Not comfortable with the rounding on one poster and their views, due to what they post being opposite, whether genuine or not.
Whilst we (CL) as a platform support the protest action, largely because we now feel it is an accurate reflection of the majority of our users views, that does not mean that other views should not be tolerated or run out of town. That has never been how we operate.
.
To be honest Afka I don't normally bite, and you are absolutely right that this should not be a one view forum, and it isn't. But Cambridge ended his post with " are you lot serious?" and I felt that was needlessly high handed, and a bit of a put down. Lots of you are working really hard behind the scenes, you have other things in your life, and you are putting in a shift to try and rescue this club from the potential abyss. I have done nothing apart from attend the most recent demo, and I am really grateful for your efforts at a coordinated response that allow us to be more than ranters on a forum. His post felt rather dismissive of all that. I tried to reply to his post with courtesy. I may have failed a bit, but, sir, he started it ;-)
Protest against anything rotten, and sooner or later some thin-lipped old misery will rock up out of the blue without having listened to a word you say and patronisingly demand "WHAT'S YOUR ALTERNATIVE?", even if all you want to do is prevent something bad from happening. That is a sad fact of life, unfortunately.
If the OP wishes to assist with a blueprint for a future Charlton after RD has gone, fine, but the current situation demands a swift remedy.
As said, knew it wouldn't go down well, but thought it worth asking. To confirm, I have read hours on this site, and cannot find the answers - hence the question. I haven't placed money as the only criteria, but you do need money and as such a successful businessman needs to be acknowledged - same as all others who own clubs. I am a Charlton fan and supporter, but I honestly think you need to consider the questions and answers, as in my opinion you haven't answered a and b at all. As for the rest - the answer I have had is that you hope a new owner is better, and they can't be a great deal worse - wasn't that the same argument against the last lot? And the argument when the ground were chanting for Curbishley out?
I don't think you have the answers - I know I don't. But as a result I'm not joining in the vitriol of get the owners out. He is not running it how you like. Fine. But is the solution to get someone new, who may be worse (may be better, agreed). But you don't know.
Now if you were putting together a fund to buy the club, and have it run by (for example Murray as you trust him from the past) or someone else you like then that would be of interest, but just shouting, screaming, and chanting to get out the only person who currently keeps the club alive - are you lot serious?
I don't think it was a question of the expecting your response to go down well, that certainly wasn't how I responded. Having read your replies it's right to question your true allegiance to Charlton Athletic. I for one can't understand how you claim to of spent "hours reading on this site" but still don't understand what everyone is questioning or fighting for. These issues have been brewing for 12 to 18 months now and in that time period it should've been easy to understand want was going wrong.
@Cambridge 's stance remind me very much of one particular older gentleman who confronted @cantersaddick and I as we handed out the 2% flyers before the Ipswich game.
At the time, I was unable to verbalise my argument and probably failed to convince him as we didn't present to him the "viable alternative" he was looking for. Of course we didn't have the money to buy the club or were mates with someone who did.
It's why I'm so grateful for people such as Airman (and others) on this forum who do a cracking job of it on most of our behalfs.
One things for certain, when I said "I don't want to do this anymore" roughly this time last season, I was was unsure of my reasons. The more eloquent of the posters on here over the months have put into words exactly how I was feeling, its was never the team performance with me but the whole experience of a game day/week and something wasn't quite right with me. Even being involved with the Upbeats and the Pierre Bolangi memorial garden opening was being altered with the promise of happening on a later date and unless I've missed something to date that hasn't happened (if it has I apologise). I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton) on a coach! As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda. My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started. If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives. Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while). Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
One things for certain, when I said "I don't want to do this anymore" roughly this time last season, I was was unsure of my reasons. The more eloquent of the posters on here over the months have put into words exactly how I was feeling, its was never the team performance with me but the whole experience of a game day/week and something wasn't quite right with me. Even being involved with the Upbeats and the Pierre Bolangi memorial garden opening was being altered with the promise of happening on a later date and unless I've missed something today that hasn't happened (if it has I apologise). I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton) on a coach! As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda. My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started. If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives. Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while). Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
What's that word, oh yes. THIS x1000. Great read mate. Those days will return pal, we, the supporters, will get our club back
One things for certain, when I said "I don't want to do this anymore" roughly this time last season, I was was unsure of my reasons. The more eloquent of the posters on here over the months have put into words exactly how I was feeling, its was never the team performance with me but the whole experience of a game day/week and something wasn't quite right with me. Even being involved with the Upbeats and the Pierre Bolangi memorial garden opening was being altered with the promise of happening on a later date and unless I've missed something today that hasn't happened (if it has I apologise). I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton) on a coach! As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda. My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started. If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives. Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while). Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
Very well said T.C.E but I hope it's a case of "you can check out, but you can never leave", at least emotionally.
