Come Back!

We got this promotion without the help of those who chose to boycott for whatever reason.
As we did it without you then you may as well stay away and leave it to us that really supported the team throughout plus all the new supporters that will be pleased to come along.
your boycotting would deter any would be buyer due to lack of gate receipts.

AFKABartram said:

3blokes said:

The problem, it seems to me, is that there are two distinct versions of Charlton at the moment. Charlton as owned by Duchatelet, and the Charlton now owned by Bowyer and his team and the supporters. There is a huge disconnect between the two, they are incompatible with each other, and I really want to support one but not the other.
I haven’t worked out quite how to do that yet. And I fully see both sides of the argument.

 I think that is a very insightful post @3blokes

I suppose many people after the last fortnight  now have to decide whether they want to provide support to the later on a regular basis or whether they only want to participate in big games when the team is doing well. Very much hope we see more of a fuller Valley roaring the team on. 

I think the next few weeks will see which of the two camps is in the ascendancy. If Bowyer et al get contracts renewed as they surely should, then it might suggest that Roland is beginning to get that important clue that has eluded him so effortlessly thus far.
That might be a start. Roland is hard to second guess, but it seems clear he is unlikely to relinquish this club until he turns something he can claim as a face saving ‘profit’.
If he is prepared to let this have a chance of happening by -

1. Melting quietly into the background and recognising that he needs to speculate smartly here to accumulate
2. Letting better qualified people than him get on with doing what they know how to do best

then that might be a scenario that, for now, we could all live with. 
Roland and us are never going to like each other, that seems clear. But finding a truce in our mutual self interest might be a way forward.
I cannot really see any of this happening if I’m honest, and I would much rather he sold the club this evening, but I guess for the moment we are stuck with each other, and we have to try to make it work.
This is beginning to remind me of my first marriage, somehow. (and considering how that utter fiasco turned out in the end, best I leave it there, before I get despondent!)

AFKABartram said:

3blokes said:

The problem, it seems to me, is that there are two distinct versions of Charlton at the moment. Charlton as owned by Duchatelet, and the Charlton now owned by Bowyer and his team and the supporters. There is a huge disconnect between the two, they are incompatible with each other, and I really want to support one but not the other.
I haven’t worked out quite how to do that yet. And I fully see both sides of the argument.

 I think that is a very insightful post @3blokes

I suppose many people after the last fortnight  now have to decide whether they want to provide support to the later on a regular basis or whether they only want to participate in big games when the team is doing well. Very much hope we see more of a fuller Valley roaring the team on. 

I agree with this. However it is not currently clear, in the absence of any contract for Bowyer and his staff, nor for many of the existing team, that the Charlton as owned by Bowyer, his team and the fans will exist come the new season.

Can’t see why I would be forking out for season tickets to support Bowyer and team until I knew they were going to be there.

Imagine handing over money to Duchâtelet who then doesn’t give Bowyer a new contract, appoints Karel Fraeye as manager and gives Driesen full transfer activity responsibility.

I’m not ruling out getting season tickets and I want to be there (even if Duchâtelet has not sold) but I want to be sure what I’m paying for. 

sodoff07 said:

We got this promotion without the help of those who chose to boycott for whatever reason.
As we did it without you then you may as well stay away and leave it to us that really supported the team throughout plus all the new supporters that will be pleased to come along.
your boycotting would deter any would be buyer due to lack of gate receipts.

Nice of you to take time off from getting your PhD in Philosophy to eventually comment on this forum.

I did go to Wembley yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself. However my boycott of the Valley remains until the Rat goes.

How many boycotters do we roughly have?

clb74 said:

How many boycotters do we roughly have?

112

Boycott stays in place, wouldn’t be buying a season ticket anyway, child care means midweek games are a no no and my 5 year old isn’t interested, no matter the bribes.

hopefully the takeover goes through and I’ll be trying to go to more games on a Saturday, and then as childcare arrangements change, and hopefully the youngest gets interested a ST is possible.

Roland’s ownership and having kids was a perfect storm to break the habit of going 

stoneroses19 said:

thickandthin63 said:

If this team have to play in a half empty stadium next year,it will be an insult to Bowyer and his staff,how can anybody witness what has happened recently and still  stay away.Has there ever been a better fan-player relationship than there is now,I just cannot understand staying away on principle,this club ,regardless of ownership,is really on the verge of something good.

Many will stay away because we didn’t stop going because of poor performances or results. Every Saturday, you’ll see on CL how many of us are hurt by not going and instead relying on the superb commentary from some of the lads here. It’s not an insult to Bowyer or any of his staff if we decide not to purchase season tickets again next season. Bowyer knows exactly why we won’t and he is someone that respects that! 

Don't kid yourself, he has made it clear that his mission has been to bring the fans and the team together again and stated yesterday that it was all about people forgetting their differences and coming back together. 

AFKABartram said:

Rothko said:

Boycott stays in place, wouldn’t be buying a season ticket anyway, child care means midweek games are a no no and my 5 year old isn’t interested, no matter the bribes.

hopefully the takeover goes through and I’ll be trying to go to more games on a Saturday, and then as childcare arrangements change, and hopefully the youngest gets interested a ST is possible.

Roland’s ownership and having kids was a perfect storm to break the habit of going 

I wouldn’t personally call it a boycott, but I respect your honesty

The play offs were the only games I attended this season, and the Portsmouth 25 years game the only one the previous season. I’ve spent zero on the club, no kits for the kids, no Junior Reds memberships etc etc, it’s been painful as the want to go has been there. 

Life has changed as well, and that’s a major contributor to not going, but it’s not the reason why when I’ve had the chances to go, I’ve decided it’s best not to go

Knowing my luck, if I'd have worn my black and white scarf yesterday I'd have got jumped on Wembley Way by a Cardiff City fan.

Yes mate, yesterday was one of the great days hopefully there is many more to come COYR!!!!

bigman backstick said:

Yes mate, yesterday was one of the great days hopefully there is many more to come COYR!!!!

good man - don't want to make u feel old but you had a season ticket for over 30 years, not 20!!!!! Great to have u back - COYR!!!!!

It’s a hugely tough call. 
My Brother-in-Law has kept attending through the “boycott years” whereas I refused to give a penny more. There was some half-relent when at Christmas the family clubbed together to get my youngest a half-season as he really wanted to go and not going was almost a punishment. 
I was persuaded to go to the last couple of games of the season - on the premise that I might regret not seeing this team play. Having been to those games I would definitely have regretted it - and I would have regretted not going to the home leg of the semis and to Wembley yesterday.  
I had to renew the season ticket of No. 2 son - and I decided I would come back. 
I’ve missed it. I can’t protest by boycott any more but have to shout from the stands, and the pull of the atmosphere of live football is too much to resist. 
I think in all honesty we have to do what we feel is right for us. Boycotting is not wrong and neither is attending - we are all pretty much united in wanting Roland Out, although there are a very small minority who have no issue with him - but it takes all sorts I guess. 
We just have to keep on doing what we feel is the right thing. I’m hoping and praying that contracts are renewed and that the Belgian Branleur sells up and gets lost as soon as possible. It’s going to be a tough season now we’re up and without Roland it will be a heck of a lot easier. 
Just sell the club and f*** off.