Actually very happy with the strategy tbh. For teams like us and most other football league clubs not benefiting from parachute payments it can be the only way to exist in the coming years. Glad we have already sussed that and no doubt we will see plenty of clubs crumbling because they gambled.
Positive interview. Lots of talk about the academy and developing players but being in a stronger position to keep them for longer and sell when we're not desperate for money. RD spoke of improving the whole matchday experience and not making it too expensive. Has spoken with Chris regarding players and hope to improve squad. Katrien Meire came across well, seems to want to include staff on the ground and get their thoughts on what can be done to improve things. Overall nothing to be worried about sounds like the plan is to grow organically can't see bundles of dosh being thrown around, still we tried that when we first got relegated from the PL and that worked out well.
They talk a good game. RD seems keen on bringing the youth through, not so much chat about big transfers. Surprisingly keen on making it a 'day out' going to the games and identifies the need to not make the experience too expensive, which is reassuring. Identifies we need to buy new players and are actively trying to do so, but was keen to point out Standard Lieges success has been built on 4 or 5 academy players being in the first team. Says every conversation he's had with SCP has revolved around contracts and transfers Also had a laugh about the state of the pitch, lots of talk about building for next season as well. That Katrien's job sounds like a piece of piss, would absolutely love to be doing that.
I am genuinely more confident having heard all that. Have to wait and see what happens, but the guy seems a reasonable businessman who is gonna go about this sensibly. If he can get 1, maybe 2 non-Liege, decent players and knit them in with what we've got we will be fine.
We could learn a lot from American sports in that respect. Huge revenue driver.
Positive interview. Lots of talk about the academy and developing players but being in a stronger position to keep them for longer and sell when we're not desperate for money. RD spoke of improving the whole matchday experience and not making it too expensive. Has spoken with Chris regarding players and hope to improve squad. Katrien Meire came across well, seems to want to include staff on the ground and get their thoughts on what can be done to improve things. Overall nothing to be worried about sounds like the plan is to grow organically can't see bundles of dosh being thrown around, still we tried that when we first got relegated from the PL and that worked out well.
thanks for the précis .. seems rather bland and non committal, am I right in assuming this ? .. anyway, actions speak louder than words
Katrien spends the majority of her time looking absolutely petrified.
So would you if you had just opened up a can of worms.
True, It fairness it wasn't a critique, I actually found it quite amusing. Overall thought it was really encouraging in terms of a long term plan and refreshing to have some decent level of communication. Richard looked really enthusiastic
Positive interview. Lots of talk about the academy and developing players but being in a stronger position to keep them for longer and sell when we're not desperate for money. RD spoke of improving the whole matchday experience and not making it too expensive. Has spoken with Chris regarding players and hope to improve squad. Katrien Meire came across well, seems to want to include staff on the ground and get their thoughts on what can be done to improve things. Overall nothing to be worried about sounds like the plan is to grow organically can't see bundles of dosh being thrown around, still we tried that when we first got relegated from the PL and that worked out well.
thanks for the précis .. seems rather bland and non committal, am I right in assuming this ? .. anyway, actions speak louder than words
Yep, pretty bland I guess, not really going to make any bold statements at this point that might come back to haunt them. I would say though they came across as professional and thorough, and not that they have some dark plan for Charlton Athletic being a feeder club for SL. Next couple of weeks will show if they mean business, we still need 2 or 3 decent players in, and no key players leaving if we are going to secure Championship status. Relegation doesn't even bear thinking about.
Positive interview. Lots of talk about the academy and developing players but being in a stronger position to keep them for longer and sell when we're not desperate for money. RD spoke of improving the whole matchday experience and not making it too expensive. Has spoken with Chris regarding players and hope to improve squad. Katrien Meire came across well, seems to want to include staff on the ground and get their thoughts on what can be done to improve things. Overall nothing to be worried about sounds like the plan is to grow organically can't see bundles of dosh being thrown around, still we tried that when we first got relegated from the PL and that worked out well.
thanks for the précis .. seems rather bland and non committal, am I right in assuming this ? .. anyway, actions speak louder than words
Haven't fought the technology to view it yet, but ... I think the most important thing is that they did it and saw the value of doing it. It's about tone and attitude, and it's a big positive in my book (all good bookshops £9.99).
I thought it was a good introduction. RD seems to know what he's doing and KM appears to be enthusiastic and already looking to do the right things. RD is a businessman and so will of course be looking to make money out of Charlton, I feel more confident that it now won't be to the detriment of the club.
Was quite pleased with what they had to say to be honest. I think some will be disappointed that there isn't a clearer commitment to having a real go at getting to the Premiership, although RD did mention that it is where the club needs to be.
Lots of talk about getting player wages under control - the inference being that the financial fair play rules will help clubs to do that. Maybe doesn't bode well for those hoping all the new contracts will be signed in a weeks time.
RD clearly keen on youth development, mentioned Liege have a number of home grown players in the team right now and have produced several good players in recent years. RM said that one of the benefits of having RD owning the club was it stabilised the club financially and meant we wouldn't have to sell young players too early - cited the example of Jenkinson saying we sold for a million because financially needed to, a year later he might have been worth over 5. Took that as a little bit of a message that Cousins is staying for a while yet. They didn't talk about academy status etc but said we have an excellent one and the optimist in me says that going for Cat 1 status will eventually become part of the clubs strategy - in my mind at least that would tie in with the idea of not being forced to sell early.
Not much talk of transfers and contracts, but have been speaking with Chris Powell about these things and they are trying to improve the team.
