioned seeking new investment and employing both a commercially minded CEO and a new commercial manager.

How much additional commercial income can be generated is debatable.

The other method of raising income is our old favourite selling players.

Airman Brown

Sword65pf said:

Airman Brown said:

fenaddick said:

I don’t think there’s harm subsidising coach travel for one away match. It builds goodwill with fans and wouldn’t cost a huge amount for the club. I’m surprised it was dismissed out of hand

I think it’s a very bad way of spending money - and I was closely involved in organising all the major free travel initiatives. 

The club has hiked away travel fares. It could probably make the same money at lower fares if it was more flexible about places provided, but that (and Valley Express subsidy) would be a far better use of funds than free away trips.

I won’t comment on the programme last night as I haven’t had time to watch it, but I am surprised to see the club taking display ads in the Metro to advertise the women’s matches. These are unlikely to be cheap or cover their costs. London wide advertising is very inefficient for CAFC and there is limited revenue from these games. This isn’t a criticism of promoting the women’s team. I’m just doubtful there’s a business case for this.

Just an observation Airman, you never comment on the actual football on the pitch, wondered if there was a reason for that? 

Not entirely true, but I tend to comment if I feel I have something different to contribute. I have a bit of an insight into the above because I’ve been directly involved in it over a period of many years. I don’t have a particular insight into the football. I just watch it like everybody else.