So the Winter of Discontent reaches its next stage in a few hours time with a public meeting that the Supporters Trust are facilitating.
Battle lines were drawn last month when this meeting was announced. It was dressed as being in response to continued snubs by Meire to engage with the wannabe representative body, but the underlying reason why this has any legs and a wider appeal than to those individuals seeking greater involvement has been the growing number of disenchanted supporters who (without one singular reason) are simply not happy with how the club is being governed.
Whether this meeting was likely to have occurred under a different guise without the Trust’s public lead is up for debate, but on the eve of the meeting I think it has certainly proved beneficial that most keen parties are currently working under one umbrella instead of the faction split that occurred 12 months ago.
In response, the Club have hit back in a very carefully PR-managed way. Staged interviews with teenagers, heavily controlled VIP meeting and public screening have, depending on what side of the fence you sit, provided improved communications that some were seeking, or tactics that would not have been out of step in North Korea.
I’m sure I’m not the only one going along to the meeting tonight struggling to answer the question ‘What exactly is it that I want?’
It sounds a simple question, yet it is one that I am finding so difficult to answer.
You see the bottom line is although I continue to attend as I always have done, I’m just not particularly enjoying what is ‘Current Charlton’, and I’m going through a spell where I feel I have lost my connection to the Club. It started during the Spivs reign and it has accelerated during the Duchatelet ownership where we are effectively now the English subsidiary of an overseas Network. Whether that’s just a natural progression as my life changes, I don’t know. I do know though it has a lot more to do with identity than it does with results on the pitch.
‘Connection to the Club’ is so difficult to explain. It certainly isn’t a desire for direct or personal involvement as that has never appealed to me. Collective togetherness on the Club’s Aims and Objectives would probably be a better description. Where Charlton is now no longer the sole focus of the Network it belongs to, or that the football management are in fulI control of who signs and who plays for us, I don’t think I’ll ever be at ease with it. The Network angle is a fundamental issue to me.
Away from the overriding Network topic, another question is to ask yourself ‘what exactly is Charlton’s USP?’
London is a capital packed with accessible Premiership football clubs, and in Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, three of the biggest in the country. Closer to home, Millwall’s reputation will always give them appeal to local teenagers in our catchment area, while Palace with Premiership football and the atmosphere their Ultras create (that everyone seems keen to laugh at), are also proving equally appealing to the younger demographic. In juts over 12 months, West Ham are likely to flood what should be our strongest catchment area with attractive tickets to the Olympic Stadium.
So where does Charlton fit in?
Due to our location we attract a wide range of support, but I think many will agree that our USP in comparison is currently not particularly strong. Probably that we are the nice Club, the family club. One where the supporters have always (in the last 25 years at least) been a valued and integral part of the Club. If we were a Hollywood blockbuster, we would probably be a feel good RomCom. We’re not a Violent offering, and most would chuckle if I suggested it would be Action Thriller. But we are certainly not a European arthouse number with subtitles either.
In a generalisation, we have also always taken more interest and pride in things off the pitch, such as the reserves and youth, or the fantastic work carried out by the Community Trust. The Club has always (until recent years) worked particularly closely with supporters though the Supporters Club, regional groups, VIP scheme, elected Supporters Director, Q+A meetings, targeted groups like Target 40k and generally being very open to supporters ideas and with a clear objective of working alongside supporters. Getting supporters on board and understanding. And it proved fantastically successful and harmonious, leading the club to a level above its natural pecking order place.
cont....
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Comments
That feeling feels like it has gone in my opinion. Hopefully it is temporary, but we all individually have different aspects to what make up ‘my Charlton’, and I’m just not feeling mine at the moment. It doesn’t feel that everyone is working together with the sole objective of the betterment of Charlton Athletic Football Club, and nothing else. Players and managers are proving increasingly short-term, while there are virtually no long-term people still actively associated and working for the club. It feels like the supporters are viewed as the enemy rather than the ally. The ‘Charlton Connection’ feels to have gone.
Is it too much change, or too much that I can’t relate to? I have no problem in principle with having a foreign owner, a foreign chief executive, a foreign manager or an increasing amount of foreign players. I do struggle a little when all those ingredients are put together, particularly when things don’t seem to be working, because there are just a lot of key factions there that are different to what I am used to, and I can’t be certain that they fit what is best for Charlton, or for Standard Liege, or for Roland’s aggregated wage bill and resource disposal. Luzon may well go on to prove to be a success, but that decision period was an absolute disaster, there can be no disguising that and a lot of support was left disillusioned as a result as the question ‘are what they are doing the best for Charlton or the best for the Network?’ becoming increasingly difficult to answer.
Are Duchatelet or Miere getting unfair flack at the moment?
