At the fans' meeting on December 12th a draft "Addicks' Charter" was presented for discussion. The draft below is based on support from the open meeting, and has been updated and finessed to take on board comments during and after the meeting. We are launching it now for further consultation with Charlton fans - email
secretary@castrust.org with any comments / suggestions / additions.
The essence of the charter will be put to Thomas Sandgaard at the Fans’ Forum today. If he can’t commit to this, we can’t commit to him.
The Addicks' Charter
In recognition of the fact that a football club is far more than a commercial asset, Charlton fans will work in partnership with the owners of our club to ensure the following:
Charlton’s community and family values are at the heart of the club
All are welcome and respected
It is affordable for fans to watch and attend matches
The club is run from The Valley by a competent and experienced CEO with a board of directors which follows legal and best practice governance principles
Engagement with the community, partners, sponsors and businesses enables all to thrive
Fan engagement is integral – involving, listening, learning, feeding back
Our core traditions – red & white home colours, playing at The Valley, running out to The Red, Red, Robin – are upheld and require definitive consent of fans to change
Men’s & women’s team managers are given freedom to build squads and play to win without day-to-day ownership interference in on-the-field matters
The Academy is supported and developed as part of our DNA
There is a clear, considered and costed plan to reunite ownership of The Valley & training ground with the football club
Addicks are proud to say they support Charlton Athletic
Comments
You could post something bland like "Good Morning" on there and be met with a torrent of abuse saying "What's good about it, you absolute ****"
I steer well clear of the cess pit. Am not bothered enough about what anyone has to say really that I couldn't find out elsewhere to put up with the tidal wave of morons.
All seem to want confrontation and ‘my dads bigger than yours’ type arguments with a man who can remove his funding any point.
I'd quibble 'community and family values' myself - 'family values' has become politicised in recent years. I'd stick with 'community values'. Not that I'm biased
He’s just taken over it with his usual rants & bad spelling/grammar.
I was a bit unsure of this to start (agree with the DNA removal) but the more I think of it, the more I believe it’s a stick to beat him with if he either completely ignores it or doesn’t adhere to it.
Then the Trust can say they’ve tried to be reasonable before moving onto something more, if necessary, in future.
Must be around ten years ago now.
It is absolutely not a money making group seeking validation by hanging around the movers and shakers of the club, but a very decent collective self assembled then elected, entirely with the best hopes for Charlton Athletic at it’s heart.
For £5 a year it is the best Charlton Athletic bargain any serious supporter could get.
Then nothing will happen but if you don’t try you never know. No chance with the CEO part. He would have done that after the first month. He won’t change his mind on that.
2 questions that need asking at him from the start of tonight’s meeting
Are you selling up?
If the answer is no, then we have no faith in you to run this club as we see fit at present. What’s your end game then?
and
The Academy continues to be supported and developed, because its presence is integral to the ethos of the club, and it also makes a valued contribution towards our ambition and intention of improving the club's position within the football pyramid.
Charlton Athletic: Fans' group give owner Thomas Sandgaard club charter ultimatum
Last updated on1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the sectionCharlton
A Charlton Athletic fans' group says it will petition owner Thomas Sandgaard to sell the Addicks if he does not agree to abide by a new club charter.
Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust will present the Addicks' Charter to Sandgaard at Thursday's fans' forum.
The Addicks, 18th in League One, are at their "lowest ebb in living memory", CAST said last week.
"It is beyond frustrating that we find ourselves in this position once more," said trust chair Heather McKinlay.
Subjects addressed in the charter include pledges on ticket affordability, fan engagement, core traditions including shirt colours and songs, and assurances of "no ownership interference in on-field matters".
It also demands a "clear, considered and costed plan to reunite ownership of The Valley and training ground with the football club".
Danish-American businessman Sandgaard bought Charlton in September 2020 but the club's stadium and training ground were not part of the purchase and are leased from former owner Roland Duchatelet.
The Addicks are four points above the relegation zone and searching for a fifth manager in two years after the sacking of Ben Garner, with CAST claiming the club is "in disarray" and accusing Sandgaard of failing "to live up to initial promises".
CAST said that the wording of the charter had been approved by 85% of more than 600 supporters who attended an online open evening on Monday.
"Our fanbase simply seeks to work in partnership with the ownership, recognising that a football club is far more than a commercial asset," added McKinlay.
"If Sandgaard cannot commit to running our football club along the lines expressed in the charter, then we cannot commit to him and we will campaign for him to sell the club."
Why bother to turn up if you are off.
Hopefully he won't show.