We are in no circumstances whatsoever dropping below League One with this ownership. That is my firm belief. You may ridicule me off the boards should the reverse transpire (unless of course it's brought about by fan action)
It is arguable, if you cast your mind back that there were no circumstances
I've been handing stuff for the protests out since the first Black and White protests with the leaflets and have continued to do so for all subsequent protests.
Yesterday was the first time that I recieved any level of abuse from people, being called a c***, and that I'm 'f***ing killing the club'. Also saw several of the stress balls getting thrown over roofs on Floyd Road and even a taxi getting at myself and several others who were handing out the stress balls/taxis.
This forum has always been the place with the most solid and high level of support for both CARD and the protests. But outside of here, particularly on the facebook group and other forums, there is a rising anti-CARD, anti-protest sentiment, and we can't ignore that.
Those who are anti-protest and anti-CARD are then those who have embraced the year-zero approach by Meire and Duchatelet and have effectively become hybrid customer/fans.
Meire set out their stall in various Press conferences and interviews e.g. 1) the history of the club is irrelevant (although when it suits her purpose the 25 year back to The Valley event has been hi-jacked without the involvement as I understand of the main 'actors'. 2) 'the fans will have to get used to the way we do things now' (effectively - if you don't like it F. off). 3) 'the fans don't see themselves as customers' 4) If season ticket fans don't renew ........'that's their choice'
All pretty uncompromising stuff and there is no evidence that Meire or Duchatelet have changed in what I perceive as a re-invention of the Club begun in 2014. On the playing side all we are seeing now is an attempt to regain the ground lost. The earliest the Regime could see the club back where it was when they took over is August 2017.
But in terms of support they have I believe failed to attract the numbers of new 'match-day experience' fans to add to the existing hard core whilst at the same time they (or at least Meire - it's their choice) is quite sanguine about losing thousands of fans who won't fall into line .
Those who have become foot-soldiers for the regime either on Social Media or in person by abusing those protesting at The Ground have then by definition got used to 'the way we (The Regime) do things now.'
I find this surprising, if there are increasing numbers of these people.
The other thread dealing with this issue is called Schism. Perhaps it is already too late then and the major damage has been done and there is a 'new' breed of Charlton Athletic fan/customer as Meire and Duchatelet wished which will accept anything they want to do without question..........
Meire talked about a war between the Regime and CARD on Talksport. As far as I can judge CARD have won just about every PR battle and both Meire and Duchatelet have been exposed for the incompetents they undoubtably are
CARD, which I understand to be a coalition of many different groups of supporters who wish to see Duchatelet sell up, must continue by legal means to keep on protesting in order to preserve the soul of the Club for the next owner.
The future of the Club and what it represents is at stake and this is very well worth fighting for even if others somehow don't get the message and are evidently prepared to support a man who will give you maybe 1.5% of his time and his grinning, lying, holidaying in the sun sidekick who, if she had any shred of self-respect would have resigned ages ago.
Why on earth has the anti-CARD stuff seemingly really stepped up over the past week?
Is it simply because we had a couple of wins and then instantly people started thinking that any kind of protest would ruin the momentum of the team?
No mate it's nothing to do with us getting a couple of wins, it's the fact that supporters that do go and support the team are sick and tired of the boring nonsense of throwing stuff on the pitch and delaying games. We also have a new manager in place who seems to be welcomed by the majority, and fans want to give him the best possible support to get us back up into the Championship.
All you are doing is splitting the fan base and as already stated on here in another thread things are beginning to turn ugly. My humble advice to CARD is think very carefully about your next move!
The only thing splitting the fan base are those who have personal agendas against those involved with CARD for whatever reason.
WE are also split between boycotters and attenders. One thing unites us- no-one actually knows what will get rid of Roland.
I'm becoming increasingly worried that nothing will.
Well he is seventy so one way or another he will be gone
He has a son hasn't he, when Roland hangs up his boots I am sure he will inherit the business?
