2) No one is loading CAFC with debt to get it promoted - the board are running very conservative budgets and player acquisition strategies with annual losses of c.£7M a year
so that £7m a year isn't a debt more of a charitable donation i'll eat my chocolate socks if that isn't some form of debt owed to someone by Charlton
Yes there is debt at CAFC but Al Fayed spent £100M getting Fulham from the fourth division into the Premier League and QPR lose £23M a year - even in the Premier League.
The point is that if the board choose to go for it next season then CAFC could lose £7M + whatever it takes to improve the squad, say another £4M in wages and signing on fees. If CAFC gets promoted again then they have secured a TV deal of 90M a year for £25M invested so it makes a lot of sense to me.
Any idea why you never see Man City or Spurs replica shirts in SE Asia? (do you see the Everton shirts in Thailand because of the Chang sponsorship?)
I may be the only footy fan on the planet who finds the EPL sterile and predictable and largely a financial contest rather than a sporting one but if I am not, then the EPL might be vulnerable to some cut price competition with a bit of passion and authenticity.
There are a few Everton, Man City and Spurs shirts around but not many.
Now, I have access to a few Championship games, but normally at 9 or 10 pm on a Saturday, I'll still choose to watch a Premier League game over a Championship game. Not always, but recently a few of the bottom of the table games have been really good. And I support a Championship team. That must say something.
Anyway, getting back on topic again here. If I happen to come across a Thai billionaire who wants to invest in a football team, I'll put a word in for Charlton.
If I was a super rich investor I would buy the exclusive marketing rights to the Championship rather than just buy one club.
Why would any sane investor burn all their money in the ridiculous Russian roulette to reach the EPL at any cost. For every Cardiff there is a Wolves or Blackburn.
Rather than keep worshiping at the feet of the super rich EPL why not compete directly and exploit its key weaknesses:
1. Its increasingly boring and predictable. 2. The smaller clubs will never win it and only look to survive. 3. More EPL clubs are non-glamorous/poorly supported but have big investors. 4. The same players play for the yo-yo clubs and just change teams at the end of the season
What the world's TV audience is looking for is big passionate heritage clubs fighting fiercely contested battles that really mean something in a highly unpredictable league cheered on by bonkers fans (at a fraction of the TV coverage fee).
There has to be more international marketing appeal from say, Wolves v Birmingham , Leeds v Millwall, Bolton v Blackburn, Charlton v Palace or Derby County v Notts Forest etc etc than say Wigan v Swansea or QPR v Reading for example. (no disrespect to them intended)
There are loads of ex-pats in Asia who are gagging to see their home teams and most are in the age/income bracket that advertisers aim for but can't access CCC .
Aren't Coca-Cola supposed to know a thing or two about international marketing?
There are very few people in Asia that could name you a club outside the top few in the Barclays Premier League. You are underestimating the appeal of Liverpool and Man Utd in particular. Expats make up a tiny proportion of people that watch games here. If TV rights were owned by the teams and not the BPL then the Asian networks would only buy coverage from the top teams and the others would not get a look-in.
Malaysia and Thailand both have coverage of the NPower Championship but the audience is tiny. In Thailand it's on GMMZ, a box many people have as it's where the Euros were shown last year, but try to find a bar with a Championship game; it's like looking for a pork sausage at a barmitzvah. After the King Power takeover Leicester games were shown on terrestrial TV last season but that didn't last long. And perhaps it's no surprise that Malaysian-owned Cardiff City have had more international airtime than any other Championship club this season. I would guess the fee paid for a whole season is not much more than some Premier League players earn in a month (maybe even a week).
Seriously, there is no interest in the Championship here and that will not change unless Liverpool or Man Utd ever get relegated.
And in case you haven't noticed, Coca Cola gave up sponsoring the Championship some time ago. NPower is hardly an international brand!
Take your point Bangkok and apologies for the Coca-Cola gaff. I am exiled in Asia too for most of the season and know the obsession in Hong Kong and China with Man Utd and Liverpool and to a lesser extent Chelsea and Arsenal.
Any idea why you never see Man City or Spurs replica shirts in SE Asia? (do you see the Everton shirts in Thailand because of the Chang sponsorship?)
I may be the only footy fan on the planet who finds the EPL sterile and predictable and largely a financial contest rather than a sporting one but if I am not, then the EPL might be vulnerable to some cut price competition with a bit of passion and authenticity.
The Championship just seems a bit backward on the marketing front. What about recruiting some Asian players, twinning with Asian clubs, fantasy leagues or playing some fixtures over here?
More real fans go to many of the Champ. fixtures (outside the top four clubs) than the EPL ones so there has to be something to work on.
Ooops!
There are a few Everton, Man City and Spurs shirts around but not many.
Now, I have access to a few Championship games, but normally at 9 or 10 pm on a Saturday, I'll still choose to watch a Premier League game over a Championship game. Not always, but recently a few of the bottom of the table games have been really good. And I support a Championship team. That must say something.
Anyway, getting back on topic again here. If I happen to come across a Thai billionaire who wants to invest in a football team, I'll put a word in for Charlton.
i mean if last seasons finale for the Premiership wasn't exciting enough for you what do you want
Is anyone else here sceptical about the integrity of that thrilling finale?
will considering I heard Mark Bowen on national radio 5Live say the other night that at 2-2 at Maine Road the QPR coaching staff and players knew they were safe due to other results then yes I'd question their commitment at the end.
i mean if last seasons finale for the Premiership wasn't exciting enough for you what do you want
Is anyone else here sceptical about the integrity of that thrilling finale?
will considering I heard Mark Bowen on national radio 5Live say the other night that at 2-2 at Maine Road the QPR coaching staff and players knew they were safe due to other results then yes I'd question their commitment at the end.
There are arguments that would suggest that nobody should invest in Football. but people do for a variety of reasons. If you accept that fact, we are more attractive than many clubs I would say.
Charlton is probably the best potential football franchise still waiting for someone to come along and develop it...it's in London, it's potential fan base area is huge and will get bigger with cross rail...all it needs is someone to pay for the vision on how to make it pay off...fill the ground cheaply and sell the product for real money
Charlton is probably the best potential football franchise still waiting for someone to come along and develop it...it's in London, it's potential fan base area is huge and will get bigger with cross rail...all it needs is someone to pay for the vision on how to make it pay off...fill the ground cheaply and sell the product for real money
There are arguments that would suggest that nobody should invest in Football. but people do for a variety of reasons. If you accept that fact, we are more attractive than many clubs I would say.
I would agree... Of course the asking price and debt would be an issue for many potential investors, but regardless of how the sums add up, there could be suitors that would see it as small change.
Still think the debt even for the filthy rich might put them off most people who are self made didnt get it by giving it away.Whatever happens just got to hope anyone taking us over has the long term interests of the club at heart.
Comments
The point is that if the board choose to go for it next season then CAFC could lose £7M + whatever it takes to improve the squad, say another £4M in wages and signing on fees. If CAFC gets promoted again then they have secured a TV deal of 90M a year for £25M invested so it makes a lot of sense to me.
There are a few Everton, Man City and Spurs shirts around but not many.
Now, I have access to a few Championship games, but normally at 9 or 10 pm on a Saturday, I'll still choose to watch a Premier League game over a Championship game. Not always, but recently a few of the bottom of the table games have been really good. And I support a Championship team. That must say something.
Anyway, getting back on topic again here. If I happen to come across a Thai billionaire who wants to invest in a football team, I'll put a word in for Charlton.
Tell me more.
Please do not call Charlton a franchise, we are a club or team, not some American sport.