If nothing else, I believe that Charlton Life plays a huge role in keeping us all connected to our club, and to each other. There a a lot of people on here I have never knowingly met and wouldn't even know if I was stood next to them at the next car park protest, who I feel a deep affinity towards, even affection, even though I don't know them. That's because reading their posts, over the almost 4 years I've been a member on here, you know that you have a shared history, you understand their emotions and their thoughts, many feel like a friend you could easily have made. It helps bind us together, regardless of geography.
The regime can't destroy our history and they can't take our future. They can just screw with the present. One day, hopefully soon, the regime will be gone and our Charlton will be back. I hope you are too, and the many others who are alienated at present.
One things for certain, when I said "I don't want to do this anymore" roughly this time last season, I was was unsure of my reasons. The more eloquent of the posters on here over the months have put into words exactly how I was feeling, its was never the team performance with me but the whole experience of a game day/week and something wasn't quite right with me. Even being involved with the Upbeats and the Pierre Bolangi memorial garden opening was being altered with the promise of happening on a later date and unless I've missed something to date that hasn't happened (if it has I apologise). I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton) on a coach! As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda. My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started. If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives. Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while). Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
This post, if you don't know the man behind it, must have been really difficult for @TCE to write. I am fortunate in knowing him and his family. It was through CL that we met (GSD's and all that) and I know how much this club means to him. I agree it's not just the match but the pint (or two) in the Lib beforehand, the chatting about old times, talking about being in the covered end way back, the away games we did when we were younger, and yet strangely I didn't know him then, but I knew where he was coming from. This is a different club from all the others, and we must not let the current incumbents take this away. @TCE I salute you mate, and hope that very soon the feelings you always had for the club will come back, in the meantime take time with the family and of course the GSD's and we'll meet up for a pint in the Lib when the good times come back.
T.C.E. Is feel your pain in the same places and it's so distressing waking up each day knowing it's still hurting. The anger is knowing that one person is responsible for this and that he has the power to change our combined futures for better or worse. As Airman recently said we can make the club untenable as a business and then we will strike and take it back. It's ours and always will be. Fuck Roland. My dad hasn't spent over 60 years going to games only to silently let some businessman close us down. My mate Andy RIP would be up for this fight if he still had a fight of his own and it's for people past and present that make this fight one we have to win. There is no runner up prize. It's winner takes all and my money is on those that breathe this club through ever pore. Chin up mate. We're here for Life.
One things for certain, when I said "I don't want to do this anymore" roughly this time last season, I was was unsure of my reasons. The more eloquent of the posters on here over the months have put into words exactly how I was feeling, its was never the team performance with me but the whole experience of a game day/week and something wasn't quite right with me. Even being involved with the Upbeats and the Pierre Bolangi memorial garden opening was being altered with the promise of happening on a later date and unless I've missed something to date that hasn't happened (if it has I apologise). I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton) on a coach! As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda. My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started. If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives. Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while). Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
TCE, get yourself down to The Valley, for the car park protest, after the Blackburn game. (Bring your dogs if you want - joke).
The last post match protest, was the best "Charlton" thing, that has happened for a couple of seasons.
Far better than the mainly non existent entertainment.
We were all stood together, as one. At that point, I knew we were still Charlton and I remain quietly confident, that TOGETHER we will get our Charlton back.
I am somewhat of an exiled Addick. Having been a season ticket holder for a decade, when family and work dictated I have been fairly poor at being at matches for a few years. Done more away than home! What I want to know is: a) What do CARD want? Not rhetoric or waffle, spell out for me what you want b) Why do you want it? Again please avoid rhetoric. We all want a "better" Charlton, but what does that mean... c) What makes you think you know better than a businessman who has made millions versus you who, I assume have not been successful in either business or football (am I wrong and there is a multi multi millionaire here, or ex-pro who made millions - if so, why are you not buying the club)? d) Who do you know who wants to buy the club? If you don't know who is buying it, then why ask RD to sell? Could push him out and get...no-one, ie. oblivion. e) What are their intentions for the club / background and experience in business and football.