Let's hope his son hasn't got children. Then at least some of you younger lifers will see a Roland free Charlton.
We are now getting to the stage where we may be able to set up a charity with the charitable purpose of providing benefits to society in generalthrough delivering changes to football club ownership.
One stated aim will be the removal of Duchatelet and his family and associates.
Why on earth has the anti-CARD stuff seemingly really stepped up over the past week?
Is it simply because we had a couple of wins and then instantly people started thinking that any kind of protest would ruin the momentum of the team?
No mate it's nothing to do with us getting a couple of wins, it's the fact that supporters that do go and support the team are sick and tired of the boring nonsense of throwing stuff on the pitch and delaying games. We also have a new manager in place who seems to be welcomed by the majority, and fans want to give him the best possible support to get us back up into the Championship.
All you are doing is splitting the fan base and as already stated on here in another thread things are beginning to turn ugly. My humble advice to CARD is think very carefully about your next move!
The only thing splitting the fan base are those who have personal agendas against those involved with CARD for whatever reason.
WE are also split between boycotters and attenders. One thing unites us- no-one actually knows what will get rid of Roland.
I'm becoming increasingly worried that nothing will.
Well he is seventy so one way or another he will be gone
He has a son hasn't he, when Roland hangs up his boots I am sure he will inherit the business?
Why on earth has the anti-CARD stuff seemingly really stepped up over the past week?
Is it simply because we had a couple of wins and then instantly people started thinking that any kind of protest would ruin the momentum of the team?
No mate it's nothing to do with us getting a couple of wins, it's the fact that supporters that do go and support the team are sick and tired of the boring nonsense of throwing stuff on the pitch and delaying games. We also have a new manager in place who seems to be welcomed by the majority, and fans want to give him the best possible support to get us back up into the Championship.
All you are doing is splitting the fan base and as already stated on here in another thread things are beginning to turn ugly. My humble advice to CARD is think very carefully about your next move!
The only thing splitting the fan base are those who have personal agendas against those involved with CARD for whatever reason.
WE are also split between boycotters and attenders. One thing unites us- no-one actually knows what will get rid of Roland.
I'm becoming increasingly worried that nothing will.
Well he is seventy so one way or another he will be gone
He has a son hasn't he, when Roland hangs up his boots I am sure he will inherit the business?
I understand Robbo is a red. He will know about the issues surrounding the Hicks/Gillette regime at Anfield. He therefore needs to understand that CARD mirrors the Spirit of Shankly Group at Liverpool. If he gets that, he will understand thhere is more to it.
I didn't get any anti-CARD grief handing stuff out yesterday although I have on other occasions. As I said earlier I think now a lot of fans, although wanting RD out, are a bit meh about the protests and want to just watch the football. There are some pro RD but not many. The problem is most anti RD, like myself, have voted with their feet already meaning less remain who want to actively protest although wanting RD out.
We need to target both RD and KM away from The Valley, stunts like the Companies House one and the Belgium visits hit them personally.
I trust that @Essex_Al will have read & inwardly digested those wise & succinct words of The Master.
If anyone is able to verbalise the situation in a manner that everyone can understand and hit every nail in the toolbox on its proverbial, it's this Lifer.....
Without protest the match atmosphere is non existent . Last season the people in the west stand complaining about the protests not supporting the team then seemed to spend all the match criticising & booking players.
I trust that @Essex_Al will have read & inwardly digested those wise & succinct words of The Master.
If anyone is able to verbalise the situation in a manner that everyone can understand and hit every nail in the toolbox on its proverbial, it's this Lifer.....
My humble advice to CARD is think very carefully about your next move!
I do think he has a point. I have no doubt that those doing most of the work at CARD are well aware of how the various protests/events have been received by other fans and the general public and are making plans accordingly, but it seems to me (bearing in mind I'm a few thousand miles around the world) that there has been a bit of a shift in attitudes of some (not necessarily all on this site) towards being 'anti-protest' or, at the very least 'bored with the protests'.