KM said her role would be working with (and I think overseeing) the management team (Bradshaw & co). She said she had met with or will be meeting with people from all levels in the club. She wants them to feel comfortable that they can come to her with any issues - cited an example that someone from the security team happened to be walking past her office and came in to talk to her about an issue with insufficient security staff. Said she would also be regularly at the training ground to talk to CP, particularly at times in the season like this (i.e. transfer window). Sounded to me like she wants to get stuck in and fix some of the niggly small day-to day issues at the club as well as some of the bigger picture items. She says she'll be attending a lot of games, maybe less so away from home. Generally seemed genuine and likeable, but hard to make too much judgement on someone in a few sentences in a interview but certainly less slippery than the last lawyer we had on the board.
RM is clearly primarily going to be the spokesman but said he will be more heavily involved than he was under MS/TJ who he 'left to get on with it', wasn't sure if that was true or just an effort to distance himself from the old regime. Either way, we can expect to see him at most matches home and away, and having a Charlton fan in a prominent role at the club has to be of some reassurance.
Other misc items, RD wants to make visiting the games more than just turning up for the match - he says people meet with friends at games and spend half a day off there - we need to improve hospitality offerings and also do more to entertain people while they are at the ground other than just the match (hopefully the match itself might also be more entertaining too). RD comes across as a calm, measured kind of guy - wants to take time to properly assess that state of the club and where improvements can be made. He said he was still getting to know CP, but said he thinks he is a good guy and good coach. I didn't get the impression that he intends to sack him, at least not right now. Referred to it as 'the club' and not as 'the business'.
Overall, I came away expecting we will see moderate, sustainable investment and a drive to reduce the club's outgoings, and increasing the income whilst generally running it better. On pitch improvement will be part of the plan, but don't expect that to be driven by big money signings, more likely smart transfer dealings and player development, which to be fair we were doing to decent effect until the money completely dried up under the last lot. The questions weren't the most probing or hard hitting (why would they be for the OS?), but he seemed to want to run us properly in what I might term ' a Charlton way' and that the fans aren't going to be treated as mugs.
Time will tell if I've read it right, but I never really wanted to be a money bags club so I'm quite happy with what I've heard so far.
Comments
Lets hope what he's achieved at SL wasn't fluke.
see Mummy'slittlesoldier post above
We're doing everything we can to try and get the 'Meet the board' video working for everyone. Sorry for the inconvenience so far. #cafc
It fairness it wasn't a critique, I actually found it quite amusing.
Overall thought it was really encouraging in terms of a long term plan and refreshing to have some decent level of communication.
Richard looked really enthusiastic
Lots of talk about getting player wages under control - the inference being that the financial fair play rules will help clubs to do that. Maybe doesn't bode well for those hoping all the new contracts will be signed in a weeks time.
RD clearly keen on youth development, mentioned Liege have a number of home grown players in the team right now and have produced several good players in recent years. RM said that one of the benefits of having RD owning the club was it stabilised the club financially and meant we wouldn't have to sell young players too early - cited the example of Jenkinson saying we sold for a million because financially needed to, a year later he might have been worth over 5. Took that as a little bit of a message that Cousins is staying for a while yet. They didn't talk about academy status etc but said we have an excellent one and the optimist in me says that going for Cat 1 status will eventually become part of the clubs strategy - in my mind at least that would tie in with the idea of not being forced to sell early.
Not much talk of transfers and contracts, but have been speaking with Chris Powell about these things and they are trying to improve the team.
KM said her role would be working with (and I think overseeing) the management team (Bradshaw & co). She said she had met with or will be meeting with people from all levels in the club. She wants them to feel comfortable that they can come to her with any issues - cited an example that someone from the security team happened to be walking past her office and came in to talk to her about an issue with insufficient security staff. Said she would also be regularly at the training ground to talk to CP, particularly at times in the season like this (i.e. transfer window). Sounded to me like she wants to get stuck in and fix some of the niggly small day-to day issues at the club as well as some of the bigger picture items. She says she'll be attending a lot of games, maybe less so away from home. Generally seemed genuine and likeable, but hard to make too much judgement on someone in a few sentences in a interview but certainly less slippery than the last lawyer we had on the board.
RM is clearly primarily going to be the spokesman but said he will be more heavily involved than he was under MS/TJ who he 'left to get on with it', wasn't sure if that was true or just an effort to distance himself from the old regime. Either way, we can expect to see him at most matches home and away, and having a Charlton fan in a prominent role at the club has to be of some reassurance.
Other misc items, RD wants to make visiting the games more than just turning up for the match - he says people meet with friends at games and spend half a day off there - we need to improve hospitality offerings and also do more to entertain people while they are at the ground other than just the match (hopefully the match itself might also be more entertaining too). RD comes across as a calm, measured kind of guy - wants to take time to properly assess that state of the club and where improvements can be made. He said he was still getting to know CP, but said he thinks he is a good guy and good coach. I didn't get the impression that he intends to sack him, at least not right now. Referred to it as 'the club' and not as 'the business'.
Overall, I came away expecting we will see moderate, sustainable investment and a drive to reduce the club's outgoings, and increasing the income whilst generally running it better. On pitch improvement will be part of the plan, but don't expect that to be driven by big money signings, more likely smart transfer dealings and player development, which to be fair we were doing to decent effect until the money completely dried up under the last lot. The questions weren't the most probing or hard hitting (why would they be for the OS?), but he seemed to want to run us properly in what I might term ' a Charlton way' and that the fans aren't going to be treated as mugs.
Time will tell if I've read it right, but I never really wanted to be a money bags club so I'm quite happy with what I've heard so far.