Charlton fans have formed a political party in protest against Addicks owner Roland Duchatelet.
The Roland Out Today (ROT) party will field a candidate in Sint-Truiden’s local elections on October 14, 2018.
The Valley faithful have been demonstrating against Duchatelet for the past three years. The Belgian tycoon, who is keen to sell-up, has angered fans with his running of the club.
A ROT spokesman said: “We don’t feel Duchatelet’s football business practices have been in the best interests of Charlton.
“While protesting to save our club from further damage, Addicks fans have paid several visits to Sint-Truiden.
“We’ve talked to many people who feel similarly to us, who think Roland Duchatelet’s football, business, and political dealings have had a detrimental effect locally.
“The unity march held in Sint-Truiden last spring showed that fans can protest passionately, humorously and intelligently, without causing any trouble.
“It is time to take the discussion to him on his own territory, via the power of the ballot box, using that same passion, humour, and intelligence in our campaign.
“You can visit
http://rolandouttoday.eu for more information.”
ROT’s full manifesto is set to be published in 2018, along with the identity of the candidate.
Comments
On this auspicious day of celebrating 25 years since Charlton Athletic FC’s return to The Valley stadium after 7 years’ exile, Charlton Fans announce a new venture to confront unwelcome owner, Roland Duchâtelet, on his own Belgian doorstep.
Fans will be fielding a Roland Out Today (ROT) Party candidate in the Municipal Election to be held in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, on Sunday 14 October 2018.
In January 2014 wealthy businessman and politician Roland Duchâtelet paid a reported £16M (c.€18M) for the shares of London based Charlton Athletic FC, known as the “Addicks”, a club to which he had no previous connection or affinity. Since then, as well as presiding over a relegation, he has displayed minimal interest in the fortunes of the team.
Duchâtelet has publicly stated he has no ambition for sporting success; avoiding the “inconvenience” of relegation would be enough for him. He freely admits he has more interest in dancing than in football.
Since 1999, Duchâtelet has also been financially involved with his Belgian hometown football team Sint-Truidense VV, the “Kanaries”. As at CAFC, many STVV fans have stopped attending home matches due to his influence. No longer STVV’s owner, he remains the controversial developer of the Stayen complex which surrounds and overshadows the artificial pitch on which STVV play home matches. STVV are “Kanaries trapped in a gilded cage”, according to their fans.
A spokesperson for Roland Out Today says, “We don’t feel Duchâtelet’s football business practices have been in the best interests of CAFC. While protesting to save our club from further damage, Addicks have paid several visits to Sint-Truiden. We’ve talked to many people who feel similarly to us, who think Roland Duchâtelet’s football, business, and political dealings have had a detrimental effect locally.”
ROT asks the voters of Sint-Truiden:
· Do you think Duchâtelet’s involvement has been in the best interests of STVV?
· Do you think his involvement has benefited your town in general?
· Might the main beneficiary be Roland himself?
Would you like to find out more how some of his dealings have affected you, your club, and your town? For the good of CAFC, STVV and football in general, ROT aims to find out!
For too long, many football fans have been unfairly labelled as hooligans. The Unity March held by CAFC “Addicks” and STVV “Kanaries” in Sint-Truiden last spring showed that fans can protest passionately, humorously and intelligently, without causing any trouble. Duchâtelet contemptuously dismisses us as Domme Mensen, and Azjinpissers. ROT says it is time to take the discussion to him on his own territory, via the power of the ballot box, using that same passion, humour, and intelligence in our campaign.
Roland Out Today will give voters of Sint Truiden the opportunity to cast a protest vote against the influence of former council chairman Roland Duchâtelet, and send a message of no confidence to the municipal council. We invite the electorate of Sint-Truiden to vote ROT.
As observed by a Roland Out Today spokesperson, “A fish ROTs from the head down. In the same way, disinterested owners and leaders produce under-achieving teams.”
The full manifesto of the Roland Out Today Party will be published later in 2018, along with the identity of the candidate which currently, in that favourite word of Duchâtelet’s regime, remains “undisclosed”.
The opportunities to get the message across are endless. This could be just the news to tip the balance of the sale.
https://www.hln.be/tag/roland-out-today
Just in case that final nail is required, the campaign goes on apace , with another ingenious & cunning plan.
As SHG said, the Rat will be incandescent at another foray into his home territory.
He definitely doesn't like it up 'im !