The work CARD do is important, but keeping people onside is a big part of that and is just as, if not more, important. You'll never please all of the people all of the time, but we may need to make sure we please more of the people more of the time.
I wish I had the inventiveness to come up with a plan and if I was living back home I would be getting involved whenever I could, but Essex Al is right on that final point - careful thought is needed.
Yep it's all become too much hard work and not exciting enough for me , just turning up and everything being organised by someone else to embarrass the regime I'm afraid the owners are still here and unless you've got them out in the next 6 weeks I'm afraid I'm gonna just be happy to turn up and watch the manager merry go round and demise of our football club continue without making any more effort than I currently do
We have some proper lame pathetic support that deserve the shit served up by this clueless ownership
The basis for the protests has not changed since the day they started.
Unlike those vacillating supporters who appear to latch onto every new Head Coach and Manager appointment as a clean slate and the start of a new dawn there are those who look beyond the veneer to realise the underlying infrastructure is incapable of supporting anything beyond a series of stop gap solutions.
For those tired of the protests please recognise there are those who have long tired of the feeble attempts of this regime to run a football club. You will not see them. They have long since walked away. If you think this is in the best interest of the club then it is an opinion with which I will have to differ.
I try not to post too often because I have in reality written most of it all before but I will focus on one aspect. It is not a difficult aspect. It is one most of us face through most of our working lives.
When are people going to recognise it makes little difference as to who you employ if you refuse to empower them to do THEIR JOB without interference from sundry noises off let alone, in our case, the eccentric musings of a remote investor.
The role of a Chief Executive is to provide meaningful support to their management team AT ALL TIMES - NOT CUT AND RUN AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY. The role of the CEO is to facilitate the right environment for their management and employees to deliver to their business.
It simply does not happen in SE7. There is no magic trick here. It is about putting the right people in the right place and letting them get on with the job they are being paid to do. Mess with that and your undermine your own management.
It has been a key factor in every Head Coach and Manager being faced with rumours of "losing the dressing room". The quickest way for that to happen is when senior players wait patiently for things to happen to improve the squad or secure additional resources .....and nothing happens. It turns the Manager into a lame duck.
It is why the club structure is fundamentally flawed. Managers are being held accountable without the authority to act. The executive who hold the authority to act refuse to be accountable for anything.
The results speak for themselves.
- Powell was foisted with 6 Liege rejects - Riga Part 1 was supported with 2 low key emergency loans - Peeters, who bought into the youth development culture "big time" was forced to play Pope for too long when Henderson was injured and desperately needed a foil to take the weight off Vetokele. Neither was forthcoming. The wheels came off. - Luzon was then allowed to draft in a few additional resources to close out that season. Yet the next season saw him patiently waiting for 3 new faces at the close of the August transfer window.He was left waiting for the rest of his tenure - Fraeye, no matter his personal demeanour, professionally was a collective "brainfart" - Riga Part 2 was given a plethora of aged unfit veterans/ loans who took weeks to get fit - Slade, who started late, was still trying to build his squad at the close of this seasons' transfer window a mere 12 weeks ago. 12 weeks with a squad bereft of any midfield mobility and he is out of the door
Does anyone really think the above scenarios paint a supportive and constructive environment?
I fully understand running a football club is not easy but if you do not understand the fundamental dynamics of the business you literally have "no business being there"
So at any given point the team may be able to put together a decent run of results but without stability, without a long term sustainable strategy it will only deliver a stop - start dynamic. As structured the whole infrastructure is subject to the vagaries of a squad which is always going to be bereft of the balance and depth required.
There is a crucial difference in allowing a coach to bring in the players he wants to complement the squad he has and being given the power of veto over a succession of players the likes of Driessen choose for his consideration. His ability to deliver to his remit is capped by the ability of the scouting system to provide him with the options he needs.
