TNT CAS Trust News
WINTER edition
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Number 11 FEBRUARY 2016
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Welcome
to the 11TH Edition of CAS Trust News It is almost a year since CAS Trust organised the public meeting in Woolwich when 400 supporters came out on a freezing cold evening to express their concern about the state of the club. The majority of those present said that their concerns would not go away if the team won a few games but most people were still willing to give Roland Duchatelet the benefit of the doubt and CASTrust were mandated to continue to seek dialogue with him and Katrien Meire. Well, we did win a few games and relegation was avoided but we now find ourselves in an even worse position. Those underlying concerns about absentee ownership, poor decision making, staff turnover and patronising communication have proved to be well founded. CASTrust worked hard last year to build a relationship with Katrien Meire and to establish a dialogue about the club’s strategy. We were initially rebuffed because our February meeting was seen as anti-club but, when the new season kicked off, we began to sense a certain thawing. In November we attended a meeting which was set up by the club to communicate with a number of supporter groups. It was a great disappointment. Like everyone else we were astonished with Ms Meire’s response to the assertion that five managers in two years was a bit excessive: “Nevertheless, they proved to be the right decision every time. We improved always our rankings and results”. There seemed to be no understanding whatsoever of the damage that such instability was wreaking.
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News All the above have contributed to a general dismay among Charlton supporters which has hardened into overt protest over the last couple of months and CASTrust has been part of CARD – a coalition of supporters formed to co-ordinate protest. Such actions are not confined to a minority - a survey we carried out at the end of January showed that the vast majority of participants had taken part in protests in some way and that a chilling number of people were considering not renewing season tickets next year. We welcome the appointment of Jose Riga as head coach. He brings experience, tactical shrewdness and motivational skills to the task and he is PHOTOGRAPH: Keith Gillard
Meire did however make two promises about improving communication. Firstly, she agreed to set up a Target 20K group – a group of experts to critically examine the club’s marketing and see how attendances might be improved. Secondly, she undertook to involve CASTrust in a joint club and supporter strategy group. The outcome ? Two months later the Target 20k group seems to have become a focus group and there has been complete silence about setting up the strategy group. In the meantime things have got worse. We had the disastrous reign of the obviously ill-equipped Karel Fraeye which culminated in a week in which we were beaten three times to the tune of 13-1. Supporter confidence was further undermined when coverage emerged of Meire’s appearance at a media conference in Dublin in which she made a number of statements which gave the impression that the club lacked ambition and that she still didn’t understand the role of supporters. Non- executive chairman Richard Murray tried to rescue the situation with a series of answers to questions he posed himself. It gave CAS Trust no pleasure to respond with its own statement pointing out that he had not addressed the real questions that fans wanted to see answered. Early in the New Year it was revealed in Voice of The Valley that former chief executive Peter Varney had been making overtures to Duchatelet about introducing new investment. We understand that this would have amounted to a serious bid to purchase the club. We have reproduced on pages 6-8 the email correspondence between all parties, which we think speaks for itself. It has since been clarified by Meire that the club is not for sale.
a man of dignity and independence. We hope his appointment brings to an end the uncertainty and instability which has undermined the players and alienated the supporters since his controversial departure nearly two years ago. At present the situation is clear. Our owner does not wish to sell the club. If that is the case we urge him to give Jose Riga his full backing and to let him get on with his job unimpeded. We want to see some stability, continuity and informed decision making at last. That is the only way to win back the supporters who are currently deserting the club in droves. Up the Addicks !
Steve Clarke- Chairman
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Board Chairman - Steve Clarke Secretary -Richard Wiseman Treasurer - Richard Pemberton Jonathan Bangs Richard Hunt Heather McKinlay Alex Clarke Aaron Bowater Andy Buckland Web designer - David Hall Editorial - Richard Wiseman, Design, Layout, Photos Ken Sinyard Rob Sutton Additonal photos - CAFC, Getty Images Keith Gillard Gregory Warran, Tom Morris. Cover Images: Keith Gillard Except where indicated copywright CAS Trust 2016
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What has Rolan
He rescued us from administration
There can be little doubt that Charlton Athletic were in financial dire straits when Duchatelet purchased the club. His purchase brought some financial stability which was welcomed by everyone. But it wasn’t a benevolent or charitable act. He made a business decision to buy the club. Whether he did so as a speculative financial venture or to prove a point or to give himself a new hobby is open to conjecture. But he didn’t do it because he wanted to rescue the club.
He gave us a new pitch
Duchatelet’s swift investment in an improved pitch was timely and welcomed. But the poor state of the pitch was obvious before he purchased the club and it is reasonable to assume that an astute businessman would have factored this into his offer price. Also, without a new pitch the club would probably have been in trouble with the League.
