I understand you are overseeing correspondence relating to today's decision regarding the club's change of manager, and would like to add my views to the many you will doubtless be receiving.
The decision taken today has robbed the club of a very special person who - unlike some - would never put himself before Charlton Athletic. He has of course made mistakes in his first managerial position but was currently experiencing his first poor season after an exceptional start. On top of managing with the very limited resources offered by the previous owners, he has now had to contend with the sale of three of his key players against his judgement. Whether the replacements he has had foisted on him will prove successful remains to be seen, but they appear increasingly unlikely to save the club's second division status.
And this appears to be the very issue that has forced his departure. I understand the salary for his new contract was settled almost immediately - itself unusual in the modern game. I also understand that he felt unable to MANAGE the club he cares so passionately for when decisions regarding his playing squad were clearly being taken over his head. Instead of a man of such dignity, passion, and already proven managerial skill, it would appear Mr. Duchatelet would prefer a coach who I presume knows little of English football outside the top tier, and who is happy to have his squad selected for him. Beyond the obvious emotional link many of us have for Mr. Powell after his playing career, we have now lost a universally respected man who has identified realistic targets for a club of our size and means, and developed them into successful players who always gave the club their utmost even in defeat.
With a realistic level of backing Chris Powell could perhaps have built something very special at Charlton Athletic Football CLUB. Today it feels less of a club, and more of a businessman's plaything. I will always support the club, but will sing passionately at tomorrow's game for a man who made me very very proud to tell people I support Charlton. One day we might regain the identity that sets our club apart.
Yours sincerely,
I don't really care if I receive some corporate pre-dictaed generic reply; just wanted to add my voice.
Genuine question.
If he get's 500 of these emails do you think he will have time to read them all? Do you think he will bother to read any of them after he has ten?
I'm not knocking your decision to send it but I wonder if it will have any impact at any level at all.
@kings hill addick So the answer is to not bother?!
TBH @Sidcup_Robin I'd wager money that they got rid of him because "they didn't like that we were playing crap"
@cCarltonDan Why offer him a new contract then? Look into it, they offered him a new contract. It was the fact that he refused to agree to "The Network" which is why he was subsequently sacked!!
Or perhaps he had a change of heart given the dire performance & tactics? This coupled with CP's insistence on playing the players who by and large have got us to where we are (Hamer aside) could be the driver behinds RD's realisation that change was required. *I can in no way prove this just as you can in no way prove your assumptions.
It wouldn't be the 1st time a manager was backed and then sacked.
I would have loved more than anything to see Powell do well at CAFC (who wouldn't have?) however I want to see Charlton do well no matter who is in charge.
Let's face it that without a change of focus, and yes that includes the shared resources approach which RD brings, we would struggle. We are not a big club, we don't deserve success we need to earn that right and we need to be pragmatic enough to realise that by running a tight ship we will have a chance for success. Carrying on the status quo and or finding a Sheik will billions to burn just does not work in today's football environment.
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution.
An owner who dictates signings and who must play is a necessery evolution? What planet are you on? There isn't a single other club in the football league that runs a similar system, and there isn't a single British manager/coach who would accept it.
other than Watford, Blackburn.........
BTW I didn't say that "an owner who dictates signings and who must play is a necessery evolution" I said the "shared resources approach" was a necessary evolution. Please refrain from trying to put words in my mouth
You said what we are seeing now is a necessery evolution. Our manager was sacked for his refusal to play a player. That isn't putting words into your mouth.
Perhaps you simply misunderstood what I said "Let's face it that without a change of focus, and yes that includes the shared resources approach which RD brings, we would struggle. We are not a big club, we don't deserve success we need to earn that right and we need to be pragmatic enough to realise that by running a tight ship we will have a chance for success. Carrying on the status quo and or finding a Sheik will billions to burn just does not work in today's football environment.
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution."
At no point did I mention anything to do with refusal to play players
My point exactly @CrayAddick. You will never know the whole story and therefore you're simply making assumptions and trying to fill in the gaps based on your slant on things.
As I've said from the outset I reserve the right to disagree with you and not see it as solely regarding "the network" as you have coined it.
