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CAST priorities for 2026
castrust
Posts: 543
The CAST board recently held its first formal meeting of 2026. We welcomed Stuart Court and Jade Hannan to the board. We now have a full complement of ten elected board members:
We unanimously reconfirmed the officers, with all willing to continue in post:
- Chair – Heather McKinlay
- Vice Chair – Heather Alderson
- Secretary – Richard Wiseman
- Treasurer – Nigel Kleinfeld
A key focus of the meeting was to discuss our strategy, priorities and approach for the coming year.
CAST Strategy & Priorities:
We agreed to maintain the same financial strategy. This means keeping a level of reserves in the region of £25K. This provides immediately accessible funds should a crisis arise and we need to seek legal and/or financial advice to protect the future of the football club. We will consequently keep our spending across the year more or less in line with our income – an approach we have achieved for the past four or five years and which has not constrained initiatives.
We agreed to provide a summary to members and the fanbase of topics covered at monthly CAST board meetings via an article on the website which we will link to on social media and message boards. This is the first example and a new approach for us undertaken very much in the spirit of openness and information sharing.
We will ask members for their views on CAST and our activities in our annual survey, including whether they would like to see a ‘meet the board’ forum to provide opportunity for members to input and feedback in a discussion space. We are inquisitive regarding why people do or don’t join CAST and what might entice more to sign-up.
We will continue to provide advice and guidance to supporter groups who seek it, whether geographic or defined by characteristic, such as CADSA and Proud Valiants. This includes encouraging the formation of new groups.
We will continue to organise online Q&A events with a range of guests from both the club where available and the wider football world.
We will continue to develop a constructive relationship with the club. We will be prepared to raise difficult issues and advocate on behalf of fans from the standpoint of “critical friend”. We will proactively identify and contribute to opportunities for the club to grow and build success. This includes:
- Encourage the club to consult with fans on heritage items, club strategy, strategic priorities, plans for further fan engagement and operational matters including ticket pricing under the legal obligations of the Football Governance Act.
- Raise awareness among fans of the CAFC Fan Engagement Plan and encourage fans to use appropriate channels to contact the club with CAST as back-up.
- Maintain pressure on the club to improve communication with fans, particularly in terms of responding to complaints / ideas.
- Propose how we might work with the club to make the SLO (Supporter Liaison Officer) role manageable and attractive with the aim of stability and empowerment of post.
- Work with the club to minimise confusion and overlap between departments – we have requested that the club shares its organisational structure and responsibilities.
- Ensure clear publicly understood distinction between the roles of CAST and the stakeholder Advisory Board, in particular that CAST represents fans both as CAST and, in conjunction with directly-elected fans Jon Whitfield and Lewis Catt, as fan representatives on the Advisory Board. Highlight the clear distinction and opportunity in having a stakeholder advisory board rather than simply a fans’ advisory board.
- Participate across all tiers of the Fan Engagement Plan, including proactively contributing to Meet the Directors and the Supporter Forum.
- Continue to work constructively with the club in a One Club manner i.e. across the Women’s Team, Men’s Team, the Academy and Charlton Athletic Community Trust.
- Continue to advise the club on ways in which it can improve fan experience operationally, both on a physical/tangible level and an emotional one.
- Continue to promote awareness of the CAFC name and experience across the local community, supplementing the CAFC Schools initiative as well as reinforcing the umbrella positioning of All Different, All Together, All Charlton.
The other focused topic of discussion at the January meeting was about creating a permanent memorial to Norman Barker. CAST now holds the funds generously raised by fans, including those from the Pompey GoFundMe, from the Charlton GoFundMe and CAST’s Crowdfunder. These are in a ring-fenced account. We have held an initial discussion with the club who are in direct contact with Norm’s family. We will be developing options over the coming weeks and will keep fans updated.
The board also spent time discussing the police approach to Charlton matches which remains a live and ongoing topic. We will provide regular updates on the website.
As ever, we welcome views, ideas, concerns regarding CAST’s approach and activity by email to secretary@castrust .org.
If you are not already one of the 2500 Addicks who are members of CAST you can join here for just £5 per year:
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Comments
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Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …0
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A statue of Norm sitting in his seat would be amazing.It just doesn’t seem the same without his ever-presence.Headphones on, furry hat and badges, the works.There are bound to be practical issues around the idea, but I’m sure there’s a solution.4
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It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdf
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Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?0 -
valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.1 -
Possibly. But if true Wembley would have rebuffed straightaway surely?bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.0 -
No, because both clubs were in the process of live selling. If Orient’s sales had ground to a halt earlier, there was a possibility of us getting more and that’s why the club kept trying until virtually the last minute.valleynick66 said:
Possibly. But if true Wembley would have rebuffed straightaway surely?bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.
