the following has just popped through my letterbox.
Dear ......
I am writing to thank you for your continuing support as a season ticket holder this year and to let you know that all of us on the board share the disappointment and frustration that I'm sure you are feeling about our recent run of results.
There's no point in me trying to disguise the fact that I'm also writing to try and encourage you to continue your support by buying a season ticket for next season.
We are conscious that until very recently the club was locked in a spiral of decline following relegation from the Premier League in 2007 and fans like you have shown extraordinary loyalty over that period. I can well understand if your patience is stretched to breaking point.
Supporting Charlton at the moment isn't easy. It's not for the faint-hearted, but please don't give up on your team.
When Tony Jimenez and I assumed control of the club at the turn of the year, we were well aware of the many issues that had to be addressed on and off the pitch to take the club forward again. We also felt that the squad had to be improved in order to gain promotion. We have taken steps to improve that situation, with some changes of personnel and the appointment of Chris Powell as manager. After four straight wins perhas we all started to think that Chris might have a magic wand but rcent results have confirmed what we and Chris believe - the squad must be strengthend.
i want to assure that change is coming. Nobody can guarentee success, but we did not come to Charlton to run it as a league one club. It is not a viable business in this division.
The board recognises that the only way out of this situation is to invest in the playing squad without making the mistake that so many other clubs make by panic buying in January. A better squad means better performances which will attract more fans and generate greater revenues for the club to invest.
We are not going to spend recklessly or hastily and nothing will be done without Chris's say so, but I want to assure you that we know what needs to be done and over the coming months you will significant investment to that end.
If you have already renewed your season ticket for 2011/12, I thank you and hope what I have said gives you cause for optimism. If you haven't, I trust it will encourage you to do so by the deadline of April 4th to take advantage of reduced prices.
I'm confident the next season will be better than this one and that in years to come you'll look back with pride in the knowledge that you stuck with the club through thick and thin.
On a personal note, I would like to thank you for the warm welcome Tony and i have received over the past few months. We are absolutely determined to repay that reception with success on the pitch, and sooner rather than later.
Onwards and upwards.
Michael Slater
Chairmen
Discuss.........
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Comments
By pledging 'significant investment' though, the marker has publicly been set.
"The board recognises that the only way out of this situation is to invest in the playing squad without making the mistake that so many other clubs make by panic buying in January. A better squad means better performances which will attract more fans and generate greater revenues for the club to invest.
We are not going to spend recklessly or hastily and nothing will be done without Chris's say so, but I want to assure you that we know what needs to be done and over the coming months you will significant investment to that end."
This is significant IMHO. First mention of "significant" spending. How much that is we shall see over the summer but the letter says all the right things.
The proof the pudding will be, as ever, in the eating.
I've not renewed but I'd already bought a five year ST anyway.
Well meaning though and hope it helps reassure a few people.
2 "Significant investment"-tempter to buy season tickets
3 Written off this season (what about possible relegation?)
4 Huge turnover of players in the summer
5 Honest enough-patience stretching to breaking point etc
6 Not a viable business in this division-oh dear
Think most of it has been discussed on here before but at least they are communicating with us.
2 more wins this season, safe from relegation and then to next season with what will seem like a clean sweep in terms of playing staff.
Good news IMHO
One 90 minute performance would be a start.
I'm sorry, I have to disagree with some of your points. That squad which was not good enough, with the inept manager that we had, was 5th in the league with games in hand, a feat that, on reflection, was no cause for concern on my behalf. Now I understand that Parkinson wasn't in your long term plans as you clearly felt he wasn't up to it, but so far I believe that Chris Powell isn't up to the task in hand either. The recent run of games we have witness doesn't prove the squad isn't good enough in my eyes, but it highlights the ineptitude of the new management team. And in any case if the squad isn't good enough, a squad which by and large we have had for the entire season, and if anything strengthened in January, then this highlights the excellent job that the previous management was doing, so in both situations you have helped cost us promotion this season, which is not what I call 'making progress'. I hope that we can consolidate our position and achieve our new target of avoiding relegation, and wish you all the very best of luck in the running of my beloved Charlton Athletic in the future, I have a feeling we will all need it!
Yours sincerely,
Sam3110
I desperately want this to work out and the club will, as always, have my support
I am also more convinced than ever that Mr Slater (or his people) read this site.
Hence the piss poor performances we have been witnessing even from excellent pros like Dailly.
Makes the current players feel like turkeys waiting for Xmas and although some clearly are, this is not smart management or motivation.
I've already renewed, but that has given me hope...
Encouraged but nervous.
People at the Club do nothing else but read this site FACT ; - )
We know Rick Everitt and Matt Wright do as they post on here. At least one other member of staff is a member and others, including the board, read it.
Do they use it as a litmus test of opinion? IMHO yes. However, without upsetting AFKA and Lookie, I don't think what is said on here drives decision making or sets policy at the Club.
But at least they read CL and that is good.
I think that Genie is already out of the bottle. The players and there agents already know so this letter will make no difference.
That is a worry but they haven't said that or put a timeframe on it.
But it does make the apparent willingness to "write off the season" seem even more strange.
After four straight wins perhas we all started to think
i want to assure that
Nobody can guarentee success
welcome Tony and i have received over
Michael Slater
Chairmen
I still think that message could've been handled in a better way - play well and you'll earn another contract, play badly and you're out of the door and get to find out how valuable you really are to another club. With regards to Dailly, surely he's in his last season? You'd think he'd want to go out on a high. I'm mystified as to what's going on.
In every normal business I know, when it comes under pressure, people know that the ones that perform will be safe, and may get a pay rise, and the ones who slack, are in danger of getting the push.
Why on earth should it be any different for a bunch of footballers who are nearly all paid more than probably most of us who regularly post here?
Sorry Dave but I had to laugh. Make sure you wear that badge tonight.
14 players out of contract ...... and 14 agents trying to secure the best possible deal for their player, and earn themselves a cut.
And 14 players going through the motions ....?
It certainly doesn't disguise the fact that there will be wholesale changes to the playing staff so as speculated elsewhere many of the current playing staff already know they have no future at The Valley. I expect this season to fizzle quietly out now and pray we can get enough points to forget about the unthinkable sooner rather than later.
I am encouraged.
true but if you were told "I only want fluent Czech speakers here and if you can't do that you're out in the summer" how would you feel?
For "Czech speakers" read "players who can play the way I want my team to play"
PS I'm sure your Czech is excellent R.