From Senine Magazine
New plans for the development of Charlton Athletic's training ground at Sparrows Lane in New Eltham have been submitted for approval.
The new plans suggested a renewed commitment by club owner Roland Duchatelet who scrapped the previously approved time-table when the club was languishing in Division One.
Although scaled-down slightly from the previous versions, the new plans still include a purpose-built indoor facility and two storey pavilion to house state-of-the-art training equipment and accommodation.
It is unclear whether the plans will involve the facilities being classified as 'Category 1' by the football authorities, as this comes with huge staffing commitments.
However, the move suggests a renewed optimism around the club's future after its impressive start to life in the Championship, which sees the club sitting in second place in the division and outside hopes of a return to the riches of the Premiership.
It remains unclear Duchatelet's game-plan for the club, which at one time involved a sale to others, which might now be on hold pending results over the coming season.
The plans are likely to sail through the planning process as the club enjoys a close relationship with Greenwich Council. Previous requests by its close neighbours, the Friends of Avery Hill Park for help with landscaping were dismissed by the club but will be renewed by the group which, while happy with the club's ambitions for New Eltham, is itself is anxious to improve the amenity value of the local area.
As part of its expansion at New Eltham,, CAFC has combined with Footscray Road sports club to provide new public facilities and a new vehicle entrance from the west.
Comments
Bit of a surprise this.
Clearly a long way to go yet, but at least we have made a start with the Lookman Trench.
a few seem to forget this is the owner than refused drinking water to some players
Fuck off Roland!
He could have saved himself a lot of grief if he’d done this in the first place.
Huge tracts of land with planning permission granted - value "a bit more than x"
(For detailed numbers, please refer to @NapaAddick)
Meire and Keohane promised to my face that the training would be completed in 2018.
They have shown us photos of the same few trenches time and time again.
When some walls and rooves appear then I'll believe it.
PS. Does planning permission expire after five years?
what he can do though is change the present and the future which I believe Roland Changed at the point with appointing russle slade. Unfortunately this didn’t work out..
Whilst I do understand the Roland Out going by what’s happened in the Past but over the last few seasons there’s a lot more positives than negatives.
with Steve Gallen now DOF, Bows and JJ running the show it’s a long way from having players turn up unexpectedly, being forced to play, emails advising formations..
Roland has supported the signings, and is investing in the training ground.
I for one believe Roland has understood the mistakes and has learnt from them..
Longevity because past experience suggests nothing is going to be built in a hurry.
Lack of progress because I can't see RD putting his hand deep enough into his pocket, so unless there is a massive grant which will pay for it...???
I wonder if it is a case of there being a time limit on the existing planning permission, so something has to be done in order for RD to offer the training ground for sale "with planning permission" for the development? The alternative, that RD has decided to forget about selling CAFC is too grim for our future to contemplate.
However, it’s certainly a good thing as it will be another advantageous selling point should a suitable buyers offer come to fruition somewhere down the line.
I'm sold.
To me anyway
Is Roland being over cautious here? Or has something happened to Roland that hasn't reached the public domain yet
If he is looking to sell why build now?
He hasn't been able to and it means spending his own money.
Reading between the lines it could be that he is getting itchy feet. Move Gallen "upstairs" to have a proper footballing appointment and then build up the training ground to add value added to that, we have momentum. He saw Sheff Utd, Villa going up, can we get in the next Gallaghers, the Leko's, etc. Maybe Galllen has sold him the idea of Category 1 and 2 over other clubs and what we could attract with young footballers going forward.