My opinions are based on the quotes from the owner of the club and the last 3 seasons Chris Powell has been in charge.
All your adding to this thread is a constant disagreement with no substance being added to it...
I've got an opinion and I'm trying to make my voice heard. Surely nothing wrong with trying to galvanise support from fellow LIKE minded fans.
Sorry @CrayAddick - I didn't realise this was a closed thread for like minded people only.
I'll leave you to it in that case and take my opinion elsewhere
TBH @Sidcup_Robin I'd wager money that they got rid of him because "they didn't like that we were playing crap"
@cCarltonDan Why offer him a new contract then? Look into it, they offered him a new contract. It was the fact that he refused to agree to "The Network" which is why he was subsequently sacked!!
Or perhaps he had a change of heart given the dire performance & tactics? This coupled with CP's insistence on playing the players who by and large have got us to where we are (Hamer aside) could be the driver behinds RD's realisation that change was required. *I can in no way prove this just as you can in no way prove your assumptions.
It wouldn't be the 1st time a manager was backed and then sacked.
I would have loved more than anything to see Powell do well at CAFC (who wouldn't have?) however I want to see Charlton do well no matter who is in charge.
Let's face it that without a change of focus, and yes that includes the shared resources approach which RD brings, we would struggle. We are not a big club, we don't deserve success we need to earn that right and we need to be pragmatic enough to realise that by running a tight ship we will have a chance for success. Carrying on the status quo and or finding a Sheik will billions to burn just does not work in today's football environment.
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution.
An owner who dictates signings and who must play is a necessery evolution? What planet are you on? There isn't a single other club in the football league that runs a similar system, and there isn't a single British manager/coach who would accept it.
other than Watford, Blackburn.........
BTW I didn't say that "an owner who dictates signings and who must play is a necessery evolution" I said the "shared resources approach" was a necessary evolution. Please refrain from trying to put words in my mouth
You said what we are seeing now is a necessery evolution. Our manager was sacked for his refusal to play a player. That isn't putting words into your mouth.
Perhaps you simply misunderstood what I said "Let's face it that without a change of focus, and yes that includes the shared resources approach which RD brings, we would struggle. We are not a big club, we don't deserve success we need to earn that right and we need to be pragmatic enough to realise that by running a tight ship we will have a chance for success. Carrying on the status quo and or finding a Sheik will billions to burn just does not work in today's football environment.
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution."
At no point did I mention anything to do with refusal to play players
Well it seems having which players are to be played dictated to you comes with this 'shared resources approach'. What's your opinon on that part of the evolution?
But it is the correct decision - we were going to be relegated under Powell, that is the reality, but at least now we have a (slim) chance of avoiding it!
TBH @Sidcup_Robin I'd wager money that they got rid of him because "they didn't like that we were playing crap"
@cCarltonDan Why offer him a new contract then? Look into it, they offered him a new contract. It was the fact that he refused to agree to "The Network" which is why he was subsequently sacked!!
Or perhaps he had a change of heart given the dire performance & tactics? This coupled with CP's insistence on playing the players who by and large have got us to where we are (Hamer aside) could be the driver behinds RD's realisation that change was required. *I can in no way prove this just as you can in no way prove your assumptions.
It wouldn't be the 1st time a manager was backed and then sacked.
I would have loved more than anything to see Powell do well at CAFC (who wouldn't have?) however I want to see Charlton do well no matter who is in charge.
Let's face it that without a change of focus, and yes that includes the shared resources approach which RD brings, we would struggle. We are not a big club, we don't deserve success we need to earn that right and we need to be pragmatic enough to realise that by running a tight ship we will have a chance for success. Carrying on the status quo and or finding a Sheik will billions to burn just does not work in today's football environment.
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution.
An owner who dictates signings and who must play is a necessery evolution? What planet are you on? There isn't a single other club in the football league that runs a similar system, and there isn't a single British manager/coach who would accept it.
other than Watford, Blackburn.........
BTW I didn't say that "an owner who dictates signings and who must play is a necessery evolution" I said the "shared resources approach" was a necessary evolution. Please refrain from trying to put words in my mouth
You said what we are seeing now is a necessery evolution. Our manager was sacked for his refusal to play a player. That isn't putting words into your mouth.
