Powell in the Standard (return, Roland etc)
Chris Powell has had Saturday, February 28 highlighted in his diary for a while. Tomorrow marks the date he will make an emotional return to The Valley for the first time since leaving Charlton last March.
“I would be a liar if I said I did not look for this game as soon as I came here,” says the Huddersfield manager, who served Charlton with distinction both as a player and manager and is still admired by supporters in that part of south-east London.
“A lot has happened but I am pleased I have got an opportunity to go back. I am extremely proud of what I did there but, with the way it ended, I left pretty quickly. I made sure I went in to see everyone at The Valley before I went but there are so many good people there and it will be good to see them and the supporters again.”
Powell is thoroughly enjoying the latest chapter of his life with Huddersfield but there is no disguising he never wanted to leave Charlton, a club he played for 270 times across three spells and then guided from League One to the Championship as manager.
As he reflects on his long association with the Addicks, there is obvious regret about the way his tenure came to an acrimonious end when he was sacked by owner Roland Duchatelet just two months after the Belgian businessmen bought the club.
“To be honest, as soon as the takeover happened last January I knew it was more a case of when and not if I would be leaving,” he says. “I was trying to prepare a team to win games knowing that, no matter what we did, it would not change anything. I tried to protect our fans from that but people could slowly see what was happening.
“The club needed the takeover, so you embrace that. I actually said to them that I would go out to Belgium to meet them and tell them about the club. If it is not to their liking, then tell me and that is fine. But the uncertainty dragged on for two months and it was affecting me, my staff, the players and the supporters. There were rumours of what was going on but it never totally came out.”
After initial disagreements, the relationship between Powell and Duchatelet quickly deteriorated beyond repair as the owner sought control of football matters. Powell was told to play certain new signings — including goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien and defender Loic Nego — handpicked by Duchatelet from his network of six European clubs and with no experience of English football.
Yann Kermorgant, now helping Bournemouth’s push for the Premier League, was sold over Powell’s head and Charlton found themselves fighting relegation. “If you are told a club hero like Yann Kermorgant is not good enough, then you have got a problem,” he says. “I fought tooth and nail to keep him and Yann did not want to leave. Being told Ben Hamer and one or two others were not good enough, because the owner’s scouts in Belgium had seen them, that was tough to swallow.
“I wanted to do what I felt was right for Charlton Athletic, but when I did not play certain players I knew that was me leaving even more. Unfortunately, it was the right club at the wrong time, whereas before it was the right club and the right time.
“I knew the night before the Sheffield United game that it would not be long. You should not be thinking like that when you are preparing for one of Charlton’s biggest games for a long time. Of course I did not want to leave but sometimes you are better off out.”
Charlton went on to stay up under Jose Riga but the treatment of Powell and his manner of his departure angered supporters, who have grown unhappy with the way Charlton is being run and want to know more about Duchatelet’s long-term vision of their club.
“Sadly, now the fans are getting a taste of what I had for the first two months,” he says. “They do not deserve it because they are there through thick and thin. I understand it is a business model that can use other clubs’ resources but it is not the way we have always known it here and, when you do it, you have to do it tactfully.
“Roland feels he is able to do what he wants because he owns the club and you have to remember he is investing money. But what has happened is the fans are looking at it and thinking, ‘is it the same club anymore?’ and ‘are they listening to us?’.
“The fans are worried that they do not know what is happening with the club they love. They would like to know where they are heading. That is all they want. Give them their club back and let them feel part of it again.”
A near full-house is expected at The Valley tomorrow, with around 25,000 tickets sold thanks to Charlton’s Football for a Fiver initiative. Powell will be given a hero’s reception by home supporters after years of excellent service for the club.
“Of course it will be a little bit poignant,” he says. “But it is an important game because of where both clubs are in the table and I want to get three points.”
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Seems to be well informed.....
Comments
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Might have to change that "Exclusive" title from the front of tomorrow's TNT !13
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"but it is not the way we have always known it here"41
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Charlton legend29
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Too good for us and our " I want it right now " support17
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Thank God I was not wearing under pants!5
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Every time he opens his mouth I love him a little bit more...20
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Roland Out, SCP In... yeah ok, I'll get me coat.0
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Pretty much as we all suspected, but nice to have it confirmed by CP himself. I'd say it's definite that he won't be returning as long as RD owns the club.1
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Yann Kermorgant, now helping Bournemouth’s push for the Premier League, was sold over Powell’s head and Charlton found themselves fighting relegation. “If you are told a club hero like Yann Kermorgant is not good enough, then you have got a problem,” he says. “I fought tooth and nail to keep him and Yann did not want to leave. Being told Ben Hamer and one or two others were not good enough, because the owner’s scouts in Belgium had seen them, that was tough to swallow.