He’s funding our annual shortfall from his own pocket
Every year Charlton, like most Championship clubs, loses money. The accounts for the 2013/14 season (the most recent published accounts) show a loss of £5.7m. Season 14/15 is likely to be a similar figure and probably higher. Yes, the cash to fund the club’s losses are picked up by Duchatelet through his company Staprix NV. But he isn’t giving this money to the club. He is lending it. The 13/14 accounts show that in the six month period from January to June 2014 Staprix NV charged interest on loans to CAFC and Baton 2010 Ltd at 3%, resulting in interest charges of £426,000. We assume that the same arrangement was made for funding shortfalls in 2014/15 and the current season. There is nothing inherently wrong in funding the club in this way but it is building up debt. If Charlton reach The Premier League it is quite possible that the club could repay the debt to Staprix. If Duchatelet decided
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and done for us ? to sell the club outside the Premier League it is likely that he would have to write off all or most of the loans.
He is funding the Academy
The cornerstone of Duchatelet’s plan is the development of a youth Academy which produces young stars both for Charlton’s first team and for sale. This has been the Southampton model over recent years and it has been a resounding success. Most fans support this. The development of home grown players is one of the best ways to build affinity between a club and its supporters. Most people also recognise that it is a reality of football that a club of Charlton’s size will be forced from time to time to sell gifted young players. Fans just want to be able to watch them for at least a year or two and to see a good price received when they eventually leave. Duchatelet is committed to funding the ambitious development of Sparrows Lane towards achieving category 1 Academy status and a cost of £12m has been mentioned. But don’t forget that a fully funded plan to develop the Academy was already in place before he arrived. Grants from the Football Foundation, the Premier League, Oxleas Mental Health Trust, RB Greenwich, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Community College and Greenwich Leisure Ltd plus private benefactors would have covered the costs of an albeit less ambitious scheme with a greater emphasis on community involvement. And it is reasonable to assume that the costs of the Duchatelet Academy will also be funded by loans at 3% interest.
Unless you’re in a position to buy the club yourself you’ve no right to criticise the owner
It is all too easy to sit back and criticise the owner for not spending more of his money on our club. Football supporters all over the world do it and there weren’t
many Portsmouth supporters complaining when they reached the Cup Final funded by unsustainable losses. What makes Duchatelet’s investment in Charlton so disappointing is that it has been made so wastefully. Chief Finance Officer David Joyes was recently quoted as saying the owner had put in £25m so far. But the instability and lack of experience which are the result of the constant managerial changes at the club means that, despite this money, we have gone backwards. Our league position is no better than it was two years ago, supporters feel alienated and attendances are falling.
There isn’t a queue of people wanting to buy the club
This isn’t what the club tell us. Katrien Meire told the Fans Forum in January that the club often receive expressions of interest. We know that Peter Varney tried to introduce a potential investor last Autumn (see the e mail trail reproduced on pages 6-8.) Of course, as Leeds fans will tell you, there is no guarantee that a new owner would necessarily be beneficial for the club. We are well aware of the adage “be careful what you wish for” but we don’t believe that there is no alternative to Duchatelet out there. At present, of course, this is academic as he says he has no intention to sell.
It is a good thing that he isn’t emotionally involved
If the club was being run efficiently and effectively few would care that we have an absentee owner with little apparent emotional involvement. But when continued poor decision making leads inevitably to failure and ridicule the owner’s absence becomes highly significant. Some people get angry. Some experience apathy and their anger or apathy is magnified by the owner’s apparent indifference.
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Richard Wiseman
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Is there an alternative to the Duchatelet ownership ? The following email trail reveals how Duchatelet and Meire dealt with a recent enquiry from a well trusted Charlton source.