I don’t know. I very much suspect they think they are, but again I think that all boils down to the fact they just see a football club in London and just don’t get the intricacies of how Charlton (and its fans) fits into the wider picture because they have no background of understanding Charlton, or English football. How looking at the map and seeing South West London as an idea of support to tap into just doesn’t work. How it’s not only important to target new support but to hold onto existing support. I’m not seeing a particularly clear, let alone strong strategy on either front at the moment. Continued ground improvements seem like a prioritisation, but they fit into a Nice to Have category not a Must Have to me. Providing a properly balanced squad is undoubtedly a Must Have’s yet has looked a secondary concern for much of the season.
So my question ‘what exactly is it that I want?’ is something I can’t easily answer as it is not a singular issue. I just want more that I can relate to and feel a part of than I currently do, whether that be manager, core of players, or just a targeted attempt of progression of Charlton Athletic as a singular entity. One where I’m comfortable that if Joe Gomez has an amazing 15 months and we sell him for £10m next summer, the next day Standard Liege don’t then sign a striker for 13m Euros, or its used to fund an Alcorcon assault on La Liga, or fund the purchase of a French club. One where if Igor continues his rediscovered goalrun and ends the season with 18 goals, i haven't doubts he will be moved in the summer to Liege for an undisclosed fee. One where if there is a bizarre team selection, i'm comfortable it's the managers decision and not one forced upon him.
I accept Duchatelet by nature appears a belligerent individual who has a Network vision that he wants to attempt, and a right-hand women who will loyally try and deliver that. If it proves successful on the pitch, well I’m as fickle as anyone and will I’m sure be won over. If it isn’t though, and nothing I’ve seen so far in both actions or rhetoric has me hopeful it will, will the make-up and approach of the Club realign more into what my preference of what ‘my Charlton’ feels like?
I don’t know. I’m not convinced it will, and I’m not convinced by what collectively can be done about it other than see seats around me become increasing emptier, or a few hollow gestures of improved communication / liaison.
I go along tonight eager to hear other people’s views of what their version of ‘my Charlton’ is, how it differs or aligns with mine, and what realistically they feel can be done to improve that.
Because I really don’t know.
What exactly is it that YOU want?
An understanding of his aims and vision for our club.
Realism from some supporters that this may not happen and that we then need a workable way forward as a group of fans, not knee-jerk 'get the Belgians out' responses.
I want real dialogue and engagement with the owner, where he recognises us the supporters and taps in to us so that we can help resell the club to the disaffected audience his network vision has created.
In return he has to prove he is maleable. Listen to our scouts on prospective British purchases and recognise that unlike mainland Europe, English football is totally different and should be treated as such - ie his vision may work elsewhere, but not in the UK.
He has the funds to restore us back to the premiership. It can work, if he listens, learns the errors of his ways and takes us all forward with an incremental vision of the future. This was how we improved - incrementally - each year after returning to the Valley in 1992.
Clearly our owners have some interest in the football side being successful with the repaired pitch, the refurbished stadium and the academy development, but their actions regarding the playing & club staff and lack of communication are cause for concern. Why would they hide their plans for the club from the fans unless they know the fans will oppose the plans?
1, A club which is financially secure, so that I am confident that it will be around in a few years time without either:
- requiring the directors to put their hands in their pockets each year to bail it out,
- or in some way robbing our creditors (via administration),
- or some form of desperate 'risk everything on getting to the Premiership' strategy.
I understand that this is not the case for pretty much any club at the moment, so things will have to change for all clubs and that some of these changes will not be pretty as costs are cut and different ways of economising are found. I believe that, over the next few years, we will see a lot of new models emerge of how to achieve this - the 'network' being one, but change is inevitable because non-Premiership clubs will simply run out of millionaires to fund the losses.
2, I want the club to be competitive at the level that I feel its size really merits (top half of the Championship) but with a long-term goal of being in the Premiership.
3, I want a club that does invest in players and tries to play attractive, positive football, whether the players really try - always accepting that some clubs will have more cash than us. I do not care for one moment which country these players (or indeed managers) come from.
4, I want their to be good communications with the senior figures at the club (though, I admit that I am not informed enough to really understand what form that might be in).
5, I want a club that puts an emphasis on developing the best young players who grow into first-teamers - even if they will often be sold on.
6, I want owners who are prepared to show that they do have some consideration for the fans by providing them with decent facilities, so that you are proud to go to - and would be proud to take friends to - a well-kept club, even when the performance might not always be the best.
7, Frankly, more than anything, I really want a club where the supporters do all they can to give the players, team, managers, and senior officials a chance and do not constantly look for conspiracy theories and 'lies' at every turn. (I am, honestly, not thinking of anyone in particular in saying that).
