Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
It's now very public knowledge that the meeting happened and subsequently Target20k, the committee upon which you are a member, is being roundly slated on here and elsewhere. For the sake of the argument it would be good to hear your say on the subject or did the club insist that their "topline summary" be the only information released?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
It's now very public knowledge that the meeting happened and subsequently Target20k, the committee upon which you are a member, is being roundly slated on here and elsewhere. For the sake of the argument it would be good to hear your say on the subject or did the club insist that their "topline summary" be the only information released?
You can expect to see a detailed article written by the Target20k group which will most likely be published at some point over the weekend. It won't be me doing this on here as I'm not going to be a spokesperson for the group as yes in the past I have made postings about attending meetings and clearing up a few matters but I'm not as involved with the group as I once was and would be inappropriate for me to post on here on behalf of the group.
It's now very public knowledge that the meeting happened and subsequently Target20k, the committee upon which you are a member, is being roundly slated on here and elsewhere. For the sake of the argument it would be good to hear your say on the subject or did the club insist that their "topline summary" be the only information released?
You can expect to see a detailed article written by the Target20k group which will most likely be published at some point over the weekend. It won't be me doing this on here as I'm not going to be a spokesperson for the group as yes in the past I have made postings about attending meetings and clearing up a few matters but I'm not as involved with the group as I once was and would be inappropriate for me to post on here on behalf of the group.
Why do you think it's a good idea for you to be associated with the group and it's close links with Meire and secretive meetings?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Discuss
Are art and irony mutually exclusive?
Can a picture be both what it represents and something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is Steve Wisdom, loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Swisdom agrees with removing segregation because "we used to be everyone's second club"?!
No. I see merit in fans mingling together outside the ground and having a beer together. Obviously not when we play a rival. But we are not known for fans that cause trouble. What's the harm in mingling with some guys from Bury, Oldham etc
Like recently where fans mingled with fleetwood's fans and ultimately their owner.
Same as happens at rugby matches apparently
The irony of Roland encouraging fans to socialise when he won't even go to a game or meet with fans.
Not sure the Belgians do irony - it's a very British thing.
I believe they are world leaders in it:
Is that irony or art?
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Oh do keep up Weegie!
The fella has been making excuses for the club for months now. Maybe it's a coincidence, but his family are also earning out of the regime.
How's the training ground work coming along matey? Still all on course and nothing to worry about!
Big man. Mention the training ground again. Well done. Ignore the fact we have 4 generations of fans in my family who have spent tens of thousands over the years with multiple owners. Ignore the fact we are patrons and working with the multiple award winning CACT and that is how we got involved at the training ground in the first place.
Welcome to the dark side, Alison. It's quite friendly here, really, if you care more about CAFC than personal profile.
Ah, and I may be late to the party, bit am now clear that @Swisdom is loyal wingman of Sue Perks on SE7.
Oh do keep up Weegie!
The fella has been making excuses for the club for months now. Maybe it's a coincidence, but his family are also earning out of the regime.
How's the training ground work coming along matey? Still all on course and nothing to worry about!
Big man. Mention the training ground again. Well done. Ignore the fact we have 4 generations of fans in my family who have spent tens of thousands over the years with multiple owners. Ignore the fact we are patrons and working with the multiple award winning CACT and that is how we got involved at the training ground in the first place.
Matey.
Well, how's it coming along then? All seems to have gone very quiet. You were the one telling us it was all on track.
And if you have such a long family history then quite frankly it makes your stance seem even, "weirder". Just my opinion of course. No need to flag me again.
Believe me when I say I understand the latest episode of the soap, that the club has become, has only served to frustrate and annoy.
But just as with any soap I am not too sure there is very much to see here.
Nothing has materially changed - indeed quite the reverse - ultimately no matter what they actually say or rather put out through their PR Consultants the position remains the same.
Once again the owner has slunk into the building actually met a few sycophants (apparently 8 in number and one of those has just been forced to resign). A step forward you may say - sadly only on the basis that they chose to lie about meeting "fan groups" last time.