PHOTOGRAPH OF PETER VARNEY BBC/EMPICS
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From: Peter Varney To: Roland Duchâtelet Cc: An De Hert; Katrien Meire Sent: Wednesday, August 19th Subject: Charlton Athletic FC Dear Mr Duchatelet, We have not met but I was the Chief Executive Officer at Charlton Athletic FC from 1997 to 2008 and Executive Vice Chairman from January 2011 to July 2012. I am now Chief Executive Officer of KEH (Kuwaiti European Holdings) Sports Ltd and in October we will be
submitting a planning application directly to the UK Government for the construction of the London Paramount Entertainment Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsular in Kent for which we now own the bulk of the development land. This is a ÂŁ2.5 billion scheme and the Resort will host 51 rides, the biggest water park in Europe and a Theatre and Restaurant District as well as a BBC programme zone. I have an interesting investment proposal to discuss with you in
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relation to Charlton Athletic. I am in Europe quite often so would like the opportunity to meet you for a coffee in Brussels. If you are happy to meet perhaps you could propose a few dates. Best regards Peter Varney 34 days later… From: Katrien Meire To: Peter Varney Sent: Tuesday, September 22nd Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Good morning Peter, I hope all is well with you. Mr. Duchatelet has asked me to be in touch with you and asked me to meet you regarding this opportunity. Let me know your availabilities. Best regards, Katrien From: Peter Varney To: Katrien Meire Sent: Tuesday, September 22nd Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Hi Katrien, I am in the USA from 9th to 28th October so it would suit me better if the meeting could be before I go. Can I suggest either 28th or 29th September at a time to suit you? I am happy to come to The Valley if that helps but could we meet in the Chairman’s Suite/Boardroom as I would prefer not to come into the main office area. Best regards Peter From: Katrien Meire To: Peter Varney Sent: Tuesday, September 22nd Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC
Hi Peter, For me the 28th and 29th are not possible since I’m in Belgium those days. Katrien From: Peter Varney To: Katrien Meire Sent: Tuesday, September 22nd Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Katrien, I suggest you give me dates/times which suit you up to 9th October and we’ll go from there. Regards Peter From: Katrien Meire To: Peter Varney Sent: Thursday, September 24th Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Good morning Peter, I can do Monday 5th of October, we don’t need to meet at the Valley, we can meet elsewhere. Best regards, Katrien From: Peter Varney To: Katrien Meire Sent: Thursday, September 24th Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Hi Katrien, I have a meeting at 11am I have to attend at Ebbsfleet. Can I therefore suggest 2pm? If you are based at Charlton that day can I suggest either the Brands Hatch hotel on the A20 or the Hilton Hotel at Dartford Bridge or the Devonport House Hotel in Greenwich or alternatively I can get to St Pancras in London in 15
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minutes from where I am so we could meet in the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel there. Let me know what suits. Regards, Peter
From: Peter Varney To: Katrien Meire Sent: Monday, October 5th Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Katrien, Can I assume that today is no longer convenient? Regards, Peter From: Katrien Meire To: Peter Varney Sent: Monday, October 5th Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Peter, Unfortunately, I’m no longer available. Could we reschedule when you’re back from the USA. Best regards, Katrien
From: Demi King To: Peter Varney Sent: Wednesday, October 7th Subject: Meeting with Katrien Good Afternoon Mr Varney, Hope you are well, Katrien has asked me to arrange your meeting with her in mid-November with a proposed date of Tuesday 10th November or Tuesday 17th November. Once you have decided whether either date would suit you, could you kindly e-mail me so that I can confirm a time and place for the meeting, Many Thanks, From: Peter Varney To: Demi King Sent: Friday, October 9th
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Subject: Re: Meeting with Katrien Demi, Just to confirm 10th November is preferred. Regards, Peter From: Demi King To: Peter Varney Sent: Friday, October 9th Subject: Re: Meeting with Katrien Afternoon Peter, Thank you for confirming your preferred date. Once I have confirmed a time with Katrien I will send you an e-mail with all the details, Many Thanks, Demi-Louise 31 days later… From: Demi King To: Peter Varney Sent: Monday, November 9th Subject: Meeting With Katrien Afternoon Peter, Unfortunately Katrien is unable to attend your meeting with her tomorrow. I will liaise with Katrien when I am back at The Valley and re-schedule it for some time in future. Sincerest apologies, Kind Regards, From: Peter Varney To: Roland Duchâtelet; Katrien Meire Sent: Monday, November 9th Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Dear Mr Duchatelet/Ms Meire, As you are aware 3 meeting dates have been arranged to discuss the investment proposal I wrote to you about on 19th August and all 3 meetings have been cancelled either the day
before the scheduled meeting or on the day itself. The message I received tonight was that tomorrow’s scheduled meeting will be re-arranged ‘for some time in the future’. As it is now almost 3 months since I wrote to you I think it is not unreasonable to assume the board of CAFC has no real interest in receiving the proposal but if I am mis-understanding your position please let me know as I have an alternative option that can be progressed. Regards, Peter Varney From: Roland Duchatelet To: Peter Varney Cc: Katrien Meire; Hilde Noels; Richard Murray Sent: Monday, November 9th Subject: Re: Charlton Athletic FC Dear Mr Varney, I think the meeting has been postponed because there is some urgent work to be done tomorrow. I am sure Katrien will propose a new date asap. Roland. From: Peter Varney To: Roland Duchatelet Cc: Katrien Meire; Richard Murray Sent: Wednesday, November 18th Subject: Investment Proposal Dear Mr Duchatelet, It is 3 months today since I first wrote to you and I must assume from the email trail below there is no interest in a meeting taking place which of course it is your absolute right to decline but I think it would have saved us all a lot of time if this had just been said to me from the outset.
