The object is to provoke these lot, whether the club, or the EFL or whoever, to make some kind of move that suits our ends: sale of the club. Not everything can be achieved in just one move. Get a response, then make another move that draws them into even better strategic positions (from our point of view). We're playing a good game here and we will win.
We don't have one-punch power. This is a good step.
The object is to provoke these lot, whether the club, or the EFL or whoever, to make some kind of move that suits our ends: sale of the club. Not everything can be achieved in just one move. Get a response, then make another move that draws them into even better strategic positions (from our point of view). We're playing a good game here and we will win.
We don't have one-punch power. This is a good step.
Exactly right. And in that context, below here is another quite separate question which CAST sent the EFL this week. This one is part of the long game...
May I, on behalf of Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust, request a clear breakdown of how the EFL as a body is funded? We have already examined the published accounts but, as expected, we do not find sufficient detail there to help us understand what drives the business of the EFL.
To be absolutely clear about what we seek to understand: We do learn from the accounts that the EFL employs over 70 people, and has employee costs of over £4m per annum. We seek to understand the source(s) of the revenues which pay for those costs.
We suppose that the following may be possible sources and we would ask you for confirmation/clarification of our suppositions:
1. The EFL negotiates broadcasting rights on behalf of member clubs, and retains a proportion of those rights. If so, how is that proportion calculated?
2. The EFL negotiates sponsorship deals (relating to the league itself) , and shares revenue with the clubs (perhaps). If so, how much is it, and how is it shared?
3. The EFL charges individual clubs a "membership fee” of some kind. If so, how much is it?
4. The EFL receives ‘solidarity payments’ from the FAPL and/or the FA. If so, how much?
5. iFollow and other media initiatives are presumably also items of shared revenue with the clubs. How much is it and how is this shared?
I appreciate that your first instinct may be to say that as a private company the EFL has no more reason to share this information than if we asked the same of, for example, Tesco. However, in the current climate the EFL may feel its role, and the limits of that role, are not well understood by fans and the wider public. As a Supporters’ Trust we can use such information to better explain to our fanbase how the EFL actually works, at the least helping to reduce the amount of mail you currently get from frustrated supporters, and encouraging a better informed debate among fans about how to reduce the number of ‘distressed’ clubs. We are aware that our local MP Matthew Pennycook has been in touch with the EFL regarding Charlton, and I believe he too might benefit from sight of your answer, as currently he seems to be as perplexed as the average fan about why the EFL apparently has no abiility to intervene at distressed clubs.
I therefore hope you will feel able to share a detailed answer to the questions above, and look forward to hearing from you.
Personally I wouldn't hold out too much hope of the EFL galloping to our rescue. Look at clubs like Blackpool and Leyton Orient, probably far worst owners than RD (at the moment anyway), what have the EFL done for their supporters? However, a club's like QPR and Bournemouth get fined £20m (originally was £40m) and £7.5M respectively for having a go at getting promoted to the Premier League. Whilst I would like some sort of sanction against RD to come out of this if anything the EFL can only hurt the club with fines or transfer embargo. However, I doubt they could even do that? Having said all this I realise our realistic options are limited and it's a case of chipping away at whatever way we can over time.
Do we know if the £27.5m went straight to EFL coffers? If so, perhaps CAST could ask why it wasn't distributed amongst the clubs denied a play-off place if all points QPR/Cherries earned were voided.
Do we know if the £27.5m went straight to EFL coffers? If so, perhaps CAST could ask why it wasn't distributed amongst the clubs denied a play-off place if all points QPR/Cherries earned were voided.
The EFL aren’t going to come out and say they made a mistake in allowing Roland taking over the club. Bar the fact he seemed to have rushed due diligence I don’t think they should. Roland has come in and spent money, just ran the club poorly and now more then ever before simply doesn’t care.
In the EFLs defence, it’s difficult for them to tell an owner to put his hand in his pocket. They can’t tell someone how to run a business. We are not the only club out there selling players and reinvesting a fraction of that. Some clubs are able to recover but every season clubs cut budgets. We are not the only team being poorly run.