Do you seriously think if 5000 supporters could recognise the glaring weakness in our midfield a professional of 20yrs standing could not?
People keep harping on about all of these issues being in the past "so move on" but the likes of Driessen are still on the payroll. We know not how many other secret " advisors" are in and around the club.
The club literally hours before appointing a new manager chose in isolation to appoint another coach for some indeterminate purpose. So we now potentially have Robinson, Barker, Nugent, Clark and O'Loughlin all involved with the first team. Does that sound like a coordinated and cohesive coaching plan?
I have no problem with Robinson. I had little problem, Fraeye apart, with most of the above but they simply were not allowed to do the job they were recruited to do.
On what basis do people think Robinson will be treated any differently? It is hope over substance.
The regime is simply not fit for purpose - nothing has changed.
Yep it's all become too much hard work and not exciting enough for me , just turning up and everything being organised by someone else to embarrass the regime I'm afraid the owners are still here and unless you've got them out in the next 6 weeks I'm afraid I'm gonna just be happy to turn up and watch the manager merry go round and demise of our football club continue without making any more effort than I currently do
We have some proper lame pathetic support that deserve the shit served up by this clueless ownership
I can't tell if you're having a pop at my post or someone else. To clarify, I support the protests. I just think we should be mindful of public opinion and how it can and does change.
If you are in anyway unsure about the motives of the protests or: the slow lingering demise of our football club, if you are fed up with the bickering among our own support, if you cling to the belief that RD is pumping in his own money and keeping us afloat, if you are concerned that there is no-one else out there to buy us, if there is and you think they might be worse, if you want to give the new man some time or: if you just want to watch a game of football
please read @Grapevine49 's post, then read it again.
If you still feel that doing nothing is the answer then I am not sure what to say, other than we just all want what we think is best for 'our club'
We have some proper lame pathetic support that deserve the shit served up by this clueless ownership
Agree 100%.
This pathetic support will be just about that is left going to matches if things continue as they are.
The disconnect i have with the club these days is sad and others have said the same.
I never thought that I would reach this place I find myself in. I have probably been to over 85 grounds including foreign and loads of pre season following the club. I have devoted much time to CASC, organising events and helping with away travel all voluntary of course.
I used to buy my family tickets to celebrate birthdays etc and encouraged loads of first timers to matches.
I have huge pride in CARD and the Belgian 20 but no longer in the club. I have moved beyond boycotting, I can't be arsed and have no idea if it will return when the regime goes.
Charlton Life helps keep my interest but even that is waning. My very occasional visits to other forums get me even more depressed. So much so that at times I think that they ain't worth fighting for and they deserve the shit that is our current regime.
I really don't know how the movers and shakers of the protests keep going.
I trust that @Essex_Al will have read & inwardly digested those wise & succinct words of The Master.
If anyone is able to verbalise the situation in a manner that everyone can understand and hit every nail in the toolbox on its proverbial, it's this Lifer.....
Unfortunately I've had the chop so cannot supply you with babies I'm afraid, but would be very happy to get in a bit of practice, I am of course still a bit of a stud! The after sex chat would be very interesting!
I trust that @Essex_Al will have read & inwardly digested those wise & succinct words of The Master.
If anyone is able to verbalise the situation in a manner that everyone can understand and hit every nail in the toolbox on its proverbial, it's this Lifer.....
Unfortunately I've had the chop so cannot supply you with babies I'm afraid, but would be very happy to get in a bit of practice, I am of course still a bit of a stud! The after sex chat would be very interesting!
Oh . . . . . . . . . . . . you meant Grapevine!
I imagine the after sex chat is more sensible than the tripe you post on here.
Are you going to Bradford so you can buy me a pre xmas Heineken?!
The basis for the protests has not changed since the day they started.
The results speak for themselves.