Regards, Peter Varney From: Katrien Meire To: Peter Varney, Roland Duchâtelet Cc: Richard Murray Sent: Wednesday, November 18th Subject: Re: Investment Proposal Dear Mr. Varney,Apologies if you feel we havewasted your time. As said before,other urgent matters came up whenever we were due to meet. Best regards, Katrien From: Peter Varney To: Katrien Meire; Roland Duchâtelet Cc: Richard Murray Sent: Thursday, November 19th Subject: Re: Investment Proposal Dear Ms Meire, What I find surprising is that I have simply asked to meet Mr Duchatelet or you concerning a major investment proposal for your club and in a 3 month period it has not been possible for you to meet for a coffee for 30 minutes to hear what I have to say. Even in this latest reply you are clearly not interested to meet and indeed after MrDuchatelet said I would be contacted asap to arrange a meeting I had to contact you again 9 days later. Clearly I am missing something here but it is for you and Mr Duchatelet to decide who you wish and do not wish to meet and I think your message is now clear. Regards Peter
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Survey Results Based on the results of a fan survey run at the end of January, CAS Trust estimates that between 6,000 and 7,000 season ticket holders are unlikely to renew unless something drastically changes in the way Charlton Athletic is being run. The survey was completed by 770 fans, including 50 via hard copy at the home match v Blackburn Rovers.
This is a very large and statistically robust sample, enabling us to calculate the above figures with a strong degree of confidence. There was a broad age spread with 9% under 24, 25% 25-44, 24% 45-54, 26% 55-64 and 14% 65+. The vast majority (90%) of respondents are male and 42% are Trust members. 73% of respondents (563) are currently season ticket holders. Of these, only 13% say they are very likely to renew, with a further 16% quite likely. This leaves over 70% unlikely to renew, split almost evenly between those not very likely and those not at all likely. This is a drastic rise since the last CAS Trust survey, conducted in early November 2015, when only 6%
were not at all likely to renew and 28% not very likely. In less than three months, we have therefore seen substantial hardening in supporter sentiment against the methods of the current ownership. This is borne out by responses to the question on whether or not supporters are personally participating in protest action. The vast majority of fans are actively joining in with protests. 83% already are, with a further 10% considering it. 5% are not participating because they are unsure what the protests will achieve, while just 2% (a familiar figure?) are not protesting because they support the current ownership. 66% are protesting because they want a change of ownership, 16% because they want the current owners to change their ways. Furthermore, a substantial number have already reduced their Charlton-related spend. Fans’ deliberate actions in not buying season tickets and not spending on other club-related items is likely to equate to £2M or more in lost revenue. Beyond pure finances, the long-term cost in reduced emotional engagement with the club is incalculable. Based on online responses only, the most popular actions are boycotting non-ticket spend at the club (55% of all respondents) and attending the postmatch protests (50%), next come pre-match protests (34%) and wearing a black and white scarf (30%). More than a fifth (23%) say they are boycotting home matches. Over two thirds of online respondents report they have deliberately reduced their club-related spend, by an average of £137 each. 271 fans left a personal message for the owner and these are being separately compiled. Thank you to all those who completed the survey either online or in person at the Blackburn match allowing us to compile these results.
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Heather McKinlay
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A loyal supporte
“I just want to support a club I feel proud of again”
photograph: ken sinyard
Jean Huelin first attended a Charlton game at The Valley back in 1962 and, when she met her husband to be - Richard - a few years later, they got to as many games as they could until a mortgage and two children meant that they became armchair supporters for a while. The Full Members Cup Final in 1987 provided an ideal opportunity to introduce her “innocent youngsters” to the club and they were immediately hooked. They had season tickets at Selhurst Park and Upton Park and were at The Valley on 5th December 1992 for the first game back home. Jean travelled “many miles on Betty Hutchins’ coach” to away games and has been virtually ever present home and away since . The whole family was at Wembley in May 1998 and in recent weeks she was at Colchester, Huddersfield and Hull. She now brings her grandchildren to games whenever possible. She has been a Valley Gold member and held a 5 year VIP season ticket. She was Chair of North West Kent Addicks for fifteen years & represents the Group on the Fans’ Forum. For the last five years she has worked with Ian Wallis to organise the Player of The Year dinner and with Richard, revamped and maintains the Pierre Bolangi Memorial Garden at Sparrows Lane. “As long as my body and mind are sound” she says “ I look forward to volunteering in the future if opportunities arise to serve in the best interests of our club”. Her all time favourite players are Richard Rufus, Mark Kinsella, Chris Powell and Johnnie Jackson. “All four players epitomise what Charlton symbolises for me: commitment, courage, selflessness, loyalty and, above all, respect for the loyal Addicks that support our great club” Jean is the absolute epitome of the committed sup-
porter who cares passionately about her club. She is also an eternal optimist - keen to see the bright side and to give people the benefit of the doubt. So how can it be that someone with so much passion and affinity can now be feeling so disillusioned and alienated ? Jean says that she can’t really define a “tipping point”. It’s been more like a steady “catarrhal drip” ever since Chris Powell left the building. Initially she was welcoming of a female occupant of the CEO’s chair. She recalls that “when I met Katrien soon after she arrived at a Fans’ Forum meeting she came across as efficient, positive and, frankly, a breath of fresh air”. After months of financial insta-
