All the evidence we have seen over the years from Roland is that he reacts in an unconsidered and hot headed way to things. A valid tactic is surely to give him enough things to react to, in the hope that one of these reactions may be to call a bidder and accept their offer price. Of course there is no certainty offers will still be on the table, but he has a few he can call even at £30m which is significantly more than he paid for the club.
Agreed. He believes his view is absolutely rationale from the standpoint of a business model and the rest of the world has gone mad. He is probably right but anyone buying a football club should go into it expecting they will likely lose money unless they are in the Premier League.
The problem is, he wants out but appears to expect any potential buyer to pay for the ongoing errors made on his watch in terms of management rotations, poor player acquisitions, handling of outgoing player valuations and as he moved up the learning curve on English football economics. As has been said, he had the option to get out as soon as he realised the EFL had moved the goalposts as regards FFP. However, if he can keep the club on life support by breaking even, despite relegations back to League 1 or even 2, at least it isn’t costing him money.
Whilst I concede having a reasonable level of current operating costs to outline to potential buyers is good, they will have their view on their appetite for annual losses over the near term. They are however more likely to be interested in a reasonable upfront purchase price and what might be considered reasonable for a Championship club is unlikely to be considered reasonable the further down the leagues the club goes.
Promotion back to the Championship was probably his best chance of extricating himself with a reasonable price to defray some of his investment and it looks like he is closing the window on that.
It may not make any difference in terms of changing his stubbornness but I think in the Fans Forum, CAST communications, interaction with the press etc there has to be continued emphasis on his quotes above and the fact that he has no footballing ambition for the club and that he is living in cloud cuckoo land if he is holding out for a price that covers his aggregate losses for the past 5 years. It would be good if any of the buyers who have walked away would reveal the exact price they had offered.
I don't totally agree with this as it may be considered too commercially sensitive and may not be the real problem as a price seems to get agreed. However, it would be interesting to know what he uses to increase the price. Eg does he throw in a percentage of the sale price of any youngsters in the academy ?
Yes, commercially sensitive, with NDAs still Potentially binding if a deal not finally agreed. But would be good to somehow get out in the open why a deal is not being concluded. One thing I am pretty sure of, it is not ongoing losses that are deterring people. Any prospective purchaser will be well aware of the scale of losses being incurred simply by looking at the club accounts in the public domain....and also the scale of losses incurred by Championship clubs chasing the dream of Premier League football.
Agreed. He believes his view is absolutely rationale from the standpoint of a business model and the rest of the world has gone mad. He is probably right but anyone buying a football club should go into it expecting they will likely lose money unless they are in the Premier League.
The problem is, he wants out but appears to expect any potential buyer to pay for the ongoing errors made on his watch in terms of management rotations, poor player acquisitions, handling of outgoing player valuations and as he moved up the learning curve on English football economics. As has been said, he had the option to get out as soon as he realised the EFL had moved the goalposts as regards FFP. However, if he can keep the club on life support by breaking even, despite relegations back to League 1 or even 2, at least it isn’t costing him money.
Whilst I concede having a reasonable level of current operating costs to outline to potential buyers is good, they will have their view on their appetite for annual losses over the near term. They are however more likely to be interested in a reasonable upfront purchase price and what might be considered reasonable for a Championship club is unlikely to be considered reasonable the further down the leagues the club goes.
Promotion back to the Championship was probably his best chance of extricating himself with a reasonable price to defray some of his investment and it looks like he is closing the window on that.
It may not make any difference in terms of changing his stubbornness but I think in the Fans Forum, CAST communications, interaction with the press etc there has to be continued emphasis on his quotes above and the fact that he has no footballing ambition for the club and that he is living in cloud cuckoo land if he is holding out for a price that covers his aggregate losses for the past 5 years. It would be good if any of the buyers who have walked away would reveal the exact price they had offered.
I don't totally agree with this as it may be considered too commercially sensitive and may not be the real problem as a price seems to get agreed. However, it would be interesting to know what he uses to increase the price. Eg does he throw in a percentage of the sale price of any youngsters in the academy ?
Yes, commercially sensitive, with NDAs still Potentially binding if a deal not finally agreed. But would be good to somehow get out in the open why a deal is not being concluded. One thing I am pretty sure of, it is not ongoing losses that are deterring people. Any prospective purchaser will be well aware of the scale of losses being incurred simply by looking at the club accounts in the public domain....and also the scale of losses incurred by Championship clubs chasing the dream of Premier League football.
