The thoughts of Rodney Charlton Trotter (literally)

RodneyCharltonTrotta said:

....…. I am reluctant to criticise, albeit constructively, individuals particularly in such an impersonal platform as an anonymous internet forum. I have done it many a time on here over the years often regrettably and it’s all been very petty.
However when you put yourself up in a position of relative importance and prominence such as a board member of a supporters’ trust then criticism will come with the territory.
Yesterday lunchtime’s pantomime revelation that a key Trust member had attended a meeting with KM the evening before this meeting was damaging albeit perhaps unfairly.
As he went on to explain he was there in his capacity as a Valley Gold representative and whilst I do not doubt his integrity or honesty it was a bad call to attend and perhaps a postponemnent would have been more appropriate in apprehension of a more important meeting 24 hours later.
If it transpired that David Cameron met with BP’s CEO merely in his capacity as car owner concerned with the cost of petrol the day before he was due to meet the same party for a inquiry into the Gulf of Mexico oil spill then even the most credulous of onlookers would be concerned at this potential conflict of interest particularly if it was not disclosed. Regardless of whether all they discussed was the pork- bothering PM’s concerns about the rising price of premium unleaded and the cost of filling up his Vauxhall Nova it is the perceived implications that are unfavourable.
The non- disclosure of such a meeting between the CEO and key Trust member on the eve of such an important meeting was also hugely flawed. If your missus was meeting up with an ex for a coffee and a chat then even if entirely innocent it would be far more concerning if it had not been mentioned and questions would arise about the need for such non- disclosure It appeared from various postings in the past week that there was an appetite for the attendees to meet up before the meeting and discuss the proposed questions and collaborate a line of questioning.
A cynic could infer that a key trust member who by admission on here somewhat held the floor last night and was integral had met up with the KM. Armed with the line of questioning it wouldn’t be too much of a leap to assume from the outside that the CEO could have acquired the proposed line of questioning and as such be in a position to prepare suitably PR vague and bland answers in the following 24 hours.
I am not implying by any means this is what occurred but this is a perception that could easily be deduced, warranted or not in these times whereby distrust and scepticism appear to be the default position for many of us.
There is already criticism of the Trust in various quarters that it is people trying to generate super fan roles and fulfil notions of self-importance at the club whilst ostensibly speaking out for the good of the wider supporter in the street and that is perhaps a reason that puts many people off from committing to signing up nd strengthening the trust.
We are asking for total transparency and demanding candidness from the Club. It is therefore essential that the Trust adhere to the same modus operandi.
I have often interpreted some of the Trust’s outputs as a bit “We know best” approach. Whilst there are obviously very capable and well-meaning members of CAST there are also thousands of extremely capable and intelligent supporters that they purport to represent who perhaps feel patronised by this perceived approach.
This isn’t a case of national security or a corporate merger whereby secrecy and confidential privilege are paramount. This is a second tier football club in a corner of SE London. Whilst few other than the most obsessive among us wish to know every micro detail of budgets and transfer targets be disclosed at the same time the level of secrecy and divulging of information needs to be improved for fear of it in itself appearing clandestine.
Otherwise the Trust just becomes, by proxy another layer of club management, caught in a quagmire and nullified by lack of communication of substance thus rendered ineffective in achieving its initial aims.
Any future dialogue the Trust or any fans’ forum type group receives needs to be outlaid in its entirety to the masses of those interested otherwise it is an entirely pointless function open to cynicism whilst fulfilling the pessimistic prophecy that it is ineffective and has achieved nothing of real substance for those it represents.
I would see the Trust’s roles at this relatively early stage in the relationship with the club as more of a regulator than a friend. Not even as amicabley as critical friend at this stage given the leaderships complete indifference to supporters hitherto. There to offer advice and consultation with a common cause of building a successful club but robust and detached enough to tell home truths and come down on them like a ton of bricks should the fans they represent deem so fit.

