The only way we would move imo is for one of 2 things:
a) selling out week in week out at The Valley and we cannot get the planning permission to expand The Valley
or
b) we move to a new stadium which is not ours i.e. owned by the council for a variety of sports, which would surely be opposed by the fans, and would only be done by the owners to save money (sell the land of The Valley and only pay rent to the council).
Anyway, these are only rumours about a takeover, and everyone is reading it adding 2 and 2 together to make 5 as the rumours are of a property company.
None of the conditions seem unrealistic or undoable. Sharing with Palace was a step too far and made us yearn for the Valley, but a number of clubs have moved without too many problems - Millwall, Man City, Arsenal, Derby, reading, Southampton, Middlesborough, Brighton, Stoke........ - the list goes on! If it is our ground and ticks the boxes, many listed by Seth, I won't oppose it!
Muttley
It's good that you have written that list, because it makes an important point.
All those clubs either had no stadia at all, stadia that were piles of shite, or stadia which the club was outgrowing (Arsenal, Citeh)
None of those categories apply to the Valley. It's a fit for purpose Premier League stadium.
None of the conditions seem unrealistic or undoable. Sharing with Palace was a step too far and made us yearn for the Valley, but a number of clubs have moved without too many problems - Millwall, Man City, Arsenal, Derby, reading, Southampton, Middlesborough, Brighton, Stoke........ - the list goes on! If it is our ground and ticks the boxes, many listed by Seth, I won't oppose it!
A lot of those grounds mentioned were dilapidated. Ours is very different and could, with a little investment, compare favorably with many current premier league grounds. Personally I'd hate to see us leave the Valley for what would definitely be the final time.
Well - we shouldn't assume we will leave the Valley - I was just making the point that under the right conditions it wouldn't be the end of the world! But as Seth said - there is a decent sized list of conditions that would have to be met!
@kentaddick the rumour of Americans has been floating around for a week or so. There are a hell of a lot of Americans though, and i've not heard it narrowed any more than that !
@kentaddick the rumour of Americans has been floating around for a week or so. There are a hell of a lot of Americans though, and i've not heard it narrowed any more than that !
oh really? Haha you are right, but how many can afford to buy a football club? Particularly at the price rumoured?
As far as I am concerned, the list of conditions I have written above, and doubtless some more conditions too, the list is set in stone. No way in a million years would I want anything less, not one iota. The best solution is to stay at The Valley. I hope any new investors have either won euromillions, or are rich dyed in the wool Charlton supporters, or have a strategy for promotion as a way of getting their money back, or rare philanthropists who wish to support us because we are manifestly wonderful, and attempt to put a lot back with community work and so on. Or have money to burn and appreciate the associated public attention, without changing the clubs colours, name and identity. I may have to hold my nose while I type this bit, but if the current regime make a decent smooth and measured exit, then despite the devastation of the non football staff, they will be in credit it terms of their achievement in raising the club from the depths, and appointing Chris Powell.
Stadium issues aside for 1 minute I like the idea of bring some loans in, in January then buy players in the summer
But if its a case of moving from The Valley and having millions of pounds, Or staying at The Valley with no money without a shadow of a doubt I would take the 2nd option. I was only 2 when we returned to The Valley so have no memories of that period. All I know for sure is THE VALLEY IS OUR HOME we should not be moved.
Why would land comprising the Valley, be more valuable than land a couple of miles up the road at the Peninsular? Then the expense of constructing a new stadium has to be factored in. Would it really make economic sense to move us from the Valley to a new ground just up the road?
Exactly, we have a modern premier quality stadium already, just rebuild the Jimmy seed stand to form a complete bowl shape and were done.
If you think the pitch is bad now, just wait until they close off the ends.
As far as I know they run all the events at the 02. Also invest heavily in Djurgaardens IF who the Swedish billionaire who was mentioned on here a couple of weeks ago is a major fan/investor in. Having what could turn out to be, with the right investment, a Premier League club as part of that Peninsula complex would be something they must have seriously looked at.
If there is serious ROI to be made in moving us out of the Valley to a new stadium, why would the current lot want to sell?
The owners/developers of the peninusla would have a greater ROI coming from the sale of the market housing there. If, instead, they have to do a deal with the owner of the Valley they have to share some of the developer's profit as well as incur the costs/risks of what would be a pretty complex suite of development/planning/construction agreements relating to the relocation of the club.
The developers of the peninsula btw is a joint venture between Quitain Estate (40%) and Knight Dragon (60%). Knight Dragon is an investment vehicle wholly owned by Hong Kong billionaire Dr Henry Cheng.
As AFKA said rumours been going around for a week or two about Americans but we hear so often that this or that nationality are involved who knows.
The controlled leak, as Rothko says, tells us it is real and near but NOT done. At such time as the story appears on the Clubs official website then it can be held to be true or some such phrase.
I doubt we'll be leaving the Valley right away but it is a question to be asked of the new owners
Comments
a) selling out week in week out at The Valley and we cannot get the planning permission to expand The Valley
or
b) we move to a new stadium which is not ours i.e. owned by the council for a variety of sports, which would surely be opposed by the fans, and would only be done by the owners to save money (sell the land of The Valley and only pay rent to the council).
Anyway, these are only rumours about a takeover, and everyone is reading it adding 2 and 2 together to make 5 as the rumours are of a property company.
It's good that you have written that list, because it makes an important point.
All those clubs either had no stadia at all, stadia that were piles of shite, or stadia which the club was outgrowing (Arsenal, Citeh)
None of those categories apply to the Valley. It's a fit for purpose Premier League stadium.
Let's all keep that in mind.
Could always be a British registered group backed by American investors i suppose ?
I don't see how buying a football club losing £x million a year on the basis of a long term property deal, would make financial sense.
The best solution is to stay at The Valley.
I hope any new investors have either won euromillions, or are rich dyed in the wool Charlton supporters, or have a strategy for promotion as a way of getting their money back, or rare philanthropists who wish to support us because we are manifestly wonderful, and attempt to put a lot back with community work and so on. Or have money to burn and appreciate the associated public attention, without changing the clubs colours, name and identity.
I may have to hold my nose while I type this bit, but if the current regime make a decent smooth and measured exit, then despite the devastation of the non football staff, they will be in credit it terms of their achievement in raising the club from the depths, and appointing Chris Powell.
But if its a case of moving from The Valley and having millions of pounds, Or staying at The Valley with no money
without a shadow of a doubt I would take the 2nd option.
I was only 2 when we returned to The Valley so have no memories of that period.
All I know for sure is THE VALLEY IS OUR HOME we should not be moved.
The developers of the peninsula btw is a joint venture between Quitain Estate (40%) and Knight Dragon (60%). Knight Dragon is an investment vehicle wholly owned by Hong Kong billionaire Dr Henry Cheng.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/9340255/Billionaire-Henry-Cheng-Kar-Shun-backs-Greenwich-project.html
Note that Dr Cheng also has interests in social housing provider Pinnacle.
The controlled leak, as Rothko says, tells us it is real and near but NOT done. At such time as the story appears on the Clubs official website then it can be held to be true or some such phrase.
I doubt we'll be leaving the Valley right away but it is a question to be asked of the new owners
1. Who owns the Club?
2. What is the business plan?
3. What the investment level?
4. What are the plans for the Valley?
5. What the plans for the Academy?
6. What is the exit strategy?
And you could add
7. What are your plans for Chris Powell?