I agree - given Duchatelets position as per Talk Sport yesterday, getting the real problem out there in the public domain would be a useful development.
What does Roland do when he's wrong? He finds someone or something else to blame.
I wouldn't get too distracted by his claims around the championship's FFP rules being the problem
If that were the case, why weren't we bought when we were in League One?
Why did he let on that it would be easier for us to be bought when were in the Championship?
Why was the narrative that we'd be more attractive in the higher league? If, in fact, it makes us far less attractive? This is just the same circle of behaviour we've always seen. He doesn't believe he could possibly be the problem, the real problem must lie somewhere else.
Unfortunately, this time, he raised a valid point about rules being a bit off, so the distraction is working a bit more than it normally would. But a distraction it still is.
If one accepts that Roland genuinely believed that being in division 1 is economically better than the Championship, why did he increase his asking price when we got promoted?
The logical thing to do would be to get rid asap. Even reduce the price to avoid the extra running costs.
What I cannot reconcile is how someone so obviously stupid got to make so much money.
I think we need to protest some how, but while we wait for anyone to think of something that will be effective, I am going to make a small gesture and get a ball rolling.
I have a season ticket, but I am boycotting the first home game unless we are sold. I will also boycott the first televised home game.
Probably all pointless, but it is what it is.
Therein lies the problem as things stand with 10,000 already having given Duchatelet several million pounds in advance sales this season. I am afraid our next big protest opportunity will only come in the close season of 2020 when the appetite to renew will be considerably smaller after a year of struggle and humbling losses as we are outclassed this season due to our small and weak squad. If we could manage a serious season ticket boycott (we don't necessarily need to stop going altogether) I am convinced Duchatelet would take notice and have to consider cutting his losses and selling-up far more seriously than he has done to date.
I am merely making a protest, it is not about the money for me - I have already spent it!
A major thing I don't get is why Bowyer persists, hes got enough money to live comfortably, could take probably at least half a dozen other jobs was willing to walk 2 months back. I just don't see why he'd want the stress of it knowing we are going to be relegation fodder, knowing he can't sign anyone for a fee. Add to this you entice Lockyear, Aneke, Oshilaji (and Taylor last season) who could all pretty much move to any club in league one or bottom 6 championship.
You could say they have all been fed bullshit but surely they are not All thick enough to fall for it. All the above mentioned are here for a reason and must be here knowing there is a light? Something just don't sit right.
Agreed. He believes his view is absolutely rationale from the standpoint of a business model and the rest of the world has gone mad. He is probably right but anyone buying a football club should go into it expecting they will likely lose money unless they are in the Premier League.
The problem is, he wants out but appears to expect any potential buyer to pay for the ongoing errors made on his watch in terms of management rotations, poor player acquisitions, handling of outgoing player valuations and as he moved up the learning curve on English football economics. As has been said, he had the option to get out as soon as he realised the EFL had moved the goalposts as regards FFP. However, if he can keep the club on life support by breaking even, despite relegations back to League 1 or even 2, at least it isn’t costing him money.
Whilst I concede having a reasonable level of current operating costs to outline to potential buyers is good, they will have their view on their appetite for annual losses over the near term. They are however more likely to be interested in a reasonable upfront purchase price and what might be considered reasonable for a Championship club is unlikely to be considered reasonable the further down the leagues the club goes.
Promotion back to the Championship was probably his best chance of extricating himself with a reasonable price to defray some of his investment and it looks like he is closing the window on that.
It may not make any difference in terms of changing his stubbornness but I think in the Fans Forum, CAST communications, interaction with the press etc there has to be continued emphasis on his quotes above and the fact that he has no footballing ambition for the club and that he is living in cloud cuckoo land if he is holding out for a price that covers his aggregate losses for the past 5 years. It would be good if any of the buyers who have walked away would reveal the exact price they had offered.
I don't totally agree with this as it may be considered too commercially sensitive and may not be the real problem as a price seems to get agreed. However, it would be interesting to know what he uses to increase the price. Eg does he throw in a percentage of the sale price of any youngsters in the academy ?
Yes, commercially sensitive, with NDAs still Potentially binding if a deal not finally agreed.
This is the bit I don't understand.
You approach RD to buy the Club, part of the negoatiations is to agree a NDA.
You pull out of the deal due to the irrational behaviour of the seller, so surely the NDA becomes null and void. The seller cannot prevent you from telling the World about your approach, offer and reasons for withdrawing.
Does Mrs RD have to sign a NDA when they're discussing what to have for dinner tonight?
