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The Takeover Thread - Duchatelet Finally Sells (Jan 2020)
Comments
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Cant argue with anything you have put @cafc-west however the fact they aren't CAFC fans per-se doesn't worry me, many clubs are owned by people who are (were) not fans originally. That, I guess, includes Man City, Man U and Liverpool, to name just 3. I think we should just sit back and see what unfolds, and after 6 months or so, lets then begin to form an educated opinion on them. I understand peoples skepticism after all we have been through over the last few years, but, as I said I'm prepared to give the new owners time and hopefully they will engage with fans properly and we can learn more about them. Lets see how their first few months go as I said.cafc-west said:
Got agree with this in the main. But (theres always a but) - why are they buying Charlton? As others have already stated - they are not Charlton fans, they don't have the historic or emotional connection (but that may come). It worries me a bit that they are called East Street Investments. You only invest in something if you want an eventual return on your capital. As we all know people can invest in stocks and shares, ISAs, etc, etc. A lot depends on your risk appetite to get the best returns. I would say investing in a Championship club and expecting a return is a risky strategy. Look at the massive failures over the years of clubs that have thrown millions at trying to get to the promised land of the Premier League - and failed. So, if their strategy is to invest in the club with a goal of making the EPL in 2-3 years it is risky and costly. Really unsure why anyone would want to do this. If you have the money that the new owners are supposed to have then there are easier and less risky ways to invest. We all know that re-developing the valley is a non-starter for several reasons - so it would be great to see what their plans are...Redmidland said:Before we start condemning ESI, let the takeover happen and sit back and see what happens. We've had 6 years of Roland and perhaps we have become slightly 'anti-owners' especially after the 'spivs' as well. However Im prepared to see where this new chapter take us and how it unravels. The positives for me are-:
1. RD gone
2. LB been told to go and get a new stiker in Jan.
3. Matt Southall has been to more games, home and away, than RD ever did.
4. Matt has spent time with the 'Upbeats'
5. They apparently have money and want to sign up, LB, JJ, SG and of course Taylor.
That handful of positives is a good start for me, so c'mon lets be positive, its time for us all to move on!!4 -
That article is of concern given that this is Charlton and nothing is ever straightforward.
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In the short term we need someone to retain our management team and our best players whilst adding numbers to the squad.
It sounds like this lot can do it.
Talking about buying Cullen and Leko shows the right signs.
leko getting injured could be a blessing in disguise.
He was just starting to show serious promise.
that would push the price up.
Gallen will no doubt have some shrewd buys up his sleeve.
What we shouldn’t do is shoot these buyers down before they get a chance to show their colours and the colour of their money.
For now I remain hopeful.8 -
What a miserable bunch Charlton fans can be.Let is be clear, there is a potential chairman who used to be a football agent and has, as one might expect, decent PR skills and a desire to do well for himself financially.
The primary investment vehicle is run by the man who runs the private family office of one of the six ruling families of an oil state. His job is to diversify the oil money into long term investments that are successful reputationally and financially.
I’m sure he may have had some failures along the way but I am also sure he is not where he is by having failed often.
Let’s just hope we get rid of Duchatelet soon and then if there are issues with the new plans, let us engage with the new owners at an appropriate time with any concerns.
I would not expect any regime to be perfect. Anyone who does probably needs to visit their doctor.54 -
Others have been interested as has been documented in the past, but only one has been prepared to pay what has been considered over the odds.Charltonparklane said:
Under the current ownership and situation we are one relegation away from falling into obscurity and possibly winding up.seth plum said:My worry is about the money.
Reading about the people involved the worse case scenario (which is not necessarily going to happen) is a complex gamble by people who don't necessarily have the club at heart as a sporting institution, and it leads to a Boltonesque situation.
We have a decent stadium, crowd potential, are well seated in the community and have a really excellent player development system. In addition we have a football management and organisation structure with impressive people involved, a long way from Russell (Mr Patient) Slade for example.
