Have any of you seen this from the Addick's Championship Diary blog?
"From Russia with love
Unsubstantiated rumours are circulating of a possible Russian involvement in Charlton. It has to emphasised that the evidence base for this is thin. Russians have been seen in the directors box, presumably with snow on their boots, but they may just have wanted to see a match or been there to run the rule over Blackburn in case Venky's decide to return to their chickens.
There is no known basis to claims that there is link with the proposed launch of Russian mobile operator MegaFon on the London Stock Exchange or with the successful IPO of Russia's Sherbank in September.
Whether this would simply be an investment or a complete takeover is not known. In any event, given that the topping up of funds has been constrained since March, any roubles would be welcome. The serious money today is abroad and there is a lot of very serious money in the hands of a small number of people in Russia. Ambitious Championship clubs are increasingly subject to foreign takeovers, most recently Leeds.
Of course, there is always an element of risk in such investments, but you have to take some risks to succeed. We live in a globalised world and that is unlikely to change.
The current whereabouts of Rick Everitt are unknown, although there were rumours on Twitter yesterday that he had become lost in a hospital in Ashord, Kent. This is not thought to be the old Russian tactic of sending awkward individuals to a mental hospital. Indeed, should there be a Russian takeover, the Rickster could emerge as People's Commisar.
Someone was asking where Rick did his degree: it was Reading. While he was there he missed an exam to attend a vital Charlton match. The head of department, pioneer gay Tory Peter Campbell, thought it was all down to me as a known Addick."
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Comments
Wyn Grant is an intelligent and well read person, but to the best of my knowledge he has not done business with or even significantly co-operated with Russians in his life. He is therefore underestimating the degree of risk involved, because of his lack of experience.
That isn't to say that I have no concerns. But beggars can't be choosers.
People will say that Clem, although I'm afraid most Chelsea fans didnt express much concern, they just laughed in glee.
The thing to remember about Abramovic is that he is essentially a refugee from Putin and his goons. It's not enough to be in London, as that poor ex spy found out, but if you are the high profile owner of a football club, it is. We of course somehow didn't subject him to the barriers to emigration that we subject more ordinary Russians to. Its therefore a shame that he doesn't show himself to be appreciative enough of our hospitality and protection to make himself ordinarily resident for tax purposes.
I would suggest that a better example of typical Russian involvement can be found at Portsmouth.
If we want to stay at the very least in the CCC we will need investment.
To your second point, we want investors whose plans we understand and which appear to be feasible. Ideally they understand that we as fans are worth talking to, involving, and perhaps even having a stake in the club. For most Russians I've met in business - no, make that all, at least males - such talk would be incomprehensible. We might be lucky, but I can't think what makes us so special that we'd attract a Russian who thinks like that.
Goodluck finding
our 'Jack Walker' Prague.
He's either done business with them,he's big on business, or lived amongst them.
I know nothing,so tend to keep my gob shut.
Well, yes, that could well be the case, since the oligarchs have basically nicked the Russian economy without consulting the Russian people.
I don't do backtracking. Where I make a mistake I admit and apologise. There've been several examples recently here where I've done it. Not hard, its only a bloody football forum. Usually its a case of writing something that could have been misinterpreted.
I wrote "For most Russians I've met in business - no, make that all, at least males". You took that to mean, all Russian males, whereas I meant all Russian men I've met in business (at managerial level or above), because I had suddenly remembered - and don't know how I forgot - Veronika, an eye wateringly beautiful angel who was sales director of Elle and has emigrated here to be with her lucky Czech husband. I won't bang on more about my Russian 'credentials' because that will spark criticism of "self importance'. However, maybe I could suggest an experiment with your Russian colleagues? Why don't you ask them their opinion of Abramovic and their oligarch ilk, the types who have bought English clubs. Ask them first before mentioning what I've said, to get their spontaneous reaction, as most Russians are quite chippy and don't brook much criticism of Russia from foreigners even when they've made the same criticism themselves.
The young guy at Reading may be an exception, but let's see what they say. It would appear to be his Daddy's money, just as it was in Geydemak's case at Pompey.
I've never met a Russian businessman... but I don't want one to take over Charlton 'cos I assume they're all crooks. Now THAT is a sweeping generalisation. And I stand by it!
Unfortunately when it comes to travel, my experiences with them are the same as yours.
It's like now having some money hand freedom has gone to their ego' and they feel they gcan be rude, click there fingers and not queue (like Parisians abroad really).
They also have a really bad reputation amongst the diving fraternity on holidays for just taking Coral or anything else they fancy.
Still I think the British abroad are mostly embarrassing idiots aswell so maybe it's every nation.