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er’s tale of woe. bility under Slater and Jiminez, Jean liked the idea of the club being run on a sound financial basis. “When it became apparent that Chris Powell wasn’t playing ball with the owner’s apparent intervention in team selection it was clear that his days were numbered” remembers Jean. I was upset, albeit not surprised when I heard Chris had been sacked but Jose Riga went on to win the hearts of many fans with his dignified, understated mode of coaching. The Houdini act he masterminded would have brought a smile to the face of Lennie Lawrence. The photo of the team and management on the pitch after the last game that season told its own tale” Jean was “gobsmacked” when she learnt that Riga’s contract had not been extended but she was prepared to give Bob Peeters a try. When he was sacked she was “angered and appalled” by the stated appointment process that led to Guy Luzon taking his place. Jean’s “initial respect” for the CEO was beginning “to nosedive”. When Charlton dispensed with the services of Luzon and replaced him with “a Belgian third division manager” Jean was “speechless”. She saw this as “yet another nail in the coffin of our club”. She felt that the inexperienced Fraeye “ had little hope of turning round the fortunes of a threadbare squad totally lacking in confidence” Jean feels that she was always willing to “give the regime enough rope to make something positive but alas, all they appear to have managed is a noose for themselves”. She looks around despondently and and sees “where there was once stability built on solid foundations there is now the opposite. The damage caused by the management hokey cokey has been evident with too many changes in personnel, game plans and long term injuries with no satisfactory
cover. Something toxic has infiltrated our squad. Behind the scenes our club is under-resourced culminating in poor customer service. The outsourcing of the catering has resulted in widespread dissatisfaction. Dubious stunts have been employed in an effort to attract more custom” Jean was horrified to find that, during the recent run of defeats she was “unable to rouse myself enough to cheer on the lads. It was as though I was totally numb and uninterested as to what was playing out on the pitch. It made me realise why so many of the faithful have deserted The Valley this season and why we have to do everything possible to reverse this” She watched the recording of Katrien Meire’s Dublin interview last month and was dismayed at what she heard: “When the real game plan – that our club is merely a player farm – was confirmed, that proved to be the final nail in the coffin for me. Together with the revelation of Peter Varney’s abortive attempt to engage in dialogue regarding investment it proved to be the rallying call for thousands of supporters of which I am but one” Jean finds it hard to see a way back for the Duchatelet ownership as fan trust and loyalty has been so badly damaged. “All I ask” she concludes wearily “is to be able to go to games expecting to see a competitive and well-managed team of players I recognise. I don’t expect to win every game or even get promoted. Under the management of Jose Riga there are some positive signs that we might have our Charlton back on the field as long as he is left to do his job without interference. However, there is more to a football club’s success than results alone and therein lies the biggest problem. I just want to support a club I feel proud of again”
“all they appear to have managed is a noose for themselves”.
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n m u l Nelson’s l Co It didn’t take Garry Nelson long to realise that there was something special about Charlton. Signed from Brighton to bolster the attacking ranks at the start of the 91/92 season by the newlyappointed management duo of Curbs and Gritt, he landed at the club during the height of the struggle to return to SE7. His first season was the last full one of exile at Upton Park. There’s emotion in his voice, and not just because of a crackly telephone connection, as he describes that time, “I couldn’t believe how passionate and organised the fans were in fighting to take Charlton back to The Valley, political parties, the lot. Charlton really is a unique club. I played over 750 games in my professional career, but that first game back was something else.
The whole football world, I think even Portsmouth, were behind Charlton that day. It was - and still is - unheard of for a club to move back to its spiritual home.” From there he describes how the club “flourished and bloomed”, with the directors regularly welcomed on the pitch to a standing ovation. A great spirit of togetherness was forged between the board, the supporters and the playing staff. “We were all thrown together in the portakabins, we were part of each other’s lives, not just the players, but the directors and the debenture holders (VIPS). Fans had access to the players, it was just a big communal area. Everyone worked together – all for one and one for all.” The few years after the immediate return to The Valley saw
Charlton fairly quietly becalmed in mid-table in the First Division (as it was initially known after the advent of the Premiership, and before it was renamed the Championship). “We were punching above our weight – we had a close bond and some good young players.” Relative stability on the pitch provided the backdrop for initiatives such as Target 10k. He recalls the FA Cup quarter final at Old Trafford in 1994 when more than that number of Addicks packed out the away end. “Just before half-time, Schmeichel clattered Kim Grant and the ball came back to me in the centre circle. I was shaping up to hit it perfectly, from 50-60 yards, Beckhamesque, the goal of my career. Then the ref blew up and sent the goalie off!” Despite this untimely intervention,
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photograph by GREGORY WARRAN
“Fans are not customers – they are emotional stakeholders”.