Finally, we can put that to bed as I have been battling since the point. Some people on here religiously, for some reason, seem to believe YK was greedy and didn't want to resign a contract for us.21 -
The Kermit bit really winds me up!1
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Play Chris Powell Bingo
A) Bitter ex-employee
B ) Bottom of the table
C) Sheffield Utd
D) Boring football
E) Kiss his arse
F) Late Subs
G) Move On
17 -
Being told Ben Hamer and one or two others were not good enough, because the owner’s scouts in Belgium had seen them, that was tough to swallow.
So the Belgian scouts rate Thuram as better than Hamer..........we're f***ed!!
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There is nothing good about being bottom of the table !Henry Irving said:Play Chris Powell Bingo
A) Bitter ex-employee
B ) Bottom of the table
C) Sheffield Utd
D) Boring football
E) Kiss his arse
F) Late Subs
G) Move On
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He has a lot to say for someone who a few weeks ago said he'd "moved on"4
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the truth hurts
And yes the fans do deserve to know13 -
Nice comments and very interesting. The club's transfer policy last January was truly bizarre
Being kind to the owners, recent transfer activity seems to suggest that they have learned some lessons, with the acquisitions of free agents Johnson and Eagles being a sign that they realise that experienced Championship players are needed for this league10 -
of course he didn't want to leave....but he also wanted more money....and didn't 'always' want to play!Atletico Addick said:Yann Kermorgant, now helping Bournemouth’s push for the Premier League, was sold over Powell’s head and Charlton found themselves fighting relegation. “If you are told a club hero like Yann Kermorgant is not good enough, then you have got a problem,” he says. “I fought tooth and nail to keep him and Yann did not want to leave. Being told Ben Hamer and one or two others were not good enough, because the owner’s scouts in Belgium had seen them, that was tough to swallow.
Finally, we can put that to bed as I have been battling since the point. Some people on here religiously, for some reason, seem to believe YK was greedy and didn't want to resign a contract for us.3 -
Source? Seems people believe what they want to believe and not the facts on this matter..Elthamaddick said:
of course he didn't want to leave....but he also wanted more money....and didn't 'always' want to play!Atletico Addick said:Yann Kermorgant, now helping Bournemouth’s push for the Premier League, was sold over Powell’s head and Charlton found themselves fighting relegation. “If you are told a club hero like Yann Kermorgant is not good enough, then you have got a problem,” he says. “I fought tooth and nail to keep him and Yann did not want to leave. Being told Ben Hamer and one or two others were not good enough, because the owner’s scouts in Belgium had seen them, that was tough to swallow.
Finally, we can put that to bed as I have been battling since the point. Some people on here religiously, for some reason, seem to believe YK was greedy and didn't want to resign a contract for us.
He wanted to stay at CAFC, as Powell says. Anyone this regime does not want involved in our club they will kick out, look at all the management stuff, behind scene's staff and players that have moved on in the short period of time they have reigned.9 -
so as soon as the takeover happened he was thinking about himself?AFKABartram said:http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/i-am-extremely-proud-of-what-i-did-there--former-charlton-boss-chris-powell-speaks-out-ahead-of-valley-return-with-huddersfield-10072871.html
Chris Powell has had Saturday, February 28 highlighted in his diary for a while. Tomorrow marks the date he will make an emotional return to The Valley for the first time since leaving Charlton last March.
“I would be a liar if I said I did not look for this game as soon as I came here,” says the Huddersfield manager, who served Charlton with distinction both as a player and manager and is still admired by supporters in that part of south-east London.
“A lot has happened but I am pleased I have got an opportunity to go back. I am extremely proud of what I did there but, with the way it ended, I left pretty quickly. I made sure I went in to see everyone at The Valley before I went but there are so many good people there and it will be good to see them and the supporters again.”
Powell is thoroughly enjoying the latest chapter of his life with Huddersfield but there is no disguising he never wanted to leave Charlton, a club he played for 270 times across three spells and then guided from League One to the Championship as manager.
As he reflects on his long association with the Addicks, there is obvious regret about the way his tenure came to an acrimonious end when he was sacked by owner Roland Duchatelet just two months after the Belgian businessmen bought the club.
“To be honest, as soon as the takeover happened last January I knew it was more a case of when and not if I would be leaving,” he says. “I was trying to prepare a team to win games knowing that, no matter what we did, it would not change anything. I tried to protect our fans from that but people could slowly see what was happening.
“The club needed the takeover, so you embrace that. I actually said to them that I would go out to Belgium to meet them and tell them about the club. If it is not to their liking, then tell me and that is fine. But the uncertainty dragged on for two months and it was affecting me, my staff, the players and the supporters. There were rumours of what was going on but it never totally came out.”
After initial disagreements, the relationship between Powell and Duchatelet quickly deteriorated beyond repair as the owner sought control of football matters. Powell was told to play certain new signings — including goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien and defender Loic Nego — handpicked by Duchatelet from his network of six European clubs and with no experience of English football.