I know this won't be popular, but seriously, if you don't have these answers then I can't support you in your actions, and other fans should think about it...
a) We want RD & KM out.
b) Because RD is an autocratic egomaniac, that knows nothing about how to run a football club and is directing OUR club towards oblivion. He has NO interest in Charlton's first team and simply is using OUR club, to conduct his crazy experiment, of using Charlton as a swap shop to trade footballers, with zero footballing ambition. He is not fit and proper.
Also, because KM is of junior management level, masquerading as a CEO, who hasn't the first clue, how to run a successful football club. KM also has told more lies to Charlton supporters in two years, than have ever been said in my 45 years supporting Charlton. An absolute discredited person, who laughs in the face of supporters.
c) There are few Charlton supporters who do not understand the shameful strategy of RD and now the rest of the footballing world are in agreement, as the truth gets out to the media. We are not buying the club as fans, because we don not have the funds, but we are at our wits ends with the strategy, lies and sheer incompetence and we are willing to take our chances, as long as RD sells up.
d) Peter Varney (a respected Charlton man and ex-CEO) and I mean a proper CEO, not a glorified stooge, has told us that he has willing buyers and we would trust him over the present regime.
Varney has not knowingly lied to Charlton supporters, unlike the present regime, that appear capable of only telling lies.
e) Varney's buyers intentions, could hardly be worse than the existing owners, who are clueless with regards to running a football club and have treated the supporters with total disdain from the moment they took control and sold the supporters favourite player and only decent striker at the club.
One things for certain, when I said "I don't want to do this anymore" roughly this time last season, I was was unsure of my reasons. The more eloquent of the posters on here over the months have put into words exactly how I was feeling, its was never the team performance with me but the whole experience of a game day/week and something wasn't quite right with me. Even being involved with the Upbeats and the Pierre Bolangi memorial garden opening was being altered with the promise of happening on a later date and unless I've missed something to date that hasn't happened (if it has I apologise). I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton) on a coach! As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda. My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started. If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives. Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while). Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
Lovely read Ray :-) God yes I still remember us both almost blowing smoke out of our arses at the end one of those half marathons! But luckily we were well able to deal with the appalling agony and torment, having had years of experience watching Charlton play ;-) As Prince said try and come along to the protests. Even if we just dive back into the Liberal for a pint or ten in between voicing our displeasure :-) You'll be back Ray at some point. We all do. I know that ;-)
Re. the protest post-match on Jan 23. How can we cause more disruption/inconvenience for club while staying on the right side of the law? Blockage of entrances/exits? Refusal to leave, forcing overtime for security? I'm at a bit of a loss as to what another hour-long sing song is going to achieve. I'll be there, but feel like it needs to have some real impact beyond the visual if it's to get any pick up in the media.
Absolutely. Blocking of entrances, at least that into the West Stand. Frankly I think what should be done is for everyone to chain themselves together in a line to block any entrance to the ground for the players in order to get the game called off.
Even better would be to get as many people together to go to Staprix in Belgium because that's the only way to inconvenience the man himself other than financially.
Should be RED CARD and we should all hold up red cards to RD
Erm... Some ideas are worth keeping to yourself.
I think that in terms of marketing this 'coalition' to the media 'Red Card' would work much better than just 'Card' which has no meaning other than as an acronym.
Will try to have a proper listen of this at some point. My French isn't that great but I think the interviewer asks him why he's changed coaches so often and he says he's using the Japanese business method of continuous change to improve (kaizen). He might have said something about each coach being better than the last - similar to the things spouted by his jumped up grad trainee CEO.
I could translate all of this relatively easily (if it wasn't for the awful music) but quite honestly I'd be wasting my time because the bloke is just talking absolute rubbish and is very dismissive of the questions. He is an absolute tosser.
@Cambridge - maybe one of the last RD apologists, very thin on the ground now. Maybe being distant from the Club hasn't exposed you to exactly how bad things are and if fans like me, a season ticket holder every season since the early eighties, can walk away next season then trust me things are bad. Thanks for telling us you wont be donating though, much appreciated.
By the way we know of a prospective new owner, put forward by PV the ex CEO, and he wouldn't have done so unless he thought them a better bet than Roland. I'd suggest you have not read this site as much as you claim otherwise you would be more than aware of that.
Large is back! I still love you bro. You tell 'em.
Gotta say for what we must admit is but a humble campaign to regain our club, this is a real top line design. Understated, but to the point and effective. Look forward to seeing this carried by the media and on banners/flyers at The Valley. Having a unified symbol for us all to get behind is gonna help a bundle especially as it's intentionally more provocative than the Spell It Out in Black & White. Kudos to the designer/s!