When the financial fair play changed then Duchatelet should have sold. But he didn’t & persisted with a flawed network system with ridiculous expensive contracts negotiated by someone with little apparent knowledge of football. He turned his back on knowledge & expertise in the club. The losses have feck all to do with EFL but his own incompetence for which he refuses any accountability whatsoever.
There are plenty of buyers for the club but are not going to buy at inflated price that recovers his losses that he is responsible for.
I am really tired of Duchatelet’s utter horseshit.
Exactly this.
Clubs at all levels of the game with all kinds of profit/losses, good situations/dire situations get sold, but we're expected to believe that a London based Championship side is unsellable.
Yesterday felt pretty depressing but I’ve been convinced for s while now that he ain’t selling. I wonder whether Bowyer and Gallen laying the stark financial realities on the line to him prompted his appearance on talksport - I’m not sure how he can claim to be a socialist yet know that 10,000 fans are going to suffer a miserable season if he doesn’t release a small proportion of his vast wealth in order to give us half a chance next season - a socialist when it suits.
Glossing over the bit about him claiming to be a socialist (where on earth does that come from?) were you convinced that he isn't selling when "someone at the club" told you a few days ago that the Muir was in negotiation with the ex-directors? Or did you only become convinced when that turned out not to be true?
I suppose there are a few reasons which may or may not be the case. Firstly, loyalty to the fans and club. I think this is evidenced by Bowyer's obvious joy at his achievement. His first reaction when Bauer scored was to run to the fans. I think he feels the love and that is evidenced by not telling Roland to piss off when he acted disrespectfully during the contract negotiations. Secondly, he was given a budget that looked better than it was last season. Mainly because it included high earners the club couldn't shift such as Vetokele on £7.5k a week. But he found a way to bring qulaity in, heavily subsidised by other clubs. He did it once so he must think he can do it again, Thirdly, even if the project fails, his reputation won't be damaged too much given who the owner is. At the very least, there will be a line of League One clubs ready to give him a go. I think if say Sunderland start badly, they would be an option. And finally, he is still being paid a decent wedge, even if others are getting more. As he said, he isn't greedy but he does want a wage reflecting the job he is doing and ultimately he agreed on something acceptable.
A major thing I don't get is why Bowyer persists, hes got enough money to live comfortably, could take probably at least half a dozen other jobs was willing to walk 2 months back. I just don't see why he'd want the stress of it knowing we are going to be relegation fodder, knowing he can't sign anyone for a fee. Add to this you entice Lockyear, Aneke, Oshilaji (and Taylor last season) who could all pretty much move to any club in league one or bottom 6 championship.
You could say they have all been fed bullshit but surely they are not All thick enough to fall for it. All the above mentioned are here for a reason and must be here knowing there is a light? Something just don't sit right.
What evidence do you have to make the statement that he was willing to walk?
As for why, why do some very good teachers teach in schools in deprived areas with difficult and challenged pupils? why do great doctors work in 3rd world countries?
Sometimes the challenge is the point. Sometimes a little victory is so much sweeter.
He will sell eventually we know that but it’s not going to be this season. We have to hope that Bowyer works a miracle and keeps us up. Relegation again under Roland will see him tighten the belt further and potentially jeopardise our status and ability to bounce back for a long time.
Make no mistake. Duchatelet is a real threat to our very existence. I’m convinced he doesn’t want to sell and has conned us and everyone else into thinking his experiment is done. Yes he’s spent money and some time and effort in his subterfuge but in reality it’s all peanuts to his wealth and money he is prepared to pay to carry out his experiment. He has modified his approach to better suit English football but his madcap theory of breaking even and remaining competitive is still burning bright. I don’t believe we will be rid of him until his experiment takes us to a bottom half League One club with a destroyed fan base and he finally realises that even his genius can’t beat in his eyes the skewed and insane football finances in England. It certainly won’t be his fault. Those suggesting protest is pointless might have a point but what else do we have ?
I understand that you support in principle the idea of taking protests to Belgium, so any irritation in my post above is not aimed at you.
To answer your question, I think what was "two years earlier" was the video of five clowns busting into his office, right?. My point is, that was what just one aspect of a long campaign where different sections of the support took different steps. At Standard, as in many Continental clubs, the "ultras" are an organised group, you might call them the extremist wing. The Socios are the moderate wing and in public distanced themselves from such activities. But the total outcome, which is evident in Duchatelet's words, is that he could feel that the fanbase and not just 2% of it was against him. It was a cumulative long term effort.