News the left-footed forward has good memories, “Although we lost, we did really well that day, we held our own and I think the 3-1 score flattered them.” Charlton were a club with gently simmering rather than burning ambition, but the foundations were being laid for the success of the Premiership years. “It was a brilliantly run club,” confirms Nelse. He also praises the community work and the ability of the club to develop young players – all contributing to the essence of Charlton in his view. He claims credit for nurturing and literally assisting some of that emerging talent, “Check the records, you’ll see Leaburn’s goalscoring improved after I came along!” After the end of his football career, Garry used to be a regular visitor to The Valley, but is only attending a couple of times a season now, “Other things have got in the way. I don’t feel detached, but I am very frustrated by what’s happening.” From his Twitter feed it’s obvious that he still follows Charlton closely, though his number one team is Everton, due to boyhood family allegiance. In his opinion, Charlton’s downward spiral began after Curbishley left, “There was no succession plan, though these days it’s not unique to drop out of the Premier League and have problems. It’s still shocking how quickly it can unravel.” So what does he make of the ongoing protests? “It’s an inevitable outcome, as the club has to survive, not be left with huge debts. There are many who’d like to help out financially, but now
only very wealthy people can entertain that. I understand the passion and the love the fans have for the club. The fans don’t know the owner, they see the decisionmaking, the ever-worsening communication between the Board and the fans, the manager churn. They don’t know the coaches or managers coming in and don’t understand why they nearly always have to come from the same Belgian-based network.” From a professional standpoint he now works as a marketing manager, and is somewhat
. “It’s entrenched and antagonistic – like a divorcing couple.” bemused by the club’s current PR and communications approach, “I don’t think things have been taken out of context. Fans are not customers – they are emotional stakeholders. Charlton is a big part of people’s lives. You can’t just take a hard-nosed business view.” Nelson goes on to express concern that the club appears to be aggravating the situation. “It’s entrenched and antagonistic – like a divorcing couple.” He was saddened to hear about the incident of the ‘We want our club back’ banner and actions to remove the season ticket from the fan responsible at the recent Blackburn match. “I thought we lived in a democracy? I hope the club will see sense and rescind that.” I light-heartedly suggest he might try offering his PR services.
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He replies rather more sincerely, “I have an enormous attachment to the club and its history. If I could do something that would help improve relations then I would. It’s a big ask at the moment though.” Of course football has changed drastically since Nelson’s playing days. Even though his professional career only ended in the late 1990s, the more recent riches eluded Garry and his contemporaries. He still jokes that there were some upsides in the old days: “At least we could all go out collectively for a beer on a Tuesday afternoon – very occasionally, I mean, when there was no midweek match. Couldn’t do that these days with all the mobile phones and people taking your picture!” He agrees that social media is a minefield for current professionals. “Young players need help and guidance, otherwise it’s an open door to be vilified and attacked. The Charlton players have been quieter on Twitter lately – if that’s policy, then it’s good advice in the current situation.” On the pitch he feels quite strongly that the balance at setpieces and corners has tipped too far in favour of defenders these days, “I’d love to see a clamp down on all the pushing and pulling by defenders in the box – the ref giving six or seven penalties. If a forward touches a centre half, let alone a goalie, it’s a foul, yet defenders get away with having two arms round the attacker’s neck!” Being quite slight of stature himself, Nelson fears that he wouldn’t have had a chance in today’s one-sided penalty box
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photograph by tom morris
battles. On a more positive note, he acknowledges that the training methods, use of technology and medical expertise have advanced significantly in the past 10 to 20 years, “It’s much more grown-up and professional now.” Whilst the former striker welcomes the introduction of goal-line technology, he is more ambivalent about any further use of video replays, “It could only work if it was very specific and quick, like whether there was actual contact between Diego Costa and Mertesacker. Even then, it’s not always clear-cut. Refs still get it right 90% of the time. You wouldn’t want
“Fans really can make the difference. They always have done and always will” it to be like rugby where they always revert to the TMO for big decisions – it interrupts the flow. Actually the debating and differences of opinion are some of the more healthy aspects of following football.” Returning to the Addicks present predicament, the former player is as concerned and committed
as any fan, desperately wanting Charlton to stay up this season, “We have to! Jose Riga got the team playing the right brand of football last time. He needs as good a record this time – about 1.75 to two points a game for the rest of the season. The next five to six games are crucial to get points and the confidence back, because once you get into the run-in, the pressure is enormous.” Does he think the protests will affect the team? “It can be a distraction for the players, but it’s also an influence. When I was playing at Swindon in 1985, Lou Macari was sacked as manager - one of the first times it ever happened. He was reinstated five days’ later because of fan power.” Although Nelson himself moved to Plymouth that close season, Macari went on to clinch successive promotions with Swindon, taking them from the fourth to the second division: a clear example of the board listening to fans and achieving the right results in the end. Like many of us who care deeply for CAFC, Garry Nelson feels saddened by recent goings-on at The Valley. History tells us it doesn’t have to be this way. His closing and heartfelt advice is for the supporters to do all they can to get behind the team, “Fans really can make the difference. They always have done and always will. The team need them onside more than ever at Charlton now, creating an unbelievable atmosphere during the matches, being that twelfth man.”