To me, this is a very traditional 'Charlton' vision and a vision that both RD and KM have repeatedly set out and which they have put their money where their mouth is to try and achieve, which is why I have tended to stand up for them. That is not to say that they have not made mistakes, but there again, who hasn't?
Im not anti foreign owners or foreign players, if anything im what certain papers would call a loony guardian reading leftie but i want to feel like our club is still working towards the best for our club and our fans first.
Some could possibly say i have been spoiled, as my generation has only known the Richard Murray years & onwards but right now i just don't feel connected to my club, the club i fell in love with, that win, lose or draw i felt proud to support as that love goes deeper then the badge or how 11 players performed in our colours on a Saturday afternoon.
More performances like the Brentford game. Excellent workrate & finishing. Effort - lots of effort. I can live without skill but I want to see people working their arses off.
From the manager
More performances like the Brentford game. Not just because we won 3-0 but what I enjoyed most of all was it was round pegs in round holes. Players in their preferred position. Players who looked like they gave a shit. Players willing to make tackles and blocks. Players who managed to perform for the whole game - I can't remember the last time we had a 90 minute performance and credit should go to Guy for that..
From Roland / Katrien
More openness. More communication about key issues. I don't want to know the names of people we interviewed - some might be in a job and this would cause them problems - but the timing of Bob's departure and the speed of Luzon's appointment were remarkably close to each other. This hasn't helped. I know they won't ever be as open as people seem to want but there is a fine line between too much information and too little information - I personally believe we are not far off being in a pretty good place but, without communication we will only appear to be going nowhere.
From the fans
More of the Brentford / Cardiff spirit. Less booing. Get behind the team and make them want to perform. There's 15,000 people there and if a few are off key it doesn't really matter - if 14,000 are going crazy it's still a better atmosphere than 14,000 / 15,000 moaning and booing.
More performances like the Brentford game. Excellent workrate & finishing. Effort - lots of effort. I can live without skill but I want to see people working their arses off.
From the manager
More performances like the Brentford game. Not just because we won 3-0 but what I enjoyed most of all was it was round pegs in round holes. Players in their preferred position. Players who looked like they gave a shit. Players willing to make tackles and blocks. Players who managed to perform for the whole game - I can't remember the last time we had a 90 minute performance and credit should go to Guy for that..
From Roland / Katrien
More openness. More communication about key issues. I don't want to know the names of people we interviewed - some might be in a job and this would cause them problems - but the timing of Bob's departure and the speed of Luzon's appointment were remarkably close to each other. This hasn't helped. I know they won't ever be as open as people seem to want but there is a fine line between too much information and too little information - I personally believe we are not far off being in a pretty good place but, without communication we will only appear to be going nowhere.
From the fans
More of the Brentford / Cardiff spirit. Less booing. Get behind the team and make them want to perform. There's 15,000 people there and if a few are off key it doesn't really matter - if 14,000 are going crazy it's still a better atmosphere than 14,000 / 15,000 moaning and booing.
Very good
it just all feels so odd
i'd love if this freakiness was happening at the scum or palace not here
Ultimately I'd like that to be the restoration of the Supporters Director or a senior level Customer Advisory Board. The club should look to work hand in hand with supporters to agree and achieve their objectives, a la the Target 20k initiatives. It should recognise that supporters could get behind goals of breakeven of they could see a long term plan to build up the club, if they were treated as trusted advisors rather than taken as fools.
I don't think any of that ought to be costly for the club. They have everything to gain and I'm struggling to think of a downside.
The club's identity has been carried in the fans for 25 years. RD said he wanted to preserve the club's identity, so let's see him act that way.
Following the comments of KM at the VIP Q&A, it seems that they want to turn Charlton into an entertainment venue, a place where 'we can socialise with friends and family, have a drink and watch a game of football'. If I want to do that I'll go the the O2 or to my local pub!
We will not be renewing our six season tickets next season.
I just feel very sad.
Willing to keep the faith for now (with RD), but would like to see some better dialogue and stability
In brief, I want:
1. a club that is ethical and honourable in it's dealings with all stakeholders including its supporters
2. a team which competes well (not necessarily always succeeds) with attractive football
both of which are key to:
3. feeling proud to be a Charlton supporter.
I was humbled tonight listening to all those fans cite their own background and feelings. It took something special to rebuild our club. And it has taken a couple of Belgians to remind us what was done before can be repeated.
What also typified us was the professionalism of the players, the togetherness, the teamwork and the fact that they seemed to relate to the fans in the same way that we would relate to them, even in the Premier League days.
But we mustn't forget those behind the scenes: the communicative, almost friendly, nature of the board and the club's management, the fact that regular fans knew these people if not personally at least by name, all contributing to the unique nature of the club.
Good article by AFKA and I particularly like the responses of bolloxbolder and swisdom.
Whether we'll get any of our ideals back under the current ownership, I have my doubts.