Reading about the complex background of the people involved I think we might get into a too many cooks scenario, the meal served could be a dog's dinner that ends in the bin. There seems to be a background of loads of projects started and left unfinished with a degree of spin applied and certain things tucked away. The VoTV piece on the individuals is worth a read not because it is in any way opinionated, but sets out facts without embellishment.
The question remains why these people and why them and Charlton particularly.
I am not yet convinced that the finances are secure and reliable and worry about a rob Peter to pay Paul scenario where debts spin out of control with no safety net beyond the book value of the Valley.
I want to be wrong and believe we will be run and owned by people who husband resources well, and realise that the actual returns come from sustained football success not ducking and diving. As @ElfsborgAddick says, maybe one has to keep counsel for a year, or at least until the first accounts are published under any new regime.
I do believe that we have to be free of Duchatelet in any case, the situation as it stands is unsustainable, but we have been twice bitten and understandably have become three times shy
We had no other concrete evidence anybody else wanted to touch the club with a bargepole.
This is our only hope I believe and seems a good one.1 -
Cullen, yes please. Leko, no thank you. He drives me mad with his poor decision-making, selfishness and, often, laziness - he's not one I want us splashing the cash on.CafcSCP said:In the short term we need someone to retain our management team and our best players whilst adding numbers to the squad.
It sounds like this lot can do it.
Talking about buying Cullen and Leko shows the right signs.
leko getting injured could be a blessing in disguise.
He was just starting to show serious promise.
that would push the price up.
Gallen will no doubt have some shrewd buys up his sleeve.
What we shouldn’t do is shoot these buyers down before they get a chance to show their colours and the colour of their money.
For now I remain hopeful.
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Not Charlton fans!While they may not have been 2 months ago, the seem very pleased as a group when we scored so to me unless I see different they appear to be on their way to catching the Charlton bug. As for their motives for buying the club, let’s wait for their opening statement (if it ever comes) before we have an opinion and give them the time to put those words into practice then if they are falling short of what a custodian of this great football club should be, then give them both barrels. Like everyone, they deserve a chance even though we rightly feel suspicious after recent experiences.6
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At the end of the, if we want rid of RD , there ain't too many other options. Beggars can't be choosers and all that....4
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Leko is off the menu anyway. Despite yesterday’s win and the prospect of the takeover the reality is that at this point relegation is a distinct possibility. If the takeover is done then it’s clear that new owners will have to splash some cash. If at the end of January we don’t see a real upgrade in several positions and some signs of ambition then I will be more worried.2
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What management structure?lancashire lad said:I don't like RD or the way that he has run the club but if you look at the situation we have:
On The Plus Side
a club not running up debt
a good young management team who left to get on with only minimum interference
A group of players which most of us were happy after the first 4 weeks of the season
On the Minus Side
A management team with very short contracts
A set of players decimated by injuries
A striker who is underpaid for his ability
An owner who doesn't visit the Valley - so what?
Anyone with any business sense would have LB etc on a short contract if they wish to sell and you can't blame the owner for the injury situation.
I wish to see the back of RD but am concerned that we are getting owners who have ulterior motives and will interfere with our management structure because they think that they know better with their strange ways.
The purpose of a good fanzine is to tell stuff about the club as the result of good journalism and that is what Rick has done in VoTV and I hope he continues doing it. There is no point in accepting new owners if they are no better than the current ones, even if they do hire a top PR company to gloss their takeover, what is behind that gloss - we don't know and it is a worry.
Right that's me lot, I'm off out for the day!0 - Sponsored links:
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So much wrong with that analysislancashire lad said:I don't like RD or the way that he has run the club but if you look at the situation we have:
On The Plus Side
a club not running up debt
a good young management team who left to get on with only minimum interference
A group of players which most of us were happy after the first 4 weeks of the season
On the Minus Side
A management team with very short contracts
A set of players decimated by injuries
A striker who is underpaid for his ability
An owner who doesn't visit the Valley - so what?
Anyone with any business sense would have LB etc on a short contract if they wish to sell and you can't blame the owner for the injury situation.