He graciously praised their hard work, yet have the 20k group actually delivered publically any new attendance growth initiatives? - (genuine question) and he has now sodded off back to Belgium.
It would be an enormous leap of faith to assume such dialogue will ever bring about material change. It was and remains a meaningless tick box exercise reaffirming a status quo which has palpably failed to deliver on any performance criteria other than refitting the shop.
A change in an abysmally failing recruitment strategy in the face of the results evidenced by our increased debts and reduced playing status does nothing to explain the broader strategy and the executive intent for our future.
Unable to trust their own competence in engaging with the broader Charlton community we once again have a communications directive. It is meaningless - nothing has changed
Having originally and arrogantly dismissed all challenges to their thinking at the outset, before then apologising for getting it wrong they repeat the mantra they are learning from their mistakes yet like some recalcitrant scholar are still unable to clarify exactly what they intend to do about it. Nothing has changed.
The club is 14th in League 1.
The first team has won 2 games out of eight.
The squad remains unbalanced and short of key personnel (I genuinely hope Slade and the players achieve success for the sake of all our sanity but) there is a very long way to go.
Yet the churn continues;
I have seen assertions by some the regime is now committed to winning promotion back to the Championship. No mention of that in the communique.
I have seen assertions they are now committed to challenging for promotion to the Premier League. No mention of that in the communique.
M.Duchatelet has sought to explain his absence as a hard working family man with lots of businesses to oversee. We have to recognise we are just a small part of his " interests". He clarified he allocates his time as appropriate.
The challenge however rests with the subjective view of "what is appropriate".
It is common practice for the executive and staff of a failing business to commit to the business by working diligently to put it back on track. For many preserving their livelihoods means the luxury of a family life is somewhat compromised.
M.Duchatelet CHOSE to specifically invest in the UK football industry, quite clearly if the references to Rugby are to be believed, (I wish him luck running his mingling options past the local constabulary) without apparently doing the necessary personal or corporate due diligence.
M.Duchatelet from the outset stated he saw himself as an "investor". As an investor the role you intend to play in such investment is key. If you invest in a business, particularly a people oriented business the key elements are leadership, executive engagement, excellence in administrative process and communication.
If you not willing or are unable to fill such roles, for the sake of the health of your investment you had better ensure you have appointed the right executive to fill those roles. Based on the evidence of the results across every performance criteria his executive and his investment have failed.
Yet today his failing infrastructure remains in place. Nothing has changed.
Unfortunately for him the inconvenient industry truth is ultimately football survives on the back of decades of "stakeholder" investment by supporters. Many stakeholders are challenging his abdication of his administrative responsibilities to the club. He has had to extend his financial commitment to an unprecented level to cover his executives' failed administration - yet nothing changes.
It appears he remains committed to changing the industry model to fit his personal preferences, a sanitised, quasi middle class elitist product which appears to resemble a scout jamboree "kumbaya". It may be a praiseworthy if somewhat dubious social experiment but not if it condemns the club and its stakeholders to footballing oblivion.
There appears to a very unhealthy almost cult like flavour to his endeavours. He apparently is prepared to bear the cost of such a model but the selfish arrogance in dismissing the interest of others is simply unacceptable at any level.
On the limited basis this man does enter into any dialogue he seems to display an unerring and continuing naivety in terms of the industry, the requirements to succeed in the industry and a self obsessed agenda.
On such a basis M.Duchatelet and his executive still cannot clarify how he intends to deliver to the long term interests of the future of this club. If they offer a compelling future why can they not share it with those who want nothing more than to see the club succeed?
As always the door is open to engage with his critics, to debate, to argue, to reassure, to commit, to involve, to explain, to inspire. Yet another visiting opportunity is wasted. It remains an engagement he and his executive simply refuse to accept. Yet another week passes and he and his entourage still hide behind the barricades of arrogant indignation at anyone seeking to challenge their authority, their competence and their actions.