- Powell was foisted with 6 Liege rejects - Riga Part 1 was supported with 2 low key emergency loans - Peeters, who bought into the youth development culture "big time" was forced to play Pope for too long when Henderson was injured and desperately needed a foil to take the weight off Vetokele. Neither was forthcoming. The wheels came off. - Luzon was then allowed to draft in a few additional resources to close out that season. Yet the next season saw him patiently waiting for 3 new faces at the close of the August transfer window.He was left waiting for the rest of his tenure - Fraeye, no matter his personal demeanour, professionally was a collective "brainfart" - Riga Part 2 was given a plethora of aged unfit veterans/ loans who took weeks to get fit - Slade, who started late, was still trying to build his squad at the close of this seasons' transfer window a mere 12 weeks ago. 12 weeks with a squad bereft of any midfield mobility and he is out of the door People keep harping on about all of these issues being in the past "so move on" but the likes of Driessen are still on the payroll. We know not how many other secret " advisors" are in and around the club. The regime is simply not fit for purpose - nothing has changed.
Brilliant post of course, and a great summation of the history of this regime.
I'd love it if RD suddenly sold the club. But I fear he may not. So, playing devil's advocate for a moment.... (please don't shoot me!)...
Imagine an alien diplomat landing on planet earth this week to look at what the hell is wrong at The Valley.
He (or she) would see:
Almost three years of management disasters, mistake after mistake after mistake made by CEO and owner. A mission statement that was not only insulting to the fans, but unrealistic & not fit for purpose. An owner tinkering from afar, without the know-how to tinker successfully. An inexperienced and unqualified CEO, completely unsuited to the role. An inexperienced and unqualified network 'scout' (Driesen) completely unsuited to the role. A club 'at war' with it's fans, or at least a large section of them. A club that won't talk to the Supporters Trust. A fan boycott reducing revenues to the club. A well organised and well supported protest group, CARD, who have led an imaginative and unimpeachable campaign against the owner and CEO. But a split fanbase, most of whom don't like the owner, some of whom support the protests, some of whom, perhaps an increasing number, 'just want to watch the football'.
So what would your alien diplomat do. Throw his tentacles up and say 'There's nothing that can be done here, I'm off!'?
No he wouldn't. He's a professional.
Firstly, he'd see if there could be a simple solution; the owner selling, or CARD giving up the fight. He'd soon realise that neither is likely to happen any time soon. He'd see a classic stalemate situation developing. He'd see the huge disconnect between club and supporters.
After examining the background issues (as beautifully described by @Grapevine49) he would:
1. Look for signs that mistakes have been acknowledged and learned from. 2. He'd look for contrition. 3. He'd seek common ground, and a way forward that would suit both parties.
He'd need evidence.
So he'd find evidence that mistakes have at least been acknowledged.
He would find some evidence that mistakes have been learned from - two suitable managers appointed, no network players imposed, less tinkering in team affairs. He'd find some evidence that mistakes haven't been learned from - Thomas Driesen still in a (less influential) role, new manager not given enough time. The appointment of Chris O'Laughlin is (yet) another spanner in the works, although his role and future have remained undefined.
He'd see no real evidence of contrition. He could put that down to either a lack of contrition, or poor communication.
As for 3. Common Ground:
Common ground could only be established with face to face talks, ACAS style. A way forward that would be suitable to both sides, would be the aim of any talks. [In fact, ACAS's services could be employed - they're very good at this sort of thing.] There would need to be a fresh mission statement from the owner and CEO, that would be acceptable to supporters. This statement would need to lay out both their aspirations for the club, and their plans for turning these aspirations into reality.
If this approach doesn't work, then at least we tried, and the protests could continue. We'd at least have the kudos of having made the first move.
Comments
Meire set out their stall in various Press conferences and interviews
e.g.
1) the history of the club is irrelevant (although when it suits her purpose the 25 year back to The Valley event has been hi-jacked without the involvement as I understand of the main 'actors'.