Cambridge is indeed perfectly entitled to a view but I must suggest the list of questions posed somewhat ignore the current situation.
They appear to ignore the evidence of the past 2yrs which to an increasing number of people suggests the club under this stewardship has no future as a viable professional football organisation. Any assertion if not Staprix then who else? for many can no longer be an issue.
Under this regime all the evidence strongly suggests there will be no longer be a Charlton Athletic Football Club worthy of its history, its community, its supporters or its name. It is such a future an increasing number of people are striving to avoid.
Peel back the façade and it is not difficult to understand the remit of the current ownership. M. Duchatelet is not an owner. He is an investor. There is nothing overtly clever or unique in his current approach.
He was an investor during his time with St Truiden, investing in the ground infrastructure and exploiting adjacent commercial opportunities. The club now pays rent to the Duchatelet family to use the ground.
He was investor at Standard Liege taking € 30mn in dividends before selling for € 15-20mn against a reported purchase price of € 34mn
He is an investor with Charlton with in effect a quasi leveraged purchase. His investment vehicle is Staprix NV. Staprix is merely operating as a lender of first resort. The investment in Charlton is not by way of equity but it is by way of debt - a debt sitting on the clubs' books in favour of Staprix. The clubs operational trading deficit is funded by way of debt to Staprix.
As an investor Staprix is therefore only interested in Charltons long term ability to meet its debt obligations. It is the clubs "bank manager" with the challenge the club and "the bank" are under common ownership.
To meet its long term trading and debt obligations Duchatelet has chosen an inexperienced and unproven executive to pursue an untried and unproven business model which argues to the fundamentals of the football industry in the UK. Unlike any of our competitors the acquisition and use of non fixed assets are simply for the club to meet its financial obligations NOTHING MORE - NOTHING LESS.
The non fixed assets to you and me are known as players.
Investment in non fixed assets is made against 2 financial benchmarks, 1) the preservation of Championship status revenues 2) the attributes of each individual asset to generate future sales revenue.
There is no aspiration or investment being made for the club first team to perform beyond Benchmark 1.
The club executive performance has abysmally failed to meet these benchmarks, with our Championship status under threat and with the failure of the Watt transfer meaning not one player acquired under this executive has generated any profitable revenue. Even that would have arisen because Duchatelet "stitched up" Standard Liege by effecting his "free" transfer from the Belgium club.
Their modus operandi argues against the fundamental of the English game, fails to recognise the breadth and depth of competition of the English leagues, which far outweighs anything on the continent, meaning their business plan is flawed and unsustainable at any meaningful level of the game.
Their concept of the "match day experience" beyond the events occurring on the field of play reveals their total misunderstanding of the market place in which they are trading.
Any prospective purchaser who can display any understanding of the English football industry, chooses to employ people with both the business and playing experience required and can manage the communication to, and the inclusion of those keen to see the club do well will have a fighting chance to compete in the English leagues. Of course there are no guarantees of success but there never are.
None of us can know what other options are available to the club going forward. To suggest CARD need to be in a position at this point to know exactly who other interested parties may be, the level of their interest and whether any transfer of ownership is possible is beyond unreasonable.
Anyone with commercial experience would know it is not how the business world works. Indeed the clubs very acquisition by Duchatelet speaks to such a scenario.
Why dont we send a scarf to all the people in the media who have highlighted our battle get them to take a picture and tweet, Stan Collymore, Colin Murray, Matt Holland, BBC Radio London, Ian Wright, will get more extensive coverage.
Why dont we send a scarf to all the people in the media who have highlighted our battle get them to take a picture and tweet, Stan Collymore, Colin Murray, Matt Holland, BBC Radio London, Ian Wright, will get more extensive coverage.
What do the scarves stand for now - "Spell Out" what ?
THE COALITION wants them out not to Spell it Out. Doesn't it ?
They are a symbol of the fans fight to get him out end of. What is your take of the present situation, I know, you post a lot of things tongue in cheek but dont think I have ever seen what you actually think ?
Comments
To be honest Afka I don't normally bite, and you are absolutely right that this should not be a one view forum, and it isn't. But Cambridge ended his post with " are you lot serious?" and I felt that was needlessly high handed, and a bit of a put down. Lots of you are working really hard behind the scenes, you have other things in your life, and you are putting in a shift to try and rescue this club from the potential abyss. I have done nothing apart from attend the most recent demo, and I am really grateful for your efforts at a coordinated response that allow us to be more than ranters on a forum. His post felt rather dismissive of all that.