Without knowing the full facts of the takeover situation it’s tough to gauge. Roland is perfectly entitled to put a price tag on the club that he sees fit. As he continues to lose money and and the club detoriate we can feel it’s a mad decision but it is his decision.
At some point he will go and he will lose money but unfortunately we have to accept that we have no say in that.
Only thing the EFL can do is ensure he is honouring their regulations which doesn’t include spending money or running the club how we would like
Do we know if the £27.5m went straight to EFL coffers? If so, perhaps CAST could ask why it wasn't distributed amongst the clubs denied a play-off place if all points QPR/Cherries earned were voided.
Fair point as it’s those teams affected by big spending. If teams spend big to get promoted it’s to the detriment of the other teams in the league, especially the ones who just miss out
While a meeting is probably a token gesture, it is a step forward from the template email replies and general ignorance of the situation we’ve become accustomed to. What is infuriating, however, is that the EFL are only seemingly seeking this now their name is being tarnished via RD’s communications. Where were they when our gates plummeted, revenues fell and fans protested? Where is their support for Blackpool, Orient et al? The EFL is a weak, spineless organisation with little regard for its member clubs and more concern for its brand image. It needs a complete restructure from top to bottom to stop megalomaniac billionaires tearing apart historic, community clubs. Our situation is desperate, and it will happen to more clubs throughout the pyramid if action is not taken. Unless the EFL reforms so it can intervene when it is clear clubs are being run with no regard for footballing success and stability, they will remain a blissful standerby as football clubs up and down the country get taken over by Roland Duchatalet-like businessmen. This will not end well for anybody.
I tweeted that even if nothing can be done in the current rules, perhaps this will force them to put in place penalties for incompetent owners to be used moving forward
Not sure of the legalities, but as I understand they are the governing body there to act in the interests of their members. It’s in all their members’ interests not to have a Duchatelet take over
This, along with Blackpool, Orient and Cov should hopefully force them to think of some relevant safeguards
Not a chance.
As long as clubs play their fixtures and pay the League their dues they couldn't give a stuff how the clubs are being run.
Very sad if that’s the attitude they want to continue to take given so many examples of bad owners. I’m not expecting anything but this can happen to any club. If we had the will power and fight from fans of 72 clubs that would be something we could use for good.
Unlikely but I’ve been really impressed with how we’ve all mobilised our anger and got the results we’ve had in the last few days since this latest farce. No one thing alone will change the situation, but I’ve loved every single thing I’ve seen from CARD, ROT and various tweets and actions from individuals over the last few days. Reminds me why we’re a great club with top fans and can’t wait till Roland crumbles. And he will
In a masochistic way we're lucky.
We had the experience of Sellout Park and the Back To The Valley campaign to draw from throughout the Roland Years; we've got many creative fans who have produced some wonderful posters, videos to publicise the cause; fans who are prepared to dig deep into their pockets for a variety of protests and demonstrations both at home and in Belgium.
Not every club with a crap owner is as lucky as us to have that breed of fan.
We are unique, and not in a {..} weird way.
Bang on mate. One of my best mates is a Spurs fan (thought he'd grow out of it but his brother played for them!) and yesterday I updated him on all the 'stuff' that our fans have done over the last couple of years in relation to Duchatelet. I apprised him of the protest fund and all the elements that have made up the protests and protest groups. Also let him know about the stuff that's been undertaken in Belgium.
I gotta say, he was mightily impressed and whilst it's only words, he wished us all the best in our efforts to eradicate this disease that's infiltrated our club.
The EFL are just a bunch of blazers,who have been distracted from their expenses paid Port and Lemons,by some recent newspaper articles."I say o;d boy,look at this,better get the secretary to write something,want another one"
"We are pleased that Charlton Athletic have listened to their fans concerns and now made Lee Bowyer their permanent manager. We now feel satisfied that the club is being run in accordance with the EFL regulations and wish the team and their supporters the best for the rest of the season."