2) 'the fans will have to get used to the way we do things now' (effectively - if you don't like it F. off).
3) 'the fans don't see themselves as customers'
4) If season ticket fans don't renew ........'that's their choice'
All pretty uncompromising stuff and there is no evidence that Meire or Duchatelet have changed in what I perceive as a re-invention of the Club begun in 2014.
On the playing side all we are seeing now is an attempt to regain the ground lost. The earliest the Regime could see the club back where it was when they took over is August 2017.
But in terms of support they have I believe failed to attract the numbers of new 'match-day experience' fans to add to the existing hard core whilst at the same time they (or at least Meire - it's their choice) is quite sanguine about losing thousands of fans who won't fall into line .
Those who have become foot-soldiers for the regime either on Social Media or in person by abusing those protesting at The Ground have then by definition got used to 'the way we (The Regime) do things now.'
I find this surprising, if there are increasing numbers of these people.
The other thread dealing with this issue is called Schism. Perhaps it is already too late then and the major damage has been done and there is a 'new' breed of Charlton Athletic fan/customer as Meire and Duchatelet wished which will accept anything they want to do without question..........
Meire talked about a war between the Regime and CARD on Talksport.
As far as I can judge CARD have won just about every PR battle and both Meire and Duchatelet have been exposed for the incompetents they undoubtably are
CARD, which I understand to be a coalition of many different groups of supporters who wish to see Duchatelet sell up, must continue by legal means to keep on protesting in order to preserve the soul of the Club for the next owner.
The future of the Club and what it represents is at stake and this is very well worth fighting for even if others somehow don't get the message and are evidently prepared to support a man who will give you maybe 1.5% of his time and his grinning, lying, holidaying in the sun sidekick who, if she had any shred of self-respect would have resigned ages ago.
I'm becoming increasingly worried that nothing will.
Well he is seventy so one way or another he will be gone
So just ten or twenty years then. Agh!
One stated aim will be the removal of Duchatelet and his family and associates.
And the oystons.
But mainly Duchatelet.
We need to target both RD and KM away from The Valley, stunts like the Companies House one and the Belgium visits hit them personally.
Personally, I miss the protests outside the west stand and hope I can help if they are considered useful.
Do you have any ideas that may work in Belgium?
If anyone is able to verbalise the situation in a manner that everyone can understand and hit every nail in the toolbox on its proverbial, it's this Lifer.....
...time after time after time.
Please would you have my babies, @Grapevine49 ?
I have no doubt that those doing most of the work at CARD are well aware of how the various protests/events have been received by other fans and the general public and are making plans accordingly, but it seems to me (bearing in mind I'm a few thousand miles around the world) that there has been a bit of a shift in attitudes of some (not necessarily all on this site) towards being 'anti-protest' or, at the very least 'bored with the protests'.
The work CARD do is important, but keeping people onside is a big part of that and is just as, if not more, important.
You'll never please all of the people all of the time, but we may need to make sure we please more of the people more of the time.
I wish I had the inventiveness to come up with a plan and if I was living back home I would be getting involved whenever I could, but Essex Al is right on that final point - careful thought is needed.
I'm afraid the owners are still here and unless you've got them out in the next 6 weeks I'm afraid I'm gonna just be happy to turn up and watch the manager merry go round and demise of our football club continue without making any more effort than I currently do
We have some proper lame pathetic support that deserve the shit served up by this clueless ownership
To clarify, I support the protests. I just think we should be mindful of public opinion and how it can and does change.
the slow lingering demise of our football club,
if you are fed up with the bickering among our own support,
if you cling to the belief that RD is pumping in his own money and keeping us afloat,
if you are concerned that there is no-one else out there to buy us,
if there is and you think they might be worse,
if you want to give the new man some time or:
if you just want to watch a game of football
please read @Grapevine49 's post, then read it again.