I wish to see the back of RD but am concerned that we are getting owners who have ulterior motives and will interfere with our management structure because they think that they know better with their strange ways.
The purpose of a good fanzine is to tell stuff about the club as the result of good journalism and that is what Rick has done in VoTV and I hope he continues doing it. There is no point in accepting new owners if they are no better than the current ones, even if they do hire a top PR company to gloss their takeover, what is behind that gloss - we don't know and it is a worry.
Right that's me lot, I'm off out for the day!
Far too much credit to proven incompetents in the current regime.
Can't believe you are saying keeping Bowyer on a short contract is business sense, whether he's selling or not it is madness.28 -
That's just not true. I can recall one game where it looked like he wasn't interested but other than that he worked hard, often tracking back to help out defensively. I certainly had no problems with his overall effort.meldrew66 said:
Cullen, yes please. Leko, no thank you. He drives me mad with his poor decision-making, selfishness and, often, laziness - he's not one I want us splashing the cash on.CafcSCP said:In the short term we need someone to retain our management team and our best players whilst adding numbers to the squad.
It sounds like this lot can do it.
Talking about buying Cullen and Leko shows the right signs.
leko getting injured could be a blessing in disguise.
He was just starting to show serious promise.
that would push the price up.
Gallen will no doubt have some shrewd buys up his sleeve.
What we shouldn’t do is shoot these buyers down before they get a chance to show their colours and the colour of their money.
For now I remain hopeful.22 -
Airman Brown said:
Conjecture? I don’t think so.carly burn said:
Jesus mate. That's all conjecture. And not a single word on the real money man.lancashire lad said:
read the current VoTVcarly burn said:
Go on then Lancs. What's the particular problem with this lot then, in your humble opinion?lancashire lad said:
no I won'tcarly burn said:
Mother Theresa, Tony Hart and Mary Berry are lining up a bid for Newcastle. Sorry to disappoint.lancashire lad said:https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/09/agent-saif-rubie-banned-for-six-weeks-and-fined-over-improper-use-of-twitter
if this is the same Saif Rubie, as in the Guardian article, is the type of person we want involved with our club. I repeat that I am not at all happy with who is taking over our club.
Get used to it.
Airman just whipping up a bit of caution, mainly because it's not Varney involved ;-)
Think you need to chill out a bit and see where this is really heading before you condemn this lot to the Belgian bin.
I’ve not offered a definitive view on this takeover because I don’t have one, but the link to the 2010 takeover bid which involved the convicted fraudster Paul Anthony Garland and which was described in parliament as involving “a bunch of crooks” is not conjecture.
Neither is Matt Southall’s appearance with Laurence Bassini in April - you can find the pictures of them together in the ground if you look. Bassini was banned for three years for his earlier activities at Watford.
I’ve only published the stories I can substantiate myself but there are others, as the wider media is aware and so, no doubt, are the EFL, but that doesn’t mean the takeover won’t be ratified. And we make the best of whatever happens, is my view. But it isn’t conjecture.I’ve been spotted with my Uncle over the years. He has done time for fraud. It doesn’t mean I’m dodgy.3 -
TBF @Arsenetatters your family have also been Charlton directors0
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This Uncle was on the other side of the family 😊Henry Irving said:TBF @Arsenetatters your family have also been Charlton directors3 -
Still dodgy then : - )Arsenetatters said:
This Uncle was on the other side of the family 😊Henry Irving said:TBF @Arsenetatters your family have also been Charlton directors1 -
Following one of the best Xmas days we've enjoyed for some time with all the family on great form, lots of fun, food & wine ( despite young Jakey having the squits! ) I "looked forward" to the Boxing Day match with the usual degree of nervousness.
Having been at Ashton Gate some weeks earlier to witness 2 additional members of the squad leaving the pitch with significant injuries, a cruel 98th minute winner, the GBH committed on JP in the final minutes and the despicable antics of a certain Mr Johnson on the touchline, this was payback time for me.