The soap will trundle on a while longer as the viewing numbers, without a compelling change to the storyline, will in all probability continue to decline.
Be calm - nothing in the real world has materially changed.
I wish people would stop talking about "the boycott" driving gates down. There has only been a boycott of season tickets, fans were never asked not to come. The fact thousands are choosing not to attend games any longer is because they have had enough with Roland Duchatelet, Katrien Meire and/or aren't interested in third division football.
Just to let you know, I was the EKA rep who was appointed to the group and just like HI said, I resigned very early on before attending any meetings. Didn't feel comfortable with it at all and am very glad that I'm not a part of it now as it's certainly not doing what it was set out to do.
Just to let you know, I was the EKA rep who was appointed to the group and just like HI said, I resigned very early on before attending any meetings. Didn't feel comfortable with it at all and am very glad that I'm not a part of it now as it's certainly not doing what it was set out to do.
Just to let you know, I was the EKA rep who was appointed to the group and just like HI said, I resigned very early on before attending any meetings. Didn't feel comfortable with it at all and am very glad that I'm not a part of it now as it's certainly not doing what it was set out to do.
It's now very public knowledge that the meeting happened and subsequently Target20k, the committee upon which you are a member, is being roundly slated on here and elsewhere. For the sake of the argument it would be good to hear your say on the subject or did the club insist that their "topline summary" be the only information released?
You can expect to see a detailed article written by the Target20k group which will most likely be published at some point over the weekend. It won't be me doing this on here as I'm not going to be a spokesperson for the group as yes in the past I have made postings about attending meetings and clearing up a few matters but I'm not as involved with the group as I once was and would be inappropriate for me to post on here on behalf of the group.
Nothing personal Martin as I'm sure your intentions are good but, assuming you were at the meeting, how about posting on here on behalf of yourself and giving your own opinion? This was not a meeting with MI6, it was an impromptu appearance by our owner at a Target20k meeting to discuss our club-you must have something to say on the matter? Surely?
Comments
Misguided and trying to make a difference. They have just been lead up the garden path and sucked in by her persecution complex.
They do need to work out what they are for though.
It's now very public knowledge that the meeting happened and subsequently Target20k, the committee upon which you are a member, is being roundly slated on here and elsewhere. For the sake of the argument it would be good to hear your say on the subject or did the club insist that their "topline summary" be the only information released?
The fella has been making excuses for the club for months now. Maybe it's a coincidence, but his family are also earning out of the regime.
How's the training ground work coming along matey? Still all on course and nothing to worry about!
Is a picture what it represents or something else?
Discuss
So is it a pipe or a painting of a pipe?
Are they the same thing?
Can a picture be both what it represents and something else?
Discuss.
A pipe is a pipe.
A picture of a pipe is a picture of a pipe.
Don't bother to discuss ;-)
Matey.
Spend those 40 pieces of silver well my friend.
And if you have such a long family history then quite frankly it makes your stance seem even, "weirder". Just my opinion of course. No need to flag me again.
But just as with any soap I am not too sure there is very much to see here.
Nothing has materially changed - indeed quite the reverse - ultimately no matter what they actually say or rather put out through their PR Consultants the position remains the same.
Once again the owner has slunk into the building actually met a few sycophants (apparently 8 in number and one of those has just been forced to resign). A step forward you may say - sadly only on the basis that they chose to lie about meeting "fan groups" last time.
He graciously praised their hard work, yet have the 20k group actually delivered publically any new attendance growth initiatives? - (genuine question) and he has now sodded off back to Belgium.
It would be an enormous leap of faith to assume such dialogue will ever bring about material change. It was and remains a meaningless tick box exercise reaffirming a status quo which has palpably failed to deliver on any performance criteria other than refitting the shop.
A change in an abysmally failing recruitment strategy in the face of the results evidenced by our increased debts and reduced playing status does nothing to explain the broader strategy and the executive intent for our future.