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by HeatherMcKinlay
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Gezocht: Club med Ambitie ! When Roland Duchatelet bought Charlton the club became part of a network of clubs under his ownership. Standard Liege in Belgium. Carl Zeiss Jena in Germany. Ujpest in Hungary and Alcorcon in Spain In addition he “had an interest” in Sint- Truiden who were then in the second tier of Belgian football but whose legal ownership was in the name of his partner. Sint-Truiden is the club supported by Katrien Meire and her family and Duchatelet has an office at the stadium. As we understood it the theory was that the network would be advantageous to all its clubs because players who were not in the squad at one club could be loaned or sold to another where they might have an impact. There would be savings on fees to agents as the moves would be negotiated directly. Comparisons were made with the group of clubs owned by the Pozzi family – Watford, Udinese and Granada. Being part of this network doesn’t seem to have done Watford much harm. There were initial suspicions among Charlton fans that our club would become a feeder club for Standard but this proved unfounded. The loans of Buyens, Bulot and, to some extent, Ajdarevic were a bonus for Charlton. Those of Thuram-Ulien, Nego and Le Point perhaps less so. Tony Watt only came to SE7 because of the Standard link. However, the recruitment of head coaches from within the network (Riga, Luzon and Fraeye) has hardly been a resounding success. It has been said by Katrien Meire that Duchatelet only wants to employ coaches that he trusts. This means he is inevitably fishing in a shallow pool. Last season brought success for Sint-Truiden in that
they were promoted to the Belgian Proliga. A month later Duchatelet sold Standard to Bruno Venanzi – who was already a vice president at the club. Duchatelet was quoted as saying that things at Standard had become “complicated”. He went on: “I will stay in football but not Belgian football. Bruno has the intelligence and the vision to run this club. Not everyone has that. A football club is not easy to manage. I plan to stay in football. I still have a few clubs abroad” There had been a lot of protests and direct action against Duchatelet’s ownership from Standard fans and some have claimed that this eventually drove him out of the club. There may be some truth in this but it is also likely that he anticipated problems with the authorities about the closeness of his ownership of Sint-Truiden now that the two clubs were in the same division. Sint-Truiden started the season well and were in a respectable mid table position when they entertained Standard on 1st November. They won the game 1-0 with a goal scored by Edmilson Junior from an assist by Rob Schoofs. Both players have since left the club (for Standard and Gent respectively) and, since that victory, they have won only once, drawn three times and lost six. One of those defeats was at home to bottom club Westerlo (managed by a certain Bob Peeters) a fortnight ago which narrowed the gap between the two clubs to just four points. Fans unfurled a banner in the stadium which said ”Gezocht Club med Ambitie” (“Wanted: Club with ambition”.) Football fans, eh ? Never satisfied...................
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by Richard Wiseman
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Olympic stadium update 18
In our last issue we explained our campaign through the Freedom of Information Act to force the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to reveal the full details of the contract it has made with West Ham United for occupation of The Olympic Stadium. CAS Trust is not opposed to West Ham playing at the stadium and we acknowledge the need for a viable legacy for the stadium. Our concern has always simply been that they are being allowed to do so on the cheap - at an extraordinarily preferential rate subsidised by you and me, the taxpayers. Clearly, this is not an appropriate use of public money but it also seems that West Ham are being given an unfair competitive advantage through state aid (which is contrary to European Commission rules). Furthermore, it is very likely that West Ham will heavily discount ticket prices in order to fill the 60,000 seater stadium. This will have an adverse effect on other clubs who have had to pay in full for their stadia and ongoing maintenance. Charlton will be in the firing line when cheap tickets go on the market. The LLDC had continually resisted our attempts to inspect the contract even under Freedom of Information law but eventually, in August last year, we were permitted sight of a highly redacted version with most of the crucial detail concealed by black ink. At this point we lodged a complaint with the Information
Commissioner and we joined a coalition of thirteen other supporters’ trusts to try to force the truth into the open. A petition calling for a public enquiry into the deal was launched and reached 25,000 signatures in a few days. On September 3rd 2015 the Information Commissioner finally ruled that the entire contract should be made available for public scrutiny. The LLDC appealed against this ruling but their decision to appeal was met with much disdain. In November The London Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling for the rental agreement to be published in full . The Mayor of London Boris Johnson (the person ultimately responsible for the LLDC) claimed that he was ‘relaxed’ about the release of the terms although he stopped short of ordering the LLDC Chief Executive David Goldstone to withdraw the appeal. The LLDC appeal was heard on January 25th by an independent panel comprising a QC and two lay members. The appeal was held in public and I was permitted to participate in the proceedings as I was the person who had made the original Freedom of Information request. The LLDC’s argument for continuing secrecy were largely based on how publication of the deal with West Ham would impact on the LLDC’s ability to secure competitive arrangements with other potential users of the stadium. Some of their arguments were presented in a closed session
