What a lovely lady.had the pleasure of her company on the train back from Brentford today(only interrupted when she had to take a call from RD - wish I spoke French!).I think the club is in good hands with the likes of Katrien at the helmThink I might be doing a few away games this season.Happy days
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Comments
Is Churchy on his way to Barcelona?
Lets see some brief
1. You sat next to a sexbomb on the train but didn't get a selfie?
2. You didn't get her number?
3. Did you drop it like it's hot? like snoop dog style?
4. Are you an A Block season ticket holder?. If you are ring the box office first thing Monday morning and move over to the west stand..
Raymondo anyone with 69 after there name should have no excuse..
MSE7.
Is that cow shit ?
Shes WILD.
I can order 2 beers and a coke in french, German and Spanish but its not helping here.
Katrien Meire, CEO Charlton talks about his role in England and talks about his boss.
Katrien Meire is visiting Belgium. Katrien that? Will you tell us. Yet Katrien Meire, not anyone. Just thirty years, this is the Limbourgeoise CEO Charlton Athletic. A club network Roland Duchâtelet.
How did you get in contact with Mr. Duchâtelet?
"I met him when he was still president of St. Trond. I am supporter of the club for twenty years. I had read that it wanted to sell its television rights alone and I sent him an email telling him I could help. I am a lawyer, but I wanted to work in sport and football in particular. "
How did you become CEO Charlton?
"We stayed in touch. There are more or less a year, he asked me to work for him at the Standard. I managed legal matters for two months. Notably the beginning of the case-Ruytinx Carcela ... Then he bought Charlton and he offered me the position of CEO. I did a Masters in London and I always spoke English in my law firm. there was a link ... "
But you had no experience in this job. What was your reaction?
"I was both very happy and very scared. Knew I football as a fan, but not as a club manager. I was not ready, but I had no choice. Going to work in London In football, it was a great opportunity. I had no ties to Belgium so I could go easily. "
How was seen arriving at Charlton?
"People were happy to see get a buyer for the club was on the brink of bankruptcy."
But your first task was to bring order to Charlton ...
"There were too many people, no structure. I had to lay off people, often older than me. It was hard, but it was necessary to build a stable and efficient club."
That he was more difficult as a woman?
"No. This is not common, but for me it makes no difference. I know football. Perhaps not as a man, but my job is not to explain the tactics. J 'I had a crash course in both football - because I read including scouting reports -. than club management "
Are you involved in recruiting?
"I am concerned only negotiations and financial details.'s Sports section is managed by the cell of scouting and the coach. And the final decision is up to Roland Duchâtelet."
There are many passages in the Standard to Charlton.
"Initially, we had a problem because the fans were saying that Charlton was Team B Standard. But today, they are delighted to have players like Buyens, which is one of the best and that everyone loves ., and Ben Haim, who holds and won us points so everyone wins. Standard is a solution for players unused and Charlton has good players, but even if the case is not yet submitted, it may be that good players from Charlton landed in Standard. "
For supporters of the Standard, the president now favors Charlton, who would become the No. 1 club in the network.
"There is no hierarchy between the clubs. Mr. Duchâtelet said that clubs are his children and this is how I feel. I do not know how he does, but he divides his time between all clubs and seeking the best solutions for each of them. "
But Charlton transfers were made before those of the Standard. Which Vetokele, who signed home while the Standard needed a striker.
"We talked with twenty-five players and attracted new players It's the same for the Standard:..'s Not always easy to conclude a folder Vetokele regard, it was a request from Bob Peeters He. played a big role in this transfer because he had already had under him (Editor's note: the training center of Gent and Cercle). "
Charlton also has a CEO, which is not the case in the Standard ...
"We need someone who has a strategy, a vision. Someone who knows everything that is going on, which coordinates the departments, representing the club. But Standard is Duchâtelet Mr. CEO ... It delegates in other clubs. Is this proof that the Standard remains the No. 1 network? It is you who say ... "
"Up in the Premier League? Not realistic in the short term"
Katrien Meire recalls his first months in Charlton. And future ambitions ...
Since the beginning of the season, Charlton has not lost once. "Life is easier now. Contrast this with my debut at the club" says Katrien Meire.
Last January, Charlton was in a very complicated situation financially, the club was on the verge of bankruptcy while on the pitch, he was on track to be relegated. "With José Riga and his deputy Karel Fraeye, we did a great job. They have not stopped work because we played six games in seven weeks. And that led to the rescue. "
Yet José Riga has not been extended ... "I understand the misunderstanding of José Riga. This is a decision of Roland Duchâtelet."
Since the departure of Chris Powell, the coach at the time, and two players, all three highly praised by supporters of Charlton? "Chris Powell was tired by the situation. And the players were out of contract. We received offers and we took the risk of letting them go. This was also their wish. "
To replace them, especially Charlton had taken players lack of playing time in Standard. "Given the location of the club at the time, it was not easy to convince players to come here. This summer, it n was not alone either. was twenty-five have conducted negotiations for new arrivals. Once Buyens and Vetokele arrived, it gave a signal on the ambitions and this has facilitated other arrivals. "
With what ambitions in the end? Mount Premier League ?
"It's not realistic in the short term, it's more a dream. There are only three places to 24 contenders. Objective is rather to become a stable club championship" says Katrien Meire. "With our budget, it's a miracle if you finish in the top twelve. But we know that this is not because we have a smaller budget we can not do great things. Given the results were good early in the season, we wondered at the end of the transfer window if they are not going to do things beyond our budget, to strengthen the team and aim higher. But we preferred to wait for January make the point. "
The priority area of Katrien Meire, today is the Academy: "As Standard, there is a tradition in terms of training We want to build a new building and meet other criteria, particularly in terms of. staff to receive the label 1 and thus be against the best English clubs. This is a short-term goal, such as increasing attendance of the stadium. "
Would still like to see more of these interviews in the CAFC programme and/or OS but all good and positive.
"People were happy to see get a buyer for the club was on the brink of bankruptcy."
No, you're wrong Katrien, that was just a clever strategy by Tweedle dum and Tweedle Dee, not a "mess" at all : - )
Reading into it as well it seems that Katrien is a CEO with all the Qualifications of someone within the role yet has no experience of being involved in Football (So hasn't been contaminated by what goes on these days) and that at the end of the day we do have an ordinary Football Fan in charge of our club which probably helps with her ability to connect with us as fans
Edit: I removed it after realising it's already been translated........
Katrien interview, now 'free to air'