The question that is currently de rigeur for the faithful was how would this decimated but brave band of brothers in arms (legs? ) cope with the first of 3 matches in 7 days against very decent opposition.
Those who dared to incur the wrath of family members, waiting impatiently with the annual fare of quivering jelly, snowy white blancmange, salmon sarnies, left over turkey plus the accompanying jars of red cabbage, pickled onions & piccalilli were treated to a rollercoaster ride at The Valley, & wended their way home, ready, willing & happy to face the likes of Great Aunt Maude.
The manner in which this battle was fought AND won has been examined by others so it's not for me to dwell on such but I have to join my esteemed fellow Lifers in praising the endeavours, energy & TOTAL commitment of those lads wearing the shirt yesterday. IMO, no-one let the side down ; All for one & one for All with knobs on.
From Big Daddy Darren, through the slightly less experienced Uncles Dillon, Lyle & Tom, all the way to the Young 'Uns who outnumbered their peers but showed without a shadow of doubt how important is our revered Academy and our management team , especially Steve Gallen. Alfie, Albie from our own "stable & young Conor from West London- these guys plus their team mates almost reduced me to tears with their never say die performances yesterday. THIS is what being part of the Charlton Family means. Grandma Fanny is SO proud of every one of them.
I realise that this is not the post match comments thread but having read some of the latest thoughts on here, posted before the sleep was washed out of my mince pies, I wanted to state that the wonderful glow that accompanied me to bed in the early hours has diminished somewhat from the negativity of some regarding our potential new owner/s.
Whilst I fully appreciate the need to harbour niggling doubts when something of this magnitude is on the horizon, and to question the viability or even the motives behind the Takeover, on this occasion I am dusting off my rose coloured specs and preparing a small hole in the grandkids' sandpit in which to bury my old 'ead until it's safe to emerge, blinking into the warmth & brightness of a new, positive era for our famous football club.
Yes, I may well be delusional & you are within your rights to question my sanity, but further years of instability & neglect of something I hold so dear, are no longer an option I want to consider. As we reach our 70's, there is a degree of urgency to enjoy the aspects of life which we enjoy & make us happy. Some we are able to control- others we cannot & have to leave to fate...or indeed to put our faith in others as is the case with ESI.
These musings may well return to bite me on my considerable nether region but time's too short to worry about such minor considerations. My hide's become pretty tough over the years, so sharpen those fangs & approach at your peril !
Positivity is THE word for 2020 at Fanackapan Towers. " Abandon negativity, all ye who enter here !"
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Henry Irving said:
So much wrong with that analysislancashire lad said:I don't like RD or the way that he has run the club but if you look at the situation we have:
On The Plus Side
a club not running up debt
a good young management team who left to get on with only minimum interference
A group of players which most of us were happy after the first 4 weeks of the season
On the Minus Side
A management team with very short contracts
A set of players decimated by injuries
A striker who is underpaid for his ability
An owner who doesn't visit the Valley - so what?
Anyone with any business sense would have LB etc on a short contract if they wish to sell and you can't blame the owner for the injury situation.
I wish to see the back of RD but am concerned that we are getting owners who have ulterior motives and will interfere with our management structure because they think that they know better with their strange ways.
The purpose of a good fanzine is to tell stuff about the club as the result of good journalism and that is what Rick has done in VoTV and I hope he continues doing it. There is no point in accepting new owners if they are no better than the current ones, even if they do hire a top PR company to gloss their takeover, what is behind that gloss - we don't know and it is a worry.
Right that's me lot, I'm off out for the day!
Far too much credit to proven incompetents in the current regime.
Can't believe you are saying keeping Bowyer on a short contract is business sense, whether he's selling or not it is madness.
The idea we're a club not running up debt was also hilarious.