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Ok. But if that was a viable option there must still have been an ultimate cut off point by which tickets could be given to us or in other words a deadline.Weegie Addick said:
No, because both clubs were in the process of live selling. If Orient’s sales had ground to a halt earlier, there was a possibility of us getting more and that’s why the club kept trying until virtually the last minute.valleynick66 said:
Possibly. But if true Wembley would have rebuffed straightaway surely?bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.That was a failure in our comms in not sharing that.Seems to me your conclusion / reading was that Orient were still seeing enough sales to justify keeping their allocation even if the result on the day was a large number unsold.Would seem it wouldn’t be different in the future based on the minutes.Maybe because the receipts are widely shared / distributed the loss of revenue to Orient was marginal compared to trying to get all their fans accommodated / as much backing as they could muster.Just interesting to me how this works.0 -
valleynick66 said:
Ok. But if that was a viable option there must still have been an ultimate cut off point by which tickets could be given to us or in other words a deadline.Weegie Addick said:
No, because both clubs were in the process of live selling. If Orient’s sales had ground to a halt earlier, there was a possibility of us getting more and that’s why the club kept trying until virtually the last minute.valleynick66 said:
Possibly. But if true Wembley would have rebuffed straightaway surely?bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.That was a failure in our comms in not sharing that.Seems to me your conclusion / reading was that Orient were still seeing enough sales to justify keeping their allocation even if the result on the day was a large number unsold.Would seem it wouldn’t be different in the future based on the minutes.Maybe because the receipts are widely shared / distributed the loss of revenue to Orient was marginal compared to trying to get all their fans accommodated / as much backing as they could muster.Just interesting to me how this works.FFSThe club were desperately trying to get more tickets and until it became impossible it was possible. Would you rather the club had given up trying and to tell fans 'no more' earlier than the impossible date? When it became impossible the club communicated that - until then delicate conversations were going on in the background with all parties, including Orient.If you are intent on finding something or someone to blame then I can assure you that you are looking in the wrong place.1 -
You are looking for an argument I am not.bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Ok. But if that was a viable option there must still have been an ultimate cut off point by which tickets could be given to us or in other words a deadline.Weegie Addick said:
No, because both clubs were in the process of live selling. If Orient’s sales had ground to a halt earlier, there was a possibility of us getting more and that’s why the club kept trying until virtually the last minute.valleynick66 said:
Possibly. But if true Wembley would have rebuffed straightaway surely?bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.That was a failure in our comms in not sharing that.Seems to me your conclusion / reading was that Orient were still seeing enough sales to justify keeping their allocation even if the result on the day was a large number unsold.Would seem it wouldn’t be different in the future based on the minutes.Maybe because the receipts are widely shared / distributed the loss of revenue to Orient was marginal compared to trying to get all their fans accommodated / as much backing as they could muster.Just interesting to me how this works.FFSThe club were desperately trying to get more tickets and until it became impossible it was possible. Would you rather the club had given up trying and to tell fans 'no more' earlier than the impossible date? When it became impossible the club communicated that - until then delicate conversations were going on in the background with all parties, including Orient.If you are intent on finding something or someone to blame then I can assure you that you are looking in the wrong place.My conclusion as I said before from the minutes was that all parties sold as per normal and expected processes and it is not seen as something that needed to change. That is fine.I have only additionally observed that the club could have shared the ultimate deadline earlier. Rather than the very limited updates provided.If CAST didn’t think there was anything to learn then why raise at this forum at all?
It was a valid question and we have established no club did anything wrong in how they sold.0 -
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CAST raised it because there were empty seats left and Charlton fans who missed out on tickets. The meeting served its purpose in highlighting the issue. The explanation provided was regarding segregation, including on the concourses, and it is something that Wembley / EFL will keep under review in future. They did concede it was a shame that the process in effect prevented a sellout. However, there are significant challenges around play off ticket sales in balancing the demands of the clubs and the short notice before the fixture.valleynick66 said:
You are looking for an argument I am not.bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Ok. But if that was a viable option there must still have been an ultimate cut off point by which tickets could be given to us or in other words a deadline.Weegie Addick said:
No, because both clubs were in the process of live selling. If Orient’s sales had ground to a halt earlier, there was a possibility of us getting more and that’s why the club kept trying until virtually the last minute.valleynick66 said:
Possibly. But if true Wembley would have rebuffed straightaway surely?bobmunro said:valleynick66 said:
Thank you.Weegie Addick said:
It was raised by CAST at EFL / FSA structured dialogue meeting. The minutes are here:valleynick66 said:Can I ask whatever happened to the follow up on ticket allocation/ practice for Wembley ? I seem to recall the last update I saw was to raise at some national forum but I may misremember.I’m far from convinced this issue was satisfactorily understood by the club for its actions / messaging on this.Fortunately not a challenge for this season …
https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FSA_EFL_Supporter_Engagement_June_2025.pdfSo I’m not clear how to interpret that but I read that they (Orient) and we sold as was prescribed which begs the question then why did our club not appreciate when a decision could be made on additional seats becoming available?
Still feels to me the necessary segregations were known in advance but we failed to update on the ‘no possibility ‘ of extra tickets earlier than we did.So a failure of communications more than process?
Or perhaps that the club continued (fruitlessly as it transpired) to make representations to the EFL/Wembley, hence the delay in the definitive 'no more tickets'.That was a failure in our comms in not sharing that.Seems to me your conclusion / reading was that Orient were still seeing enough sales to justify keeping their allocation even if the result on the day was a large number unsold.Would seem it wouldn’t be different in the future based on the minutes.Maybe because the receipts are widely shared / distributed the loss of revenue to Orient was marginal compared to trying to get all their fans accommodated / as much backing as they could muster.Just interesting to me how this works.FFSThe club were desperately trying to get more tickets and until it became impossible it was possible. Would you rather the club had given up trying and to tell fans 'no more' earlier than the impossible date? When it became impossible the club communicated that - until then delicate conversations were going on in the background with all parties, including Orient.If you are intent on finding something or someone to blame then I can assure you that you are looking in the wrong place.My conclusion as I said before from the minutes was that all parties sold as per normal and expected processes and it is not seen as something that needed to change. That is fine.I have only additionally observed that the club could have shared the ultimate deadline earlier. Rather than the very limited updates provided.If CAST didn’t think there was anything to learn then why raise at this forum at all?
It was a valid question and we have established no club did anything wrong in how they sold.We learnt quite a lot by raising the matter. I can appreciate Bob’s frustration as not sure quite what answer will satisfy you.1