I don't think that he has felt this at Charlton. He may increasingly have concluded that it's more than 2% but he does not feel it, because we are physically remote.
BTW there is something telling, and pathetic when he says that the Standard fans no long er wanted him as their leader. I don't think most owners see themselves and describe themselves in that way. If they put millions in, they would like to be appreciated for that, and not to have shit thrown at them, but most of them are happy for fans to see their Leaders as Bow and Jacko, Chris Solly etc. In that phrase he used is the further evidence of his desire to be loved by 'the masses" and the fragility of his ego.
What does Roland do when he's wrong? He finds someone or something else to blame.
I wouldn't get too distracted by his claims around the championship's FFP rules being the problem
If that were the case, why weren't we bought when we were in League One?
Why did he let on that it would be easier for us to be bought when were in the Championship?
Why was the narrative that we'd be more attractive in the higher league? If, in fact, it makes us far less attractive? This is just the same circle of behaviour we've always seen. He doesn't believe he could possibly be the problem, the real problem must lie somewhere else.
Unfortunately, this time, he raised a valid point about rules being a bit off, so the distraction is working a bit more than it normally would. But a distraction it still is.
If one accepts that Roland genuinely believed that being in division 1 is economically better than the Championship, why did he increase his asking price when we got promoted?
The logical thing to do would be to get rid asap. Even reduce the price to avoid the extra running costs.
What I cannot reconcile is how someone so obviously stupid got to make so much money.
I think we need to protest some how, but while we wait for anyone to think of something that will be effective, I am going to make a small gesture and get a ball rolling.
I have a season ticket, but I am boycotting the first home game unless we are sold. I will also boycott the first televised home game.
Probably all pointless, but it is what it is.
Therein lies the problem as things stand with 10,000 already having given Duchatelet several million pounds in advance sales this season. I am afraid our next big protest opportunity will only come in the close season of 2020 when the appetite to renew will be considerably smaller after a year of struggle and humbling losses as we are outclassed this season due to our small and weak squad. If we could manage a serious season ticket boycott (we don't necessarily need to stop going altogether) I am convinced Duchatelet would take notice and have to consider cutting his losses and selling-up far more seriously than he has done to date.
I am merely making a protest, it is not about the money for me - I have already spent it!
Agreed. He believes his view is absolutely rationale from the standpoint of a business model and the rest of the world has gone mad. He is probably right but anyone buying a football club should go into it expecting they will likely lose money unless they are in the Premier League.
The problem is, he wants out but appears to expect any potential buyer to pay for the ongoing errors made on his watch in terms of management rotations, poor player acquisitions, handling of outgoing player valuations and as he moved up the learning curve on English football economics. As has been said, he had the option to get out as soon as he realised the EFL had moved the goalposts as regards FFP. However, if he can keep the club on life support by breaking even, despite relegations back to League 1 or even 2, at least it isn’t costing him money.
Whilst I concede having a reasonable level of current operating costs to outline to potential buyers is good, they will have their view on their appetite for annual losses over the near term. They are however more likely to be interested in a reasonable upfront purchase price and what might be considered reasonable for a Championship club is unlikely to be considered reasonable the further down the leagues the club goes.
Promotion back to the Championship was probably his best chance of extricating himself with a reasonable price to defray some of his investment and it looks like he is closing the window on that.
It may not make any difference in terms of changing his stubbornness but I think in the Fans Forum, CAST communications, interaction with the press etc there has to be continued emphasis on his quotes above and the fact that he has no footballing ambition for the club and that he is living in cloud cuckoo land if he is holding out for a price that covers his aggregate losses for the past 5 years. It would be good if any of the buyers who have walked away would reveal the exact price they had offered.
I don't totally agree with this as it may be considered too commercially sensitive and may not be the real problem as a price seems to get agreed. However, it would be interesting to know what he uses to increase the price. Eg does he throw in a percentage of the sale price of any youngsters in the academy ?
Yes, commercially sensitive, with NDAs still Potentially binding if a deal not finally agreed.
This is the bit I don't understand.
You approach RD to buy the Club, part of the negoatiations is to agree a NDA.
You pull out of the deal due to the irrational behaviour of the seller, so surely the NDA becomes null and void. The seller cannot prevent you from telling the World about your approach, offer and reasons for withdrawing.
Does Mrs RD have to sign a NDA when they're discussing what to have for dinner tonight?