How much debt has RD added to the club again? A little more than zero I think.9 -
What does that make a large number of Australians then? 😉Henry Irving said:
Still dodgy then : - )Arsenetatters said:
This Uncle was on the other side of the family 😊Henry Irving said:TBF @Arsenetatters your family have also been Charlton directors
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I swear some people on here arriving home after a hard day to find their wife/partner/boyfriend/individual identifying as a puffin in sexy lingerie and strumming themselves silly would still moan that the dinner’s not ready.
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Fans doing due dilligence is nonsense. Unless due dilligence is based upon a few pics of the directors box and some google searches.ShootersHillGuru said:No not only in Charlton land. Absolutely nothing wrong with fans doing due diligence.
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Your in royal company @Arsenetatters:
Queen Lizzy, doesn't just have dodgy sons but she had a very dodgy uncle Edward who taught her to do the Hitler Salute.
Wallace Simpson saved this Country from having a King banished to the Bahamas for the duration of the war as he was a nazi Sympathiser.
The British government and the church did get him banished to the Bahamas but that was because Mrs Simpson had two living ex husbands and Edward was determined to be Hubby number 3. Abdication was his only choice.
Kate Middleton, the royal Essex girl has a dodgy uncle as well who has been up before the beak.
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The cold stone truth is, unless any of us on here has £60m to toss at what is basically a flying circus and many more millions to chuck at it just to stop it sinking, we need to 1) calm down, 2) be patient and 3) cease from idle deframatory speculation.
I cannot wait for the Belgian to fuck off, preferably to somewhere hot and nasty for eternity but i shall endeavour to remain patient and so should we all.
I am sure that by 2020, we will be rodent free and that another bunch of rich chancers will be giving it a go.7 -
You carry on thinking that. For quite a lot of us it’s quite important that we know about the people that are taking ownership of the club. Football finances are mad and unforgiving and getting the wrong owner could easily spell complete disaster. Ask Bury fans what they think. But you carry on.1905 said:
Fans doing due dilligence is nonsense. Unless due dilligence is based upon a few pics of the directors box and some google searches.ShootersHillGuru said:No not only in Charlton land. Absolutely nothing wrong with fans doing due diligence.2 -
But it needs to be formally announced so you know who is involved, then play forensic accountants.ShootersHillGuru said:
You carry on thinking that. For quite a lot of us it’s quite important that we know about the people that are taking ownership of the club. Football finances are mad and unforgiving and getting the wrong owner could easily spell complete disaster. Ask Bury fans what they think. But you carry on.1905 said:
Fans doing due dilligence is nonsense. Unless due dilligence is based upon a few pics of the directors box and some google searches.ShootersHillGuru said:No not only in Charlton land. Absolutely nothing wrong with fans doing due diligence.3 -
Be careful what you wish for regarding Due Diligence as the January window will be shut by the time EFL finish with their tooth comb.0
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.Rossman92 said:1 -
Not sure if you missed it but there was a formal announcement on the OS on 29th November stating exactly who is involved. Keep up.1905 said:
But it needs to be formally announced so you know who is involved, then play forensic accountants.ShootersHillGuru said:
You carry on thinking that. For quite a lot of us it’s quite important that we know about the people that are taking ownership of the club. Football finances are mad and unforgiving and getting the wrong owner could easily spell complete disaster. Ask Bury fans what they think. But you carry on.1905 said:
Fans doing due dilligence is nonsense. Unless due dilligence is based upon a few pics of the directors box and some google searches.ShootersHillGuru said:No not only in Charlton land. Absolutely nothing wrong with fans doing due diligence.3 -
First glance I thought this was Trump's wife.ricky_otto said:
His Daughter looks like Dwight Gayle.Rossman92 said:0 -
I don't see our fans tailspinning into some kind of hissy fit because they ask questions, exercise caution and trawl for information. In my view it is not negativity or writing anybody off.
If there are 'announcements' formal statements, live encounters and interviews, and then those are accompanied by a series of quite incomprehensible teases on instatwitter, then I really don't see any crime or misdemeanour enacted by fans if they investigate and discuss.
I don't think Charlton fans collectively are a blank sheet of paper upon which anything can be written regardless.3
This discussion has been closed.