If you still feel that doing nothing is the answer then I am not sure what to say,
other than we just all want what we think is best for 'our club'
And I'm sure it doesn't fit you !
The disconnect i have with the club these days is sad and others have said the same.
I never thought that I would reach this place I find myself in. I have probably been to over 85 grounds including foreign and loads of pre season following the club. I have devoted much time to CASC, organising events and helping with away travel all voluntary of course.
I used to buy my family tickets to celebrate birthdays etc and encouraged loads of first timers to matches.
I have huge pride in CARD and the Belgian 20 but no longer in the club. I have moved beyond boycotting, I can't be arsed and have no idea if it will return when the regime goes.
Charlton Life helps keep my interest but even that is waning. My very occasional visits to other forums get me even more depressed. So much so that at times I think that they ain't worth fighting for and they deserve the shit that is our current regime.
I really don't know how the movers and shakers of the protests keep going.
Unfortunately I've had the chop so cannot supply you with babies I'm afraid, but would be very happy to get in a bit of practice, I am of course still a bit of a stud! The after sex chat would be very interesting!
Oh . . . . . . . . . . . . you meant Grapevine!
Are you going to Bradford so you can buy me a pre xmas Heineken?!
Brilliant post of course, and a great summation of the history of this regime.
I'd love it if RD suddenly sold the club. But I fear he may not. So, playing devil's advocate for a moment.... (please don't shoot me!)...
Imagine an alien diplomat landing on planet earth this week to look at what the hell is wrong at The Valley.
He (or she) would see:
Almost three years of management disasters, mistake after mistake after mistake made by CEO and owner.
A mission statement that was not only insulting to the fans, but unrealistic & not fit for purpose.
An owner tinkering from afar, without the know-how to tinker successfully.
An inexperienced and unqualified CEO, completely unsuited to the role.
An inexperienced and unqualified network 'scout' (Driesen) completely unsuited to the role.
A club 'at war' with it's fans, or at least a large section of them.
A club that won't talk to the Supporters Trust.
A fan boycott reducing revenues to the club.
A well organised and well supported protest group, CARD, who have led an imaginative and unimpeachable campaign against the owner and CEO.
But a split fanbase, most of whom don't like the owner, some of whom support the protests, some of whom, perhaps an increasing number, 'just want to watch the football'.
So what would your alien diplomat do. Throw his tentacles up and say 'There's nothing that can be done here, I'm off!'?
No he wouldn't. He's a professional.
Firstly, he'd see if there could be a simple solution; the owner selling, or CARD giving up the fight.
He'd soon realise that neither is likely to happen any time soon.
He'd see a classic stalemate situation developing.
He'd see the huge disconnect between club and supporters.
After examining the background issues (as beautifully described by @Grapevine49) he would:
1. Look for signs that mistakes have been acknowledged and learned from.
2. He'd look for contrition.
3. He'd seek common ground, and a way forward that would suit both parties.
He'd need evidence.
So he'd find evidence that mistakes have at least been acknowledged.
He would find some evidence that mistakes have been learned from - two suitable managers appointed, no network players imposed, less tinkering in team affairs.
He'd find some evidence that mistakes haven't been learned from - Thomas Driesen still in a (less influential) role, new manager not given enough time.
The appointment of Chris O'Laughlin is (yet) another spanner in the works, although his role and future have remained undefined.
He'd see no real evidence of contrition.
He could put that down to either a lack of contrition, or poor communication.
As for 3. Common Ground:
Common ground could only be established with face to face talks, ACAS style.
A way forward that would be suitable to both sides, would be the aim of any talks.
[In fact, ACAS's services could be employed - they're very good at this sort of thing.]
There would need to be a fresh mission statement from the owner and CEO, that would be acceptable to supporters.
This statement would need to lay out both their aspirations for the club, and their plans for turning these aspirations into reality.
If this approach doesn't work, then at least we tried, and the protests could continue.
We'd at least have the kudos of having made the first move.