I agree entirely. Given the number of prospective buyers that have walked, I have become increasingly amazed that there have been no leaks as to what their experience has been in trying to conclude a deal with The Helmet.....NDA not withstanding. As far as one can ascertain he seems to add a new caveat into the asking price each time a new buyer comes on the scene, with the net result that it’s a never ending saga resulting in each prospective buyer having been offered different terms......this is my belief anyway. Some of the add ons that we know of are a percentage of future player sales, a payment as and when we get into The Premiership, the directors loans as well as possible retention of ownership of The Valley and/or Sparrows Lane......ad infinitum.
A major thing I don't get is why Bowyer persists, hes got enough money to live comfortably, could take probably at least half a dozen other jobs was willing to walk 2 months back. I just don't see why he'd want the stress of it knowing we are going to be relegation fodder, knowing he can't sign anyone for a fee. Add to this you entice Lockyear, Aneke, Oshilaji (and Taylor last season) who could all pretty much move to any club in league one or bottom 6 championship.
You could say they have all been fed bullshit but surely they are not All thick enough to fall for it. All the above mentioned are here for a reason and must be here knowing there is a light? Something just don't sit right.
What evidence do you have to make the statement that he was willing to walk?
As for why, why do some very good teachers teach in schools in deprived areas with difficult and challenged pupils? why do great doctors work in 3rd world countries?
Sometimes the challenge is the point. Sometimes a little victory is so much sweeter.
Errr, the fact he laid his cards on the table and RD effectively sacked him for 24hrs.
Whe you talk about teachers and doctors that's all a bit bollox mate as these are pro footballers and at the end of the day they all think and play for themselves not the club regardless of what we would want to believe.
When CAST started to realise that he was becoming a serious problem, it established contact with the Standard Socios, the equivalent of a supporters trust, and I became the main contact point with their president Jacques Seron. Eventually I visited him in Liege. I have been back over the shed load of correspondence between us.
It is by no means evidence-based to say that Duchatelet sold Standard because of an issue with STVV getting promoted.
Quote from RD, sent to me by Jacques, no link, date around 25 June 2015. (my emphasis in bold)
He will remain involved in Charlton, Ujpest Dosza, Carl Zeiss Iena and Alcorcon. And in Belgium? He still denies any direct involvement in the management of the club of Sint-Truiden (which his companion is owner, ed) and ensures that the rise of the Canaries in Jupiler Pro League did not weigh in his decision to sell the Standard. "Anderlecht did a bit of a trick by raising the issue in the Pro League but it stops there," he said. "I would have left the Standard even if Sint-Truiden had remained in division 2."
Perhaps more revealing are his quotes in this article, for which i do have the link:
Personally, the quality of my life and my personal happiness play a preponderant role. I felt it had become a little complicated for me here at Standard. Not only for me but also for many fans who no longer saw me as the leader they wanted to have. It was therefore necessary that I find a solution as well for me as for the supporters of Standard. And I found the ideal solution for the club to go into the hands of someone I trust. "
And it's moved and the flickering voice that he also confided: "The Standard is a club that I love, I leave it but I'm confident for its future.It's going to be okay because we found someone who has the vision, the grip, and the intelligence to lead a club running a club is more complicated than running a normal business and it's more complicated than politics, I wish good luck and good luck to Bruno. Venanzi ".
Roland Duchâtelet returned to RTBF's microphone about the mistakes he made during his presidency, which lasted for four years and exactly one day: "I have not really mastered the communication aspect with the supporters. I've learned a lot in recent years, if I had to do it again, I would buy Standard but in another way I knew the life of a small club with Sint-Truiden but I did not know the life of a big club and all that means at the level of the games of influence, it's still a bit special "
"It was partly a relief and at the same time it was a personal will because the situation was no longer ideal and for the good of the club, the supporters felt that I was not the president of their heart. to the extent that people believe everything that is said on TV, etc ... it's normal to react like that.They have no other sources of information, "he notes again.
Now, getting past the Google mangle if you can, let me ask you all this: Are those the words of a cold, calculating businessman doing a business deal? I suggest, far from it. They sound to me like a man who desperately wants to be adored, and has discovered that he is in fact hated.