"We are pleased that Charlton Athletic have listened to their fans concerns and now made Lee Bowyer their permanent manager. We now feel satisfied that the club is being run in accordance with the EFL regulations and wish the team and their supporters the best for the rest of the season."
"We are pleased that Charlton Athletic have listened to their fans concerns and now made Lee Bowyer their permanent manager. We now feel satisfied that the club is being run in accordance with the EFL regulations and wish the team and their supporters the best for the rest of the season."
"We are pleased that Charlton Athletic have listened to their fans concerns and now made Lee Bowyer their permanent manager. We now feel satisfied that the club is being run in accordance with the EFL regulations and wish the team and their supporters the best for the rest of the season."
Comments
The object is to provoke these lot, whether the club, or the EFL or whoever, to make some kind of move that suits our ends: sale of the club. Not everything can be achieved in just one move. Get a response, then make another move that draws them into even better strategic positions (from our point of view). We're playing a good game here and we will win.
We don't have one-punch power. This is a good step.
May I, on behalf of Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust, request a clear breakdown of how the EFL as a body is funded? We have already examined the published accounts but, as expected, we do not find sufficient detail there to help us understand what drives the business of the EFL.
To be absolutely clear about what we seek to understand: We do learn from the accounts that the EFL employs over 70 people, and has employee costs of over £4m per annum. We seek to understand the source(s) of the revenues which pay for those costs.
We suppose that the following may be possible sources and we would ask you for confirmation/clarification of our suppositions:
1. The EFL negotiates broadcasting rights on behalf of member clubs, and retains a proportion of those rights. If so, how is that proportion calculated?
2. The EFL negotiates sponsorship deals (relating to the league itself) , and shares revenue with the clubs (perhaps). If so, how much is it, and how is it shared?
3. The EFL charges individual clubs a "membership fee” of some kind. If so, how much is it?
4. The EFL receives ‘solidarity payments’ from the FAPL and/or the FA. If so, how much?
5. iFollow and other media initiatives are presumably also items of shared revenue with the clubs. How much is it and how is this shared?
I appreciate that your first instinct may be to say that as a private company the EFL has no more reason to share this information than if we asked the same of, for example, Tesco. However, in the current climate the EFL may feel its role, and the limits of that role, are not well understood by fans and the wider public. As a Supporters’ Trust we can use such information to better explain to our fanbase how the EFL actually works, at the least helping to reduce the amount of mail you currently get from frustrated supporters, and encouraging a better informed debate among fans about how to reduce the number of ‘distressed’ clubs. We are aware that our local MP Matthew Pennycook has been in touch with the EFL regarding Charlton, and I believe he too might benefit from sight of your answer, as currently he seems to be as perplexed as the average fan about why the EFL apparently has no abiility to intervene at distressed clubs.
I therefore hope you will feel able to share a detailed answer to the questions above, and look forward to hearing from you.
Having said all this I realise our realistic options are limited and it's a case of chipping away at whatever way we can over time.
In the EFLs defence, it’s difficult for them to tell an owner to put his hand in his pocket. They can’t tell someone how to run a business. We are not the only club out there selling players and reinvesting a fraction of that. Some clubs are able to recover but every season clubs cut budgets. We are not the only team being poorly run.
Without knowing the full facts of the takeover situation it’s tough to gauge. Roland is perfectly entitled to put a price tag on the club that he sees fit. As he continues to lose money and and the club detoriate we can feel it’s a mad decision but it is his decision.
At some point he will go and he will lose money but unfortunately we have to accept that we have no say in that.
Only thing the EFL can do is ensure he is honouring their regulations which doesn’t include spending money or running the club how we would like
I gotta say, he was mightily impressed and whilst it's only words, he wished us all the best in our efforts to eradicate this disease that's infiltrated our club.
Charlton's situation will be discussed by the EFL at a board meeting today, while the EFL plans to meet with the club and the Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust in the coming weeks.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/charlton-name-caretaker-boss-lee-bowyer-new-firstteam-manager-a3929011.html
EFL Statement