Perhaps you simply misunderstood what I said "Let's face it that without a change of focus, and yes that includes the shared resources approach which RD brings, we would struggle. We are not a big club, we don't deserve success we need to earn that right and we need to be pragmatic enough to realise that by running a tight ship we will have a chance for success. Carrying on the status quo and or finding a Sheik will billions to burn just does not work in today's football environment.
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution."
At no point did I mention anything to do with refusal to play players
Well it seems having which players are to be played dictated to you comes with this 'shared resources approach'. What's your opinon on that part of the evolution?
As I said. Until it can be unequivocally confirmed that this took place then I'd prefer not to be dragged into basing my opinion on hearsay.
The email is being passed on to the board of directors & the owner.
I know the world won't change or Powell will suddenly be back in a heartbeat.
I want them to hear our voices and justify this decision. Which in my opinion is the wrong one.
I sent the following, and received the same reply as you from Ben Kensell:
Dear Mr Duchâtelet
I wish to advise you of my disappointment and utter disgust at your decision to remove Chris Powell from his position as first team manager of Charlton Athletic.
Since acquiring the club in January you have overseen the sale of arguably our two best players, an influx of inadequate cast-offs from elsewhere in your network of clubs, the constant and blatant undermining of Chris Powell through signing players who were clearly not of his choosing and subsequently attempting to influence his team selections and, finally, the sacking of a manager who has taken the club to a record-breaking League 1 title, a 9th place finish in the Championship last season and somehow kept the team in contention to stay in the division this season despite a complete lack of support from his employers (previous and current).
All of the actions you have so far taken have, in my opinion, been to the severe detriment of the club, to the point where relegation this season now seems inevitable (and totally unnecessary), and I am therefore extremely concerned about your motives in purchasing the club. Taking into account all of the above, I will almost certainly be relinquishing my season ticket at the end of this season after 19 years, and will no longer be attending home games until and unless there is significant evidence that you are operating the club in a manner which will be beneficial to the long term security and success of Charlton Athletic Football Club.
Just seen players at training on sky sports, joking and laughing. Professional footballers move on quickly, maybe you should. The new manager has my full support.COYR.
Just seen players at training on sky sports, joking and laughing. Professional footballers move on quickly, maybe you should. The new manager has my full support.COYR.
You saw them laughing in training... Oh no suddenly the world is a better place??? Good one.
I took this from another thread but it sums it all up to be honest. Written by lookout.
"Most of our players are still out of contract. They clearly believed in Chris Powell and his vision for the Club; a vision that is aligned with the history and traditions of CAFC and its supporters. He has been treated extremely poorly in the past two years. And now he's been forced out because of his unwillingness to bend to the owners' vision for the future.
These players will now have nothing to play for knowing that everything they've bought into in the past three years about Charlton Athletic has been brought crashing down and they will know that they have no place in the new vision. They will be disposed of, just like Chris Powell. Who knows who their replacements will be. No one can organise this group of players to achieve anything more than Chris Powell did.
Charlton will be relegated. But what's worse is that we had a chance to be successful and do it the Charlton way. That's now gone for now and we'll have to start again. I can't see it any other way."
Just seen players at training on sky sports, joking and laughing. Professional footballers move on quickly, maybe you should. The new manager has my full support.COYR.
You saw them laughing in training... Oh no suddenly the world is a better place??? Good one.
I took this from another thread but it sums it all up to be honest. Written by lookout.
"Most of our players are still out of contract. They clearly believed in Chris Powell and his vision for the Club; a vision that is aligned with the history and traditions of CAFC and its supporters. He has been treated extremely poorly in the past two years. And now he's been forced out because of his unwillingness to bend to the owners' vision for the future.
These players will now have nothing to play for knowing that everything they've bought into in the past three years about Charlton Athletic has been brought crashing down and they will know that they have no place in the new vision. They will be disposed of, just like Chris Powell. Who knows who their replacements will be. No one can organise this group of players to achieve anything more than Chris Powell did.
Charlton will be relegated. But what's worse is that we had a chance to be successful and do it the Charlton way. That's now gone for now and we'll have to start again. I can't see it any other way."