Back to Jacques Seron. he's a retired chartered accountant, (albeit in personality with the fire and fury of the leader of the RMT union, whose name I forget). So his mails over the years were peppered with exhortations for us to take a leaf out of Ultras' book, because in Jacques words he is a "coward". Now I didn't think it was effective to do things like busting into his office, especially if all you do when you get there is take turns to rant and scream "merde" at him while he stays silent, drumming his fingers. But look at those comments above. He felt the wrath of the Standard fans, and he didn't try to pretend it was just 2% either. Standard was his big club, a national football jewel in Belgium, and yet he sold it, while still believing he wanted to stay in "football". Liege is only 50kms from S-T. But once he got shot of them, he clearly felt that he could live a quiet life in S-T where he is Mr Big and can feel very pleased with himself sitting in Cafe Stayen every day. Charlton seemed a long way away, and he had Katrien Meire to execute his instructions.
Essentially, this ties in with my post a few pages back.
He is clearly very concerned about his image and he sees himself as the “laird” of St. Truiden. He sits in the front window of his restaurant under his hotel whilst a giant screen beams films of him handing out goodies to children.
On the same day that the B20 interrupted his birthday meal they also delivered leaflets to virtually every house and apartment in St. Truiden. These explained, in Flemish, why he was considered to be a misguided old fool by Charlton fans. This was a major undertaking but I believe that this was a major reason why Slade got sacked a couple of days later.
Belgium and especially St. Truiden is where he lives and where he cares about his image. It is to Belgium where the protests should be focused.
I don't think that he has felt this at Charlton. He may increasingly have concluded that it's more than 2% but he does not feel it, because we are physically remote.
Which is why protests will only work in his backyard, anything at The Valley will further split the fanbase.
Sadly I think the desire to protest has gone, the fact ROT got little to no support really sums things up.
#LevyOut is trending on Twitter at the moment because Spurs have only signed one £60m player to go with their squad of Champions League finalists. It really is a different world out there isn't it.
Finally got around to the exact wording in the interview. To me, it confirms something I have been wondering... he did NOT WANT to get promoted and is actually wanting to break-even this year financially, which he is close to doing, and then go back DOWN. He feels he can lose less money in League One. He claimed months ago he was more worried about being in The Championship than League One and the fact he essentially confirmed that again here, tells me he WANTS to go back down.
And yet the record shows that his operating losses in L1 in 16/17 and 17/18 were bigger than his operating losses in the Championship, despite him wasting money hand over fist, in 15/16, and were roughly twice those in the Championship seasons 13/14 and 14/15, when the team stayed up.
There is some contract unwind to account for, but the main issue is the precipitous drop in central income.
1956, Jimmy Seed is asked to resign ( sacked ) as Charlton .
Blimey, football’s a harsh business. Two days ago I read that he’s steered CAFC to FA Cup glory and today I learn that he’s been sacked! Would serve us right if ,today or tomorrow, news breaks of us being relegated.
1956, Jimmy Seed is asked to resign ( sacked ) as Charlton .
Blimey, football’s a harsh business. Two days ago I read that he’s steered CAFC to FA Cup glory and today I learn that he’s been sacked! Would serve us right if ,today or tomorrow, news breaks of us being relegated.
I think you're right. I can see a long spell out of the top flight and even a relegation to Division 3. But, at least we're safe at The Valley. No-one can take that away from us. Can they?
What does Roland do when he's wrong? He finds someone or something else to blame.
I wouldn't get too distracted by his claims around the championship's FFP rules being the problem
If that were the case, why weren't we bought when we were in League One?
Why did he let on that it would be easier for us to be bought when were in the Championship?
Why was the narrative that we'd be more attractive in the higher league? If, in fact, it makes us far less attractive? This is just the same circle of behaviour we've always seen. He doesn't believe he could possibly be the problem, the real problem must lie somewhere else.
Unfortunately, this time, he raised a valid point about rules being a bit off, so the distraction is working a bit more than it normally would. But a distraction it still is.
If one accepts that Roland genuinely believed that being in division 1 is economically better than the Championship, why did he increase his asking price when we got promoted?
The logical thing to do would be to get rid asap. Even reduce the price to avoid the extra running costs.
What I cannot reconcile is how someone so obviously stupid got to make so much money.
I think we need to protest some how, but while we wait for anyone to think of something that will be effective, I am going to make a small gesture and get a ball rolling.
I have a season ticket, but I am boycotting the first home game unless we are sold. I will also boycott the first televised home game.
Probably all pointless, but it is what it is.
Therein lies the problem as things stand with 10,000 already having given Duchatelet several million pounds in advance sales this season. I am afraid our next big protest opportunity will only come in the close season of 2020 when the appetite to renew will be considerably smaller after a year of struggle and humbling losses as we are outclassed this season due to our small and weak squad. If we could manage a serious season ticket boycott (we don't necessarily need to stop going altogether) I am convinced Duchatelet would take notice and have to consider cutting his losses and selling-up far more seriously than he has done to date.