RodneyCharltonTrotta said:

The irony is when people ask what is wrong at the club it is often difficult to articulate without sounding either completely ungrateful or illogical.
On paper we have an owner who purports to put the long term financial stability of the club at the forefront which is refreshing in this instant gratification approach adopted by many rivals. Yet the stability and longevity is not reflected in the managerial mis- appointments and a lackadaisical approach to recruitment.
The youth policy at first glance also appears attractive until the reality sinks in that we are not going to enjoy players like Scott Parker and Konchesky turning out to play for the shirt season after season before moving on but rather be sold on the minute they show promise in the manner of Poyet and Gomez.
Whilst an apt fiscal model for a business we are a football club and thus entail the emotional element not apparent on a balance sheet. I don’t know many fans of any club that are inspired because net losses have been reduced by 6% in the same way 3 points against Millwall (ha!) fills you with joy.
I don’t expect throw money at it boom or bust approach but as a supporter what has been played out since they arrived has failed beyond expectation.
Talk of being ambitious for success is one thing but implementing the correct management and execution of strategy to achieve it is another. The owners and CEO are not football people and turgid season after turgid season along with novelty gimmicks such as sofas are not going to pack the stadium out or progress the club.
I was initially supportive when they took over and after years of instability appreciated the ethos they espoused particularly after the Cash ran out with the previous mob.
However I was never a fan of the network as for all of its supposed efficiencies it diluted the identity of the club and the tribalistic nature of football clubs.

I, along with pretty much everyone I have gone to the Valley with over the past 25 years have drifted away in the past season. It is down to far more than results on the pitch. These are the same people who would trek to the Valley come rains or shine on a cold Tuesday night for a 3rd division game having just been humiliatingly knocked out of the cup against Northwich Victoria.
Something has changed about the feel of it all. The soul and tradition seems to have been eroded and replaced with “their vision” of how a club should be. It is not just disenfranchisement with the lack of perceived progress or resistance to change for the better…it is perhaps because we are nowhere near the club we were in so many ways and it feels they are continually chipping away at our identity.
“Building a better future together” splashed on Big screen posters that would not be out of place in North Korea whilst at the same time being told it’s Roland’s way or nothing doesn’t quite tally.
Respect to the posters and supporters who just shrug their shoulders and have no interest in the perceived general malaise at our club and state that it’s the way football is, it’s cyclical and just go and support the team etc. and perhaps they are right and the rest of us are over analysing it but it just doesn’t feel like Charlton at the moment to me and many others.
Don't necessarily know what it is but something needs to change about the culture of the current regime to get the likes of me to return and I can’t see it happening under this lot.
I hope I’m wrong but I believe nothing will change if we as a fan base continue in that vein of "dialogue". The dwindling crowds speak volumes. We have been in worse positions form, financial and league wise yet still not had the evident levels of indifference since Selhurst, other than the inevitable drop off of glory boys post Premiership relegation.
It's the apathy that concerns me and when you extrapolate that across thousands of others who have stopped going I worry we could end up another Wimbledon. Social media has caused division, cynicism and disdain amongst our support as opposed to unity and that's why I don't think the Valley Party scenario would re occur in the same manner. Therefore it needs to change before it gets anywhere near that stage.
The only way I see to engender true change is to completely boycott attendance at home games if you are truly unhappy with the running of the club.
It is evidently not in our nature as a fan base to escalate meaningful protests to the extent other clubs do. I’m not debating the rights and wrongs of that but it concedes power and leverage as the board are confident that as a fan base we rightly or wrongly “won’t cross a line” and therefore they needn’t fret about an impending hike in insurance premiums at the Valley and continue to feed us empty platitudes such as last night to keep us docile.
I cannot understand the mentality of those disgusted at the ownership but continuing going to games stating “I’ve paid for the ticket so I will use it” despite spending 50 hours a week venting spleens on message boards about it.
The argument that the team will suffer without a roaring crowd doesnt stack up either. If playing in front of a big Charlton crowd made any real difference then we would never win any away games and our records in local derbies would be less than shambolic. Rest assured there are more pressing variables at play as to our team’s substandard performance such as an inadequate squad and unqualified and short term management.
Forecasts will be made and budgeting put in place after xmas I would imagine for the following season’s revenue forecasts. Whilst bodies still appear on seats on match day the Board has carte blanche to continue as they wish safe in the knowledge us mug punters will be back for another season of disappointment so strong is the addiction.
Personally I am staying away but that’s been an easy decision and one born out of apathy and other distractions. I am a hypocrite though myself because if we had a good cup run (ha!) and drew Man United or even Millwall in the 3rd round then I would probably go back with gay abandon. And therein lays the problem. The draw of the club and the deep love we have for it forces us to effectively enable its mismanagement as we can’t bear to be away for too long and not long enough to make a meaningful impact.
Maybe RD is selling hence a reluctance to find a permanent manager which would involve a hefty payoff for any new owners wishing to bring in their man .