@brentwoodmark Thanks sweety for your concern. I should be ok. Thanks for your huge contributions to this forum. Them 4 likes you've got since 2012 were clearly for a reason.
@brentwoodmark Thanks sweety for your concern. I should be ok. Thanks for your huge contributions to this forum. Them 4 likes you've got since 2012 were clearly for a reason.
@brentwoodmark Thanks sweety for your concern. I should be ok. Thanks for your huge contributions to this forum. Them 4 likes you've got since 2012 were clearly for a reason.
LOL...... First time I've laughed this morning!!
Don't get why some bother commenting with such negative comments all the time...
This was my reply, and credit to Ben Kensall for his actually very quick response.
Thank you for your email and I understand your position. It goes without saying that Chris is a true gentleman and legend at Charlton Athletic Football Club.
I will pass your email on and send it to the board.
I have had time to reflect and my view and opinion has changed slightly.
I wish SCP all the best in his future endeavours, however I agree he had to leave or be backed and if he was not willing to join the new ways... the door was opened and he was thrown from it. His act of defiance cost us a FA CUP Semi-Final.
I will always love Chrissy Powell. Charlton Legend.
Good stuff Cray for getting your view put to the board.
Comments
If some people see this as the soul of the club draining away then so be it. I see it as a necessary evolution."
At no point did I mention anything to do with refusal to play players
The email is being passed on to the board of directors & the owner.
I know the world won't change or Powell will suddenly be back in a heartbeat.
I want them to hear our voices and justify this decision. Which in my opinion is the wrong one.
I'll leave you to it in that case and take my opinion elsewhere
I sent the following, and received the same reply as you from Ben Kensell:
Dear Mr Duchâtelet
I wish to advise you of my disappointment and utter disgust at your decision to remove Chris Powell from his position as first team manager of Charlton Athletic.
Since acquiring the club in January you have overseen the sale of arguably our two best players, an influx of inadequate cast-offs from elsewhere in your network of clubs, the constant and blatant undermining of Chris Powell through signing players who were clearly not of his choosing and subsequently attempting to influence his team selections and, finally, the sacking of a manager who has taken the club to a record-breaking League 1 title, a 9th place finish in the Championship last season and somehow kept the team in contention to stay in the division this season despite a complete lack of support from his employers (previous and current).
All of the actions you have so far taken have, in my opinion, been to the severe detriment of the club, to the point where relegation this season now seems inevitable (and totally unnecessary), and I am therefore extremely concerned about your motives in purchasing the club. Taking into account all of the above, I will almost certainly be relinquishing my season ticket at the end of this season after 19 years, and will no longer be attending home games until and unless there is significant evidence that you are operating the club in a manner which will be beneficial to the long term security and success of Charlton Athletic Football Club.
Yours sincerely
@razil are you able to take off what's being said on the website? I can forward you by email what I've sent to the club???
Apparently, feelings are mutual inside and comments will be passed on...
I took this from another thread but it sums it all up to be honest. Written by lookout.
"Most of our players are still out of contract. They clearly believed in Chris Powell and his vision for the Club; a vision that is aligned with the history and traditions of CAFC and its supporters. He has been treated extremely poorly in the past two years. And now he's been forced out because of his unwillingness to bend to the owners' vision for the future.
These players will now have nothing to play for knowing that everything they've bought into in the past three years about Charlton Athletic has been brought crashing down and they will know that they have no place in the new vision. They will be disposed of, just like Chris Powell. Who knows who their replacements will be. No one can organise this group of players to achieve anything more than Chris Powell did.
Charlton will be relegated. But what's worse is that we had a chance to be successful and do it the Charlton way. That's now gone for now and we'll have to start again. I can't see it any other way."
Thank you for your email and I understand your position. It goes without saying that Chris is a true gentleman and legend at Charlton Athletic Football Club.
I will pass your email on and send it to the board.
Kind regards
Ben
I wish SCP all the best in his future endeavours, however I agree he had to leave or be backed and if he was not willing to join the new ways... the door was opened and he was thrown from it. His act of defiance cost us a FA CUP Semi-Final.
I will always love Chrissy Powell. Charlton Legend.
Good stuff Cray for getting your view put to the board.