I am merely making a protest, it is not about the money for me - I have already spent it!
Agreed. He believes his view is absolutely rationale from the standpoint of a business model and the rest of the world has gone mad. He is probably right but anyone buying a football club should go into it expecting they will likely lose money unless they are in the Premier League.
The problem is, he wants out but appears to expect any potential buyer to pay for the ongoing errors made on his watch in terms of management rotations, poor player acquisitions, handling of outgoing player valuations and as he moved up the learning curve on English football economics. As has been said, he had the option to get out as soon as he realised the EFL had moved the goalposts as regards FFP. However, if he can keep the club on life support by breaking even, despite relegations back to League 1 or even 2, at least it isn’t costing him money.
Whilst I concede having a reasonable level of current operating costs to outline to potential buyers is good, they will have their view on their appetite for annual losses over the near term. They are however more likely to be interested in a reasonable upfront purchase price and what might be considered reasonable for a Championship club is unlikely to be considered reasonable the further down the leagues the club goes.
Promotion back to the Championship was probably his best chance of extricating himself with a reasonable price to defray some of his investment and it looks like he is closing the window on that.
It may not make any difference in terms of changing his stubbornness but I think in the Fans Forum, CAST communications, interaction with the press etc there has to be continued emphasis on his quotes above and the fact that he has no footballing ambition for the club and that he is living in cloud cuckoo land if he is holding out for a price that covers his aggregate losses for the past 5 years. It would be good if any of the buyers who have walked away would reveal the exact price they had offered.
I don't totally agree with this as it may be considered too commercially sensitive and may not be the real problem as a price seems to get agreed. However, it would be interesting to know what he uses to increase the price. Eg does he throw in a percentage of the sale price of any youngsters in the academy ?
Yes, commercially sensitive, with NDAs still Potentially binding if a deal not finally agreed.
This is the bit I don't understand.
You approach RD to buy the Club, part of the negoatiations is to agree a NDA.
You pull out of the deal due to the irrational behaviour of the seller, so surely the NDA becomes null and void. The seller cannot prevent you from telling the World about your approach, offer and reasons for withdrawing.
Does Mrs RD have to sign a NDA when they're discussing what to have for dinner tonight?
Your guess is as good as mine. I was really just hypothesising that buyers may have been asked to sign an NDA that is binding regardless of whether or not a deal is concluded. You would think some snippets would leak but not really so far.
I don't think that he has felt this at Charlton. He may increasingly have concluded that it's more than 2% but he does not feel it, because we are physically remote.
Which is why protests will only work in his backyard, anything at The Valley will further split the fanbase.
Sadly I think the desire to protest has gone, the fact ROT got little to no support really sums things up.
ROT has more than 100 members, I believe (I am one). I regret that it did not get more support from CARD, but at the same time I understand there were legitimate doubts within CARD about the tactical feasibility of standing in the election campaign in Belgium, let alone "supporting' it in the way a new Valley Party could be supported by everybody.
It got good publicity in Belgium, it rattled him, and we have learnt some lessons from it. Those directly involved also made useful contacts in S-T. There is plenty to build on there.
Question, would RD stating that any buyer had walked away due to the running costs and this not being the case, not be in breach of the NDA they signed? Just curious as if I was a potential buyer, surely you would leak the real reason out to increase pressure on him to sell?
RD believes NDAs don’t apply to him, only to the buyer. He refused to meet PV’s investor because the latter wouldn’t agree to that.
Here's the truth about Roland's claim that every Championship owner is "expected" to make an operating loss of £15m, updated to the last financial period for which the information is available, as researched by the @swissramble.
Comments
I just don't see why he'd want the stress of it knowing we are going to be relegation fodder, knowing he can't sign anyone for a fee.
Add to this you entice Lockyear, Aneke, Oshilaji (and Taylor last season) who could all pretty much move to any club in league one or bottom 6 championship.
You could say they have all been fed bullshit but surely they are not All thick enough to fall for it. All the above mentioned are here for a reason and must be here knowing there is a light?
Something just don't sit right.
You approach RD to buy the Club, part of the negoatiations is to agree a NDA.
You pull out of the deal due to the irrational behaviour of the seller, so surely the NDA becomes null and void. The seller cannot prevent you from telling the World about your approach, offer and reasons for withdrawing.
Does Mrs RD have to sign a NDA when they're discussing what to have for dinner tonight?