I tried to reply to his post with courtesy. I may have failed a bit, but, sir, he started it ;-)
If the OP wishes to assist with a blueprint for a future Charlton after RD has gone, fine, but the current situation demands a swift remedy.
Shame because there's a good acronym there.
I don't think it was a question of the expecting your response to go down well, that certainly wasn't how I responded.
Having read your replies it's right to question your true allegiance to Charlton Athletic. I for one can't understand how you claim to of spent "hours reading on this site" but still don't understand what everyone is questioning or fighting for.
These issues have been brewing for 12 to 18 months now and in that time period it should've been easy to understand want was going wrong.
At the time, I was unable to verbalise my argument and probably failed to convince him as we didn't present to him the "viable alternative" he was looking for. Of course we didn't have the money to buy the club or were mates with someone who did.
It's why I'm so grateful for people such as Airman (and others) on this forum who do a cracking job of it on most of our behalfs.
Courtesy of @Nug
I read somewhere on here a poster say "Football is their life" pretty much how it was with me, I loved being part of the Covered End as a youngster, being a small part of bringing them back home, taking my children on Bettys coach to the end of the country and back umpteen times a season knowing we would get beat, sometimes they surprised us but most of the time getting an expected beating. Going to Spain in the Anglo Italian cup (Yes, Mr Newton)
As youngsters my children wanting to spend their birthday money in the club shop with Belinda.
My children being thanked by players outside the main entrance as they laid flowers after the tragic accident that took Pierre Bolangi's life. The disappointment on the faces of my children when they found out they wasn't old enough to help cleaning the seats or painting the fences before the season started.
If it was about trophies and points week in week out I would have supported Liverpool who were winning everything, but with me it was that ramshackle old ground at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane a ground that felt I belonged I felt a part of and later in life it was part of my childrens lives.
Sadly at the same stage as I did in life my children drifted away to start families and unlike me never returned, as my Grandchildren came along I looked forward to bringing them along (and did for a short while).
Being a small part in the CL football match at the Valley that raised a small fortune for charity, and who can forget our charity single? (3blokes) taking part in 3 half marathons in five years once again spurred on by Charlton fans, going on to get involved with the Charlton Upbeats and loving every minute of it. These things to me are what being a Charlton supporter are about, yes, the game itself was important but not, life or death it is still a game. Its what revolves around the 90 minutes that make a football club and what made Charlton Athletic different from 91 other football clubs. Sadly it has gone for me although I hope it returns, but I fear the longer it goes on the less likely it is to happen. 52 years of good times and sad times as part of the Charlton family and we have parted our ways, I never say never so I'll settle for unlikely.
If nothing else, I believe that Charlton Life plays a huge role in keeping us all connected to our club, and to each other. There a a lot of people on here I have never knowingly met and wouldn't even know if I was stood next to them at the next car park protest, who I feel a deep affinity towards, even affection, even though I don't know them. That's because reading their posts, over the almost 4 years I've been a member on here, you know that you have a shared history, you understand their emotions and their thoughts, many feel like a friend you could easily have made. It helps bind us together, regardless of geography.
The regime can't destroy our history and they can't take our future. They can just screw with the present. One day, hopefully soon, the regime will be gone and our Charlton will be back. I hope you are too, and the many others who are alienated at present.
The last post match protest, was the best "Charlton" thing, that has happened for a couple of seasons.
Far better than the mainly non existent entertainment.
We were all stood together, as one. At that point, I knew we were still Charlton and I remain quietly confident, that TOGETHER we will get our Charlton back.
We shall overcome.
b) Because RD is an autocratic egomaniac, that knows nothing about how to run a football club and is directing OUR club towards oblivion. He has NO interest in Charlton's first team and simply is using OUR club, to conduct his crazy experiment, of using Charlton as a swap shop to trade footballers, with zero footballing ambition. He is not fit and proper.
Also, because KM is of junior management level, masquerading as a CEO, who hasn't the first clue, how to run a successful football club. KM also has told more lies to Charlton supporters in two years, than have ever been said in my 45 years supporting Charlton. An absolute discredited person, who laughs in the face of supporters.
c) There are few Charlton supporters who do not understand the shameful strategy of RD and now the rest of the footballing world are in agreement, as the truth gets out to the media. We are not buying the club as fans, because we don not have the funds, but we are at our wits ends with the strategy, lies and sheer incompetence and we are willing to take our chances, as long as RD sells up.
d) Peter Varney (a respected Charlton man and ex-CEO) and I mean a proper CEO, not a glorified stooge, has told us that he has willing buyers and we would trust him over the present regime.