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with the panel from which I was excluded, although the Information Commission lawyer was present. It was very disappointing for all who attended that there was not sufficient time for the proceedings to be concluded. A new date has yet to be fixed for the hearing to be continued. The Olympic Stadium coalition of 14 supporters’ trusts has issued the following statement: We note no decision has been reached today in the London Legacy Development Corporation appeal against the Information Commissioner’s ICO ruling that the financial terms of the LLDC contract for the use of the Olympic Stadium by West Ham United should be published in full. We trust the Tribunal committee will reconvene the hearing at the earliest possible opportunity, and conclude a process which has now cost the taxpayer £21,000 in appeal costs accumulated by the LLDC alone. During the two hour open session this morning, we heard nothing to persuade us that revealing the contract in full would, indeed, impact on the stadium operators’ ability to secure competitive arrangements with other potential users, which now forms the backbone of the LLDC argument. This is a marked
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change from the LLDC’s original argument that disclosure would mainly negatively impact on West Ham United itself. We also note that no representative from stadium operators Vinci, anyone from E20 (the partnership between the LLDC and London Borough of Newham), and significantly, West Ham United or any other potential or existing user was represented at today’s session. This leads us to question the fundamental assertion from the LLDC that the disclosure of financial material could be commercially damaging. We remain determined to see full publication of the financial terms of the contract. This is about ensuring public money is used well and that it is not used to give one club a financial advantage over others. Full details of the campaign can be found on the Coalition website: https://oscoalition.wordpress.com
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Richard Hunt
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Progress on supporter ownership & engagement Supporters Direct (the governing body for supporters’ trusts) has welcomed publication of the Government’s expert working group report on supporter ownership and engagement as a “step forward” with the potential to mark the start of a new era of meaningful dialogue between supporters and football clubs if the recommendations are implemented effectively. Supporters Direct (SD)were invited by the Government to be a standing member on the group alongside the Football Supporters Federation, and expert witness members - supporters trusts at Pompey, Swansea City, AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham. It was independently chaired by Joanna Manning-Cooper a Pompey season ticket holder, who has held a number of senior positions within sport. The rest of the group was made up of representatives from the football authorities – The Premier League, The Football League, The National League and the Football Association – as well as the Department of Culture Media and Sport, with support from appropriate Government departments when required. Following the public call for evidence in December 2014, further expert witnesses were called to meetings
including supporters’ trusts at Arsenal, Manchester United and Bradford City. The report contains a number of recommendations which are designed to assist supporter ownership including: l opportunities to bid in an insolvency process, and additional funding set aside to help supporters’ trusts to prepare an ownership bid, where they have the consent of the owner. l proposals for community owned sports clubs (COSCs) which would reward supporter owned clubs with tax breaks. l A new regime of “structured dialogue” with supporters - bi-annual meetings with supporters’ trusts which include meaningful information and effective discussion of finance, governance and ownership. Speaking at the launch of the report on January 19th the chairman of Supporters Direct, Brian Burgess, said: “The Government must keep pressure on the football authorities to ensure that this marks the start of a new era of meaningful dialogue, both at local and national level. It is a welcome step forward in a long-term process of reform, aiming to reconnect clubs with their communities.
“We’d like to thank the football authorities for their constructive engagement with the issues, which we look forward to building on. We are expecting the structured dialogue between clubs and supporters’ trusts to be properly structured and be accompanied by suitable information to discuss the major issues of finance, governance and ownership. “We also welcome the positive assurances from the Minister of Sport to maintain pressure on the football bodies, and other government departments, especially the Treasury. “If the Government is serious about supporter ownership, we need their support to encourage supporters to save for, invest in and succeed as community owned sports clubs. That means help with tax breaks and support to implement our COSC proposal. “Ultimately the success of this report will be measured by the number of supporters who feel empowered to either take ownership or secure a greater say in the governance of their beloved club.” SD pledged to continue to lobby in the areas where it would ideally have liked the report to go further to improve club governance and to make supporter ownership realistic whatever level a club is playing at.
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Richard Wiseman
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Charlton managers since the war P Mike Bailey 65 Chris Powell 160 Jimmy Seed 730 Phil Parkinson 114 Alan Curbishley 514 Jose Riga 20 Frank Hill 169 Gritt/Curbishley 215 Jimmy Trotter 229 Andy Nelson 280 Guy Luzon 36 Eddie Firmani 126 Alan Pardew 90 Theo Foley 197 Lenny Lawrence 411 Bob Peeters 28 Alan Mullery 47 Ken Craggs 17 Bob Stokoe 96 Iain Dowie 15 Karel Fraeye 15
W D Pts 32 11 107 66 42 240 311 156 1089 44 37 169 198 137 731 8 4 28 65 33 228 79 52 289 89 47 314 94 82 364 12 9 45 38 41 155 28 26 110 63 48 237 126 111 489 7 12 33 14 13 55 6 2 20 26 27 105 4 3 15 2 4 10
Pts per game 1.64 1.50 1.49 1.48 1.42 1.40 1.35 1.34 1.32 1.30 1.25 1.23 1.22 1.20 1.19 1.18 1.17 1.17 1.09 1.00 0.66
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