Yann Kermorgant, now helping Bournemouth’s push for the Premier League, was sold over Powell’s head and Charlton found themselves fighting relegation. “If you are told a club hero like Yann Kermorgant is not good enough, then you have got a problem,” he says. “I fought tooth and nail to keep him and Yann did not want to leave. Being told Ben Hamer and one or two others were not good enough, because the owner’s scouts in Belgium had seen them, that was tough to swallow.
“I wanted to do what I felt was right for Charlton Athletic, but when I did not play certain players I knew that was me leaving even more. Unfortunately, it was the right club at the wrong time, whereas before it was the right club and the right time.
“I knew the night before the Sheffield United game that it would not be long. You should not be thinking like that when you are preparing for one of Charlton’s biggest games for a long time. Of course I did not want to leave but sometimes you are better off out.”
Charlton went on to stay up under Jose Riga but the treatment of Powell and his manner of his departure angered supporters, who have grown unhappy with the way Charlton is being run and want to know more about Duchatelet’s long-term vision of their club.
“Sadly, now the fans are getting a taste of what I had for the first two months,” he says. “They do not deserve it because they are there through thick and thin. I understand it is a business model that can use other clubs’ resources but it is not the way we have always known it here and, when you do it, you have to do it tactfully.
“Roland feels he is able to do what he wants because he owns the club and you have to remember he is investing money. But what has happened is the fans are looking at it and thinking, ‘is it the same club anymore?’ and ‘are they listening to us?’.
“The fans are worried that they do not know what is happening with the club they love. They would like to know where they are heading. That is all they want. Give them their club back and let them feel part of it again.”
A near full-house is expected at The Valley tomorrow, with around 25,000 tickets sold thanks to Charlton’s Football for a Fiver initiative. Powell will be given a hero’s reception by home supporters after years of excellent service for the club.
“Of course it will be a little bit poignant,” he says. “But it is an important game because of where both clubs are in the table and I want to get three points.”
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Seems to be well informed.....
winkymcsmileface1 -
Really the Belgium scouts did not think Yann and Hamer were good enough, where was Phil Chapple when this was being said0
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He comes across as such a top bloke........I couldn't care less if it's classed as kissing his arse, the man is a legend in my eyes. Even so, I still hope he loses tomorrow.15
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This is how I see it playing out:paulie8290 said:Really the Belgium scouts did not think Yann and Hamer were good enough, where was Phil Chapple when this was being said
1. RD buys a struggling club towards the bottom of their league
2. Assumes that the reason the team is struggling is because of the calibre of players
3. Doesn't think to discover and understand (or LISTEN to those who do know ie Powell) which parts are underperforming
4. Thinks they're killing two birds with one stone by putting their "assets" in the shop window
5. Force the likes of Thuram and Nego into the first team8 -
Oh Chris. I don't think we will have another manager care about us like that.13
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Being ignored.paulie8290 said:Really the Belgium scouts did not think Yann and Hamer were good enough, where was Phil Chapple when this was being said
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It's like having an ex that everytime you think you've got over them you see a pic of them on social media or something
Nope, not moved on. Nope, not ashamed. Yes, I do still wish he was the bloody manager of this football club.
Sigh.
P.s a middle finger to all those who may get in the way of this Powell love in!!!21 -
I accept what Chris says and believe what he says but why wait until now. He could have come out with this ages ago. I don't think it is going to help us tomorrow and it's badly timed for the Club. With a full house and hopefully decent season ticket prices announced we need a win and a performance to encourage people to think that with good prices on offer they will buy a season ticket. In my opinion all this undermines that drive and has a detrimental effect.4
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Simple answer. He needs to get himself into a secure job before he puts that at risk by speaking out, he now has that secure job.LargeAddick said:I accept what Chris says and believe what he says but why wait until now. He could have come out with this ages ago. I don't think it is going to help us tomorrow and it's badly timed for the Club. With a full house and hopefully decent season ticket prices announced we need a win and a performance to encourage people to think that with good prices on offer they will buy a season ticket. In my opinion all this undermines that drive and has a detrimental effect.
It's all about perspective, but in reality CP has done what every logical man would, sort themselves out before putting their reputation on line etc. Speaking out now puts him at no risk.
Also why does timing matter? The truth is the truth, he has spoken about what has happened, the timing of which he says it doesn't change anything.10 -
Arguing his point and also being ignored I imagine.paulie8290 said:Really the Belgium scouts did not think Yann and Hamer were good enough, where was Phil Chapple when this was being said
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The questions that still nag at me are:
Who the feck are these Belgian Scouts?
Who is/was advising Roland?
And why are they so bad at their job?27 -
Quite possibly a 12 month gagging clause in his Settlement Agreement has just come to an end.LargeAddick said:I accept what Chris says and believe what he says but why wait until now. He could have come out with this ages ago. I don't think it is going to help us tomorrow and it's badly timed for the Club. With a full house and hopefully decent season ticket prices announced we need a win and a performance to encourage people to think that with good prices on offer they will buy a season ticket. In my opinion all this undermines that drive and has a detrimental effect.
20