Unable to trust their own competence in engaging with the broader Charlton community we once again have a communications directive. It is meaningless - nothing has changed
Having originally and arrogantly dismissed all challenges to their thinking at the outset, before then apologising for getting it wrong they repeat the mantra they are learning from their mistakes yet like some recalcitrant scholar are still unable to clarify exactly what they intend to do about it. Nothing has changed.
The club is 14th in League 1.
The first team has won 2 games out of eight.
The squad remains unbalanced and short of key personnel (I genuinely hope Slade and the players achieve success for the sake of all our sanity but) there is a very long way to go.
Yet the churn continues;
I have seen assertions by some the regime is now committed to winning promotion back to the Championship. No mention of that in the communique.
I have seen assertions they are now committed to challenging for promotion to the Premier League. No mention of that in the communique.
M.Duchatelet has sought to explain his absence as a hard working family man with lots of businesses to oversee. We have to recognise we are just a small part of his " interests". He clarified he allocates his time as appropriate.
The challenge however rests with the subjective view of "what is appropriate".
It is common practice for the executive and staff of a failing business to commit to the business by working diligently to put it back on track. For many preserving their livelihoods means the luxury of a family life is somewhat compromised.
M.Duchatelet CHOSE to specifically invest in the UK football industry, quite clearly if the references to Rugby are to be believed, (I wish him luck running his mingling options past the local constabulary) without apparently doing the necessary personal or corporate due diligence.
M.Duchatelet from the outset stated he saw himself as an "investor". As an investor the role you intend to play in such investment is key. If you invest in a business, particularly a people oriented business the key elements are leadership, executive engagement, excellence in administrative process and communication.
If you not willing or are unable to fill such roles, for the sake of the health of your investment you had better ensure you have appointed the right executive to fill those roles. Based on the evidence of the results across every performance criteria his executive and his investment have failed.
Yet today his failing infrastructure remains in place. Nothing has changed.
Unfortunately for him the inconvenient industry truth is ultimately football survives on the back of decades of "stakeholder" investment by supporters. Many stakeholders are challenging his abdication of his administrative responsibilities to the club. He has had to extend his financial commitment to an unprecented level to cover his executives' failed administration - yet nothing changes.
It appears he remains committed to changing the industry model to fit his personal preferences, a sanitised, quasi middle class elitist product which appears to resemble a scout jamboree "kumbaya". It may be a praiseworthy if somewhat dubious social experiment but not if it condemns the club and its stakeholders to footballing oblivion.
There appears to a very unhealthy almost cult like flavour to his endeavours. He apparently is prepared to bear the cost of such a model but the selfish arrogance in dismissing the interest of others is simply unacceptable at any level.
On the limited basis this man does enter into any dialogue he seems to display an unerring and continuing naivety in terms of the industry, the requirements to succeed in the industry and a self obsessed agenda.
On such a basis M.Duchatelet and his executive still cannot clarify how he intends to deliver to the long term interests of the future of this club. If they offer a compelling future why can they not share it with those who want nothing more than to see the club succeed?
As always the door is open to engage with his critics, to debate, to argue, to reassure, to commit, to involve, to explain, to inspire. Yet another visiting opportunity is wasted. It remains an engagement he and his executive simply refuse to accept. Yet another week passes and he and his entourage still hide behind the barricades of arrogant indignation at anyone seeking to challenge their authority, their competence and their actions.
The soap will trundle on a while longer as the viewing numbers, without a compelling change to the storyline, will in all probability continue to decline.
Be calm - nothing in the real world has materially changed.
The end storyline is still to be written.
Just to let you know, I was the EKA rep who was appointed to the group and just like HI said, I resigned very early on before attending any meetings. Didn't feel comfortable with it at all and am very glad that I'm not a part of it now as it's certainly not doing what it was set out to do.
At least two others have gone since
(No offence, bellz!
This was not a meeting with MI6, it was an impromptu appearance by our owner at a Target20k meeting to discuss our club-you must have something to say on the matter? Surely?