Varney has not knowingly lied to Charlton supporters, unlike the present regime, that appear capable of only telling lies.
e) Varney's buyers intentions, could hardly be worse than the existing owners, who are clueless with regards to running a football club and have treated the supporters with total disdain from the moment they took control and sold the supporters favourite player and only decent striker at the club.
As Prince said try and come along to the protests. Even if we just dive back into the Liberal for a pint or ten in between voicing our displeasure :-)
You'll be back Ray at some point. We all do. I know that ;-)
Even better would be to get as many people together to go to Staprix in Belgium because that's the only way to inconvenience the man himself other than financially.
Understated, but to the point and effective. Look forward to seeing this carried by the media and on banners/flyers at The Valley.
Having a unified symbol for us all to get behind is gonna help a bundle especially as it's intentionally more provocative than the Spell It Out in Black & White.
Kudos to the designer/s!
They appear to ignore the evidence of the past 2yrs which to an increasing number of people suggests the club under this stewardship has no future as a viable professional football organisation. Any assertion if not Staprix then who else? for many can no longer be an issue.
Under this regime all the evidence strongly suggests there will be no longer be a Charlton Athletic Football Club worthy of its history, its community, its supporters or its name. It is such a future an increasing number of people are striving to avoid.
Peel back the façade and it is not difficult to understand the remit of the current ownership. M. Duchatelet is not an owner. He is an investor. There is nothing overtly clever or unique in his current approach.
He was an investor during his time with St Truiden, investing in the ground infrastructure and exploiting adjacent commercial opportunities. The club now pays rent to the Duchatelet family to use the ground.
He was investor at Standard Liege taking € 30mn in dividends before selling for € 15-20mn against a reported purchase price of € 34mn
He is an investor with Charlton with in effect a quasi leveraged purchase. His investment vehicle is Staprix NV. Staprix is merely operating as a lender of first resort. The investment in Charlton is not by way of equity but it is by way of debt - a debt sitting on the clubs' books in favour of Staprix. The clubs operational trading deficit is funded by way of debt to Staprix.
As an investor Staprix is therefore only interested in Charltons long term ability to meet its debt obligations. It is the clubs "bank manager" with the challenge the club and "the bank" are under common ownership.
To meet its long term trading and debt obligations Duchatelet has chosen an inexperienced and unproven executive to pursue an untried and unproven business model which argues to the fundamentals of the football industry in the UK. Unlike any of our competitors the acquisition and use of non fixed assets are simply for the club to meet its financial obligations NOTHING MORE - NOTHING LESS.
The non fixed assets to you and me are known as players.
Investment in non fixed assets is made against 2 financial benchmarks, 1) the preservation of Championship status revenues 2) the attributes of each individual asset to generate future sales revenue.
There is no aspiration or investment being made for the club first team to perform beyond Benchmark 1.
The club executive performance has abysmally failed to meet these benchmarks, with our Championship status under threat and with the failure of the Watt transfer meaning not one player acquired under this executive has generated any profitable revenue. Even that would have arisen because Duchatelet "stitched up" Standard Liege by effecting his "free" transfer from the Belgium club.
Their modus operandi argues against the fundamental of the English game, fails to recognise the breadth and depth of competition of the English leagues, which far outweighs anything on the continent, meaning their business plan is flawed and unsustainable at any meaningful level of the game.
Their concept of the "match day experience" beyond the events occurring on the field of play reveals their total misunderstanding of the market place in which they are trading.
Any prospective purchaser who can display any understanding of the English football industry, chooses to employ people with both the business and playing experience required and can manage the communication to, and the inclusion of those keen to see the club do well will have a fighting chance to compete in the English leagues. Of course there are no guarantees of success but there never are.
None of us can know what other options are available to the club going forward. To suggest CARD need to be in a position at this point to know exactly who other interested parties may be, the level of their interest and whether any transfer of ownership is possible is beyond unreasonable.
Anyone with commercial experience would know it is not how the business world works. Indeed the clubs very acquisition by Duchatelet speaks to such a scenario.
THE COALITION wants them out not to Spell it Out. Doesn't it ?
he gotFraeye got relieved of his duties?