I hope there isn't an assumption that 80% of fans using Valley Express will continue to attend. Maybe if we were flying high, or won a few home games from time to time, but over the past few seasons, watching Charlton at the Valley is a frustrating experience. I sometimes do it out out of a sense of duty and the fact that I have a season ticket, rather than anticipation and excitement. The blows don't hurt quite so much though e.g. How many of us new Blackpool would score from their late free kick. If you expect what's coming you are resigned to it and it's less of a shock. That is probably not a good thing though!
Taking the support of fans for granted could be amazingly foolhardy in the extreme but whilst he is undoubtably a shrewed buinessman, the owner strikes me as a bit of a fool too. I know some people like to knock him, but the club is weaker for not having Airman in it and any sensible owner should surely want him working for them than against them. As for the trust. we don't really want the trust to be successful as for me the only time it will become a significant entity is when things get so bad, that fans need a banner to organise around. It is good that it is there, but the members should see themselves as King Arthur, sleeping for the time they are needed. As for the Fans Forum, to me they are there for the little things. Why no Bovril etc... If any fans group wants to influence this owner, they are completely wasting their time.
We have to face facts that we don't have an ownership who are much bothered what the fans think. Duchatelet bought us as part of his great idea and he will continue to run us along the lines of that idea until it is proven to him that it can't work. On that day he will try to sell us. Fans probably wont have much say in the matter. It's not like he comes to games to be insulted/threatened. He can appoint somebody for that job.
If they are so uninterested in earning revenue from fans why try and make lots of miniscule savings?
I know some fans have a more traditional view of Trusts but it is one I don't share. Charlton's history proves there can be a strong important role for fans over and above potholes, pies and povril, even Bradshaw and co understood this.
One basic example, short notice and at a very quick stab, last season fans through the Supporters Trust delivered 16,000 leaflets to Charlton neighbourhoods.
What worries me about the latest saga is the way the club is being run on a whole number of levels, is now so alien to the Charlton way of doing things it is alienating a number of fans ( not sure how many) and destroying the support we rebuilt for the club in the 90s.
Living down here now I would willing pay up to £20 to get to the game, but what I won't pay is any price, high or low for a journey that includes so many pick up points it takes two and a half to three hours to cover the same journey I could do in under an hour. The reason I use the coach is so I can have one or to beers when I get there, no other reason! But there are people that depend on it...... There are so many reasons now not to attend it's becoming the norm, my life has changed football is no longer a priority. I've done the regular away trips as my children were growing up, it seems that football and Charlton Athletic in particular are making my decision a lot easier than it should be not to attend, if my usual drinking buddy isn't going to be there that's my decision made for me. If it's a midweek game that's easy, im not going. If it's a Friday night, that's a no brainier! I won't be there. As for a season ticket, if I had to make a decision now, I wouldn't get one. Personally I'd rather give my 300 quid to the Upbeats and know it would be appreciated and used wisely. Charlton Athletic used to be the be all and end all of my life, a season ticket holder for as long as I can remember, over seventy away grounds visited, spent fortunes in the club shop I even have the Charlton tattoo. I'm sure some will say, stay away we don't need you but Roland is a successful businessman and will know if ten people stay away that's three grand, if a hundred people stay away that's huge sum of money. You didn't make your fortunes by losing customers (I'm a supporter by the way) so you need to stop the rot before you can continue building your empire.
Some great points here. Since the regime took over I certainly feel as alienated as I have ever done. I honestly believe that the loss of 2k season ticket holders only represents a loss of £600,000 to Roland, a fraction of a Vetokele so no biggie. The damage to our soul or to any atmosphere at the Valley is not considered.
Agree with every word Seth. Some excellent posts on this thread. I don't feel inclined to buy another ST while RD owns us, wish I felt differently but have never been so disillusioned, even when results were far worse than now.
Taking the support of fans for granted could be amazingly foolhardy in the extreme but whilst he is undoubtably a shrewed buinessman, the owner strikes me as a bit of a fool too. I know some people like to knock him, but the club is weaker for not having Airman in it and any sensible owner should surely want him working for them than against them..
Better having him inside the tent P...ing out than outside the tent p...ing in
The option to print home tickets, the possibility of adding cup games when purchased to your season ticket card. All positive actions.
No surprise that Syd's train numbers are dwindling. No more than a half a dozen now? People have now worked out that with a bit of forward planning that it's cheaper to travel independently.
The option to print home tickets, the possibility of adding cup games when purchased to your season ticket card. All positive actions.
No surprise that Syd's train numbers are dwindling. No more than a half a dozen now? People have now worked out that with a bit of forward planning that it's cheaper to travel independently.
The option to print home tickets, the possibility of adding cup games when purchased to your season ticket card. All positive actions.
No surprise that Syd's train numbers are dwindling. No more than a half a dozen now? People have now worked out that with a bit of forward planning that it's cheaper to travel independently.
I wonder if they have thought of the idea for next seasons programme, advertise train times and prices.
Comments
Taking the support of fans for granted could be amazingly foolhardy in the extreme but whilst he is undoubtably a shrewed buinessman, the owner strikes me as a bit of a fool too. I know some people like to knock him, but the club is weaker for not having Airman in it and any sensible owner should surely want him working for them than against them. As for the trust. we don't really want the trust to be successful as for me the only time it will become a significant entity is when things get so bad, that fans need a banner to organise around. It is good that it is there, but the members should see themselves as King Arthur, sleeping for the time they are needed. As for the Fans Forum, to me they are there for the little things. Why no Bovril etc... If any fans group wants to influence this owner, they are completely wasting their time.
We have to face facts that we don't have an ownership who are much bothered what the fans think. Duchatelet bought us as part of his great idea and he will continue to run us along the lines of that idea until it is proven to him that it can't work. On that day he will try to sell us. Fans probably wont have much say in the matter. It's not like he comes to games to be insulted/threatened. He can appoint somebody for that job.
If he can bring players here on the cheap and flog them for a profit, he can do it in an empty stadium.
I know some fans have a more traditional view of Trusts but it is one I don't share. Charlton's history proves there can be a strong important role for fans over and above potholes, pies and povril, even Bradshaw and co understood this.
One basic example, short notice and at a very quick stab, last season fans through the Supporters Trust delivered 16,000 leaflets to Charlton neighbourhoods.
What worries me about the latest saga is the way the club is being run on a whole number of levels, is now so alien to the Charlton way of doing things it is alienating a number of fans ( not sure how many) and destroying the support we rebuilt for the club in the 90s.
http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/fans-forum-minutes-from-july-meeting-2545654.aspx?
Cant wait to tell him.
No surprise that Syd's train numbers are dwindling. No more than a half a dozen now? People have now worked out that with a bit of forward planning that it's cheaper to travel independently.
(Double points in Charlton Bingo!)
(treble points in Charlton bingo).