The Trust reps at the meeting were Chair Steve Clarke, Secretary @pico and board member @Rob7Lee. They had a clear plan, which was developed and agreed with the rest of the board, and they stuck to it.
I was a no but on reading the trust statement in full can only say well done, you appear to delivered a lear message to both of them. RD will not tolerate that level of investment for much longer of that I am sure.
I was a no but on reading the trust statement in full can only say well done, you appear to delivered a LEAR message to both of them. RD will not tolerate that level of investment for much longer of that I am sure.
Great job by the Trust ! No fuss, no messing, just a clear and concise message given to "them".
I agree with Davo that the press should be made aware of this outcome and that the Trust and all its members emerge as the good guys, which of course they are. Get their message out before the regime spins it .
Also good to see that the Bard has not been forgotten in this.
A clever, yet pertinent indication that England produces the very best....
Agree with those who ask for/would like a press release!
Even if it just goes to the evening standard , the FT and South London press! Put them in no doubt that they have 0 support, and that the trust won this battle!
The Trust reps at the meeting were Chair Steve Clarke, Secretary @pico and board member @Rob7Lee. They had a clear plan, which was developed and agreed with the rest of the board, and they stuck to it.
Well done gents.
I'm with what @Davo55 said. You've taken a big call there, and not done it lightly. Maximise it now and get it out there.
The Trust reps at the meeting were Chair Steve Clarke, Secretary @pico and board member @Rob7Lee. They had a clear plan, which was developed and agreed with the rest of the board, and they stuck to it.
Is it intended that CAST issue a press release with both the survey information and the call to sell?
To elaborate my question and explain my rationale........
I thought it was the wrong decision to meet with them, but once the survey responses were analysed it is clear that the Trust had no option. Let's not argue the rights and wrongs any more; what's done is done.
And the meeting seems to have gone the way the Trust wanted it to (which was a worry, to be frank) and the report back to fans is succinct and convincing. Well done to the Trust - as good an outcome as could have been achieved, under the circumstances.
What is important now is how we build on that, what happens next.
That's why I asked my question: we know or at least strongly suspect that Duchatlet gets a somewhat sanitised view of matters in SE7 from Meire. He needs to get this message directly and publicly so he and the football world more widely are in no doubt where we stand. I think that the Trust should issue a press release incorporating their ST survey data and repeating the call for him to sell. This would ideally also be released in French and Dutch to the leading Belgian press.
Also, it seems clear to me, the days of the Trust seeking dialogue with him/them are over, unless it is on the matter of selling.
CARD have said we are not interested in any plan other than their exit plan. It seems that the Trust have now said the same, in a slightly different way. Everyone is on the same side. The battle lines are drawn, the war is with Duchatelet, and it is total war from a unified force.
Well said
I didn't think the decision to meet was the right on but having launched a survey the Trust we're almost bound to follow the result. We can argue that the framing of the three options made the middle one the most likely but the result was the result.
The walk in, tell them to sell and walk out was the right tactic if the Trust were going to meet them. I wouldn't have even given the oxygen of publicity to their £1m a month figure. Meaningless but as we can see it is now dominating the debate.
I'm surprised that the meeting took place so quickly given KMs inability to meet with Varney but that indicates to me that she wanted the meeting for her own reasons. We shall have to wait and see how, if at all, she spins this. She had clearly hoped to gain something from finally meeting the Trust.
As Davo55 says time to focus on Duchatlelet and getting him out. I fear we have a long, long road to travel before that happens.
Agree with those who ask for/would like a press release!
Even if it just goes to the evening standard , the FT and South London press! Put them in no doubt that they have 0 support, and that the trust won this battle!
Press release is being finalised. It will go to a lot more outlets than those you mentioned but that's different to saying they will publish it.
We do have the Belgian database, but a translation into French and Dutch is a bit of an ask, @Davo55 . It isn't going to be that newsworthy and most of them speak English Ok, having responded to previous PRs re the Belgian activity.
I still think the trust should have demanded a meeting with the organ grinder and not his lying minions.
However, they did as the survey suggested and have delivered an unambiguous message afterwards. That's a result in my book.
I'd like to add my voice to those suggesting they release something to the media both here and in Belgium ASAP to stop the regime twisting this meeting for its own ends.
It was the right thing to do, (to meet). I do get the feeling that the club have misjudged us fans once again. They could of had productive dialogue months ago but have chosen the end of a disappointing season. I sort of see their reason for this but now they have effectively no one to communicate with now the trust have more or less told them talking time is over. The £1m per month is a meaningless figure without seeing the whole books. If a business of Charltons size is losing that amount per year you have to question the ability of those in charge.