Jimmy Seed is asked to resign ( sacked ) as Charlton-Aussies Liaison Officer.
Clubs at all levels of the game with all kinds of profit/losses, good situations/dire situations get sold, but we're expected to believe that a London based Championship side is unsellable.
Absolute nonsense.
As for why, why do some very good teachers teach in schools in deprived areas with difficult and challenged pupils? why do great doctors work in 3rd world countries?
Sometimes the challenge is the point. Sometimes a little victory is so much sweeter.
"getting the real problem out there in the public domain would be a useful development."
The real problem was out in the public domain yesterday speaking on Tallksport
Make no mistake. Duchatelet is a real threat to our very existence. I’m convinced he doesn’t want to sell and has conned us and everyone else into thinking his experiment is done. Yes he’s spent money and some time and effort in his subterfuge but in reality it’s all peanuts to his wealth and money he is prepared to pay to carry out his experiment. He has modified his approach to better suit English football but his madcap theory of breaking even and remaining competitive is still burning bright. I don’t believe we will be rid of him until his experiment takes us to a bottom half League One club with a destroyed fan base and he finally realises that even his genius can’t beat in his eyes the skewed and insane football finances in England. It certainly won’t be his fault. Those suggesting protest is pointless might have a point but what else do we have ?
I understand that you support in principle the idea of taking protests to Belgium, so any irritation in my post above is not aimed at you.
To answer your question, I think what was "two years earlier" was the video of five clowns busting into his office, right?. My point is, that was what just one aspect of a long campaign where different sections of the support took different steps. At Standard, as in many Continental clubs, the "ultras" are an organised group, you might call them the extremist wing. The Socios are the moderate wing and in public distanced themselves from such activities. But the total outcome, which is evident in Duchatelet's words, is that he could feel that the fanbase and not just 2% of it was against him. It was a cumulative long term effort.
I don't think that he has felt this at Charlton. He may increasingly have concluded that it's more than 2% but he does not feel it, because we are physically remote.
BTW there is something telling, and pathetic when he says that the Standard fans no long er wanted him as their leader. I don't think most owners see themselves and describe themselves in that way. If they put millions in, they would like to be appreciated for that, and not to have shit thrown at them, but most of them are happy for fans to see their Leaders as Bow and Jacko, Chris Solly etc. In that phrase he used is the further evidence of his desire to be loved by 'the masses" and the fragility of his ego.
Anywhere nice?
Given the number of prospective buyers that have walked, I have become increasingly amazed that there have been no leaks as to what their experience has been in trying to conclude a deal with The Helmet.....NDA not withstanding.
As far as one can ascertain he seems to add a new caveat into the asking price each time a new buyer comes on the scene, with the net result that it’s a never ending saga resulting in each prospective buyer having been offered different terms......this is my belief anyway.
Some of the add ons that we know of are a percentage of future player sales, a payment as and when we get into The Premiership, the directors loans as well as possible retention of ownership of The Valley and/or Sparrows Lane......ad infinitum.
Whe you talk about teachers and doctors that's all a bit bollox mate as these are pro footballers and at the end of the day they all think and play for themselves not the club regardless of what we would want to believe.
He is clearly very concerned about his image and he sees himself as the “laird” of St. Truiden. He sits in the front window of his restaurant under his hotel whilst a giant screen beams films of him handing out goodies to children.
On the same day that the B20 interrupted his birthday meal they also delivered leaflets to virtually every house and apartment in St. Truiden. These explained, in Flemish, why he was considered to be a misguided old fool by Charlton fans. This was a major undertaking but I believe that this was a major reason why Slade got sacked a couple of days later.
Belgium and especially St. Truiden is where he lives and where he cares about his image. It is to Belgium where the protests should be focused.
I don't think that he has felt this at Charlton. He may increasingly have concluded that it's more than 2% but he does not feel it, because we are physically remote.
Which is why protests will only work in his backyard, anything at The Valley will further split the fanbase.
Sadly I think the desire to protest has gone, the fact ROT got little to no support really sums things up.
There is some contract unwind to account for, but the main issue is the precipitous drop in central income.
It got good publicity in Belgium, it rattled him, and we have learnt some lessons from it. Those directly involved also made useful contacts in S-T. There is plenty to build on there.
Here's the truth about Roland's claim that every Championship owner is "expected" to make an operating loss of £15m, updated to the last financial period for which the information is available, as researched by the @swissramble.
Remember, Roland lost £13.3m in League One.