Massive credit to the Trust here. I was a voting non-member, then quickly rectified that (thought I already was a member). Proud to be a new member, and proud with how the trust handled an incredibly difficult situation.
I voted to speak to them and tell them to sell. My hope then, and now, is that it will send a message to Miere and Murray that they have no allies left in this fight, and that there is nowhere left for them to go. There's a part of me that hopes this is a watershed moment, for Murray perhaps if not Miere. I could see a way in which they chalk up the protests to results on the pitch or herd mentality. But by the sounds of things the Trust representatives made it very clear today that they are not considered fit stewards of our club.
Lastly, huge credit to everyone on here and on Twitter for such positive and constructive reposes, particularly those who voted for another outcome. In the end, we are all Charlton fans, and I've been so proud watching how different views and perspectives have been handled in all of this.
Agree with those who ask for/would like a press release!
Even if it just goes to the evening standard , the FT and South London press! Put them in no doubt that they have 0 support, and that the trust won this battle!
Press release is being finalised. It will go to a lot more outlets than those you mentioned but that's different to saying they will publish it.
We do have the Belgian database, but a translation into French and Dutch is a bit of an ask, @Davo55 . It isn't going to be that newsworthy and most of them speak English Ok, having responded to previous PRs re the Belgian activity.
Fair enough Prague. The key point was to get the story out there on his home turf - especially if that could include the financial/business editors as well as the sports desks.
The Trust reps at the meeting were Chair Steve Clarke, Secretary @pico and board member @Rob7Lee. They had a clear plan, which was developed and agreed with the rest of the board, and they stuck to it.
Thanks Weegie. As a matter of interest, was there any indication of what KM and RM wanted to achieve such as an agenda and did they show any surprise or disappointment at the way the meeting went?
Following press release has gone to UK contacts. Belgium tomorrow, I promise.
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust tells owner Roland Duchâtelet “to sell the club”.
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust tonight used a long-delayed meeting with Club CEO Katrien Meire and non-executive Chairman, Richard Murray to deliver a clear message on behalf of its members that Club owner Roland Duchâtelet should seek a buyer for the Club as soon as possible.
The Supporters’ Trust presented the two directors with the results of the latest of the Trust’ s regular surveys of supporter opinion. This one, completed by nearly 2,000 fans, 78% of whom were existing season ticket holders, showed that:
• 85% of season ticket holders are currently protesting at the way the club is run • 73% are protesting because they want to see a change of ownership. • 20% said they would probably not renew • 44% said they would definitely not renew • 82% said they would likely renew if there was a change of ownership
The Supporters’ Trust stated that that the conclusion to be drawn from this was that the haemorrhage of support currently witnessed will only get worse and that the situation is irretrievable. The future under Duchâtelet’s ownership could only be one of financial decline, escalating protests and increasing ridicule from supporters and the media. The Supporters Trust could see no business sense in it and it would be a miserable experience for all concerned. The Supporters Trust stated its position that it would be in everyone's best interest for Mr Duchâtelet to take urgent steps to find a new owner for the club.
In response Ms Meire and Mr Murray said that Mr Duchâtelet (who has consistently refused any dialogue whatsoever with the Supporters Trust), was well aware of the level of discontent but that he was not actively seeking to sell the club. They claimed that he is putting £1m a month into the club.
Ends.
Notes for Editors.
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust is the largest properly constituted organization of Charlton supporters. With paid –up membership of over 1,000 it is one of the largest such Supporters Trusts in the Championship.
The Supporters Trust is part of C.A.R.D. – the Coalition Against Roland Duchâtelet , which is the umbrella group of Charlton fans organising the protests against Mr Duchâtelet’s stewardship of the club.
Roland Duchâtelet owns several other clubs across Europe; Alcorcon in Spain, Ujpest in Hungary, and Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany. Until recently he owned Standard Liege in Belgium and his partner remains the official owner of Sint-Truiden VV, also in Belgium. There have been significant fan protests against his ownership at all these clubs, with the exception of Alcorcon.
Comments
They would have been straight to the media and issuing statements that we were offered the chance to hear the board and we refused.
I'm no expert but just my opinion.
I agree with Davo that the press should be made aware of this outcome and that the Trust and all its members emerge as the good guys, which of course they are. Get their message out before the regime spins it .
Also good to see that the Bard has not been forgotten in this.
A clever, yet pertinent indication that England produces the very best....
Even if it just goes to the evening standard , the FT and South London press! Put them in no doubt that they have 0 support, and that the trust won this battle!
I'm with what @Davo55 said. You've taken a big call there, and not done it lightly. Maximise it now and get it out there.
I'm joking, I'm joking, calm down
Think you've struck the right balance there. No dialogue just a polite sell up and go away message.
Right call on FF in my humble.
I didn't think the decision to meet was the right on but having launched a survey the Trust we're almost bound to follow the result. We can argue that the framing of the three options made the middle one the most likely but the result was the result.
The walk in, tell them to sell and walk out was the right tactic if the Trust were going to meet them. I wouldn't have even given the oxygen of publicity to their £1m a month figure. Meaningless but as we can see it is now dominating the debate.
I'm surprised that the meeting took place so quickly given KMs inability to meet with Varney but that indicates to me that she wanted the meeting for her own reasons. We shall have to wait and see how, if at all, she spins this. She had clearly hoped to gain something from finally meeting the Trust.
As Davo55 says time to focus on Duchatlelet and getting him out. I fear we have a long, long road to travel before that happens.
Would have loved to be a fly on the wall.
We do have the Belgian database, but a translation into French and Dutch is a bit of an ask, @Davo55 . It isn't going to be that newsworthy and most of them speak English Ok, having responded to previous PRs re the Belgian activity.
However, they did as the survey suggested and have delivered an unambiguous message afterwards. That's a result in my book.
I'd like to add my voice to those suggesting they release something to the media both here and in Belgium ASAP to stop the regime twisting this meeting for its own ends.
The £1m per month is a meaningless figure without seeing the whole books. If a business of Charltons size is losing that amount per year you have to question the ability of those in charge.
I voted to speak to them and tell them to sell. My hope then, and now, is that it will send a message to Miere and Murray that they have no allies left in this fight, and that there is nowhere left for them to go. There's a part of me that hopes this is a watershed moment, for Murray perhaps if not Miere. I could see a way in which they chalk up the protests to results on the pitch or herd mentality. But by the sounds of things the Trust representatives made it very clear today that they are not considered fit stewards of our club.
Lastly, huge credit to everyone on here and on Twitter for such positive and constructive reposes, particularly those who voted for another outcome. In the end, we are all Charlton fans, and I've been so proud watching how different views and perspectives have been handled in all of this.
@Airman Brown and @Matt_Wright handle that for CARD, but agree with you. I'll do a personal one for sure.
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust tells owner Roland Duchâtelet “to sell the club”.
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust tonight used a long-delayed meeting with Club CEO Katrien Meire and non-executive Chairman, Richard Murray to deliver a clear message on behalf of its members that Club owner Roland Duchâtelet should seek a buyer for the Club as soon as possible.
The Supporters’ Trust presented the two directors with the results of the latest of the Trust’ s regular surveys of supporter opinion. This one, completed by nearly 2,000 fans, 78% of whom were existing season ticket holders, showed that:
• 85% of season ticket holders are currently protesting at the way the club is run
• 73% are protesting because they want to see a change of ownership.
• 20% said they would probably not renew
• 44% said they would definitely not renew
• 82% said they would likely renew if there was a change of ownership
The Supporters’ Trust stated that that the conclusion to be drawn from this was that the haemorrhage of support currently witnessed will only get worse and that the situation is irretrievable. The future under Duchâtelet’s ownership could only be one of financial decline, escalating protests and increasing ridicule from supporters and the media. The Supporters Trust could see no business sense in it and it would be a miserable experience for all concerned. The Supporters Trust stated its position that it would be in everyone's best interest for Mr Duchâtelet to take urgent steps to find a new owner for the club.
In response Ms Meire and Mr Murray said that Mr Duchâtelet (who has consistently refused any dialogue whatsoever with the Supporters Trust), was well aware of the level of discontent but that he was not actively seeking to sell the club. They claimed that he is putting £1m a month into the club.
Ends.
Notes for Editors.
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust is the largest properly constituted organization of Charlton supporters. With paid –up membership of over 1,000 it is one of the largest such Supporters Trusts in the Championship.
The Supporters Trust is part of C.A.R.D. – the Coalition Against Roland Duchâtelet , which is the umbrella group of Charlton fans organising the protests against Mr Duchâtelet’s stewardship of the club.
Roland Duchâtelet owns several other clubs across Europe; Alcorcon in Spain, Ujpest in Hungary, and Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany. Until recently he owned Standard Liege in Belgium and his partner remains the official owner of Sint-Truiden VV, also in Belgium. There have been significant fan protests against his ownership at all these clubs, with the exception of Alcorcon.
For further information please contact:
Steve Clarke, Chair,
A tricky situation well handled by CAST - well done.
Did they offer you tea?