There's an awful lot of doom and gloom about the club at the moment, and I really hate it.
What for you would make you change your mind about their general running of the club, and put you in the happy camp / yep I know they've got some tough decisions to make, but I can see why they are doing what they are doing, and they've got my backing.
At the moment we seem to be a PR disaster, on and off the pitch.
If Roland and Katrien have got any sense, they'd realise you've got to listen to your 'customer' base if you want to have a future with them.
So what would you suggest?
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Simple !
Bring in a manager that knows this division and how to get promotion.
Establish a communication structure with the fan base.
Provide sufficient funding to strengthen the squad.
If not, I'll settle for the penthouse flat next door to SHG.
Hire a British Manager... Someone who knows the Championship, they don't have to be experienced because everyone has to start somewhere, other than Paul Lambert, the ones that are free are the usual rubbish that just go the usual merry go round, someone mentioned Dean Smith (Walsall) the other day and I'd be happy with him in charge.
Communication... Agree with this.
Spend some Money... Spend so that Charlton are competitive, we can win promotion to the Premier League without spending bucket loads, at the end of the day it is Roland's money
1. Publicly explain what they are playing at with our club. This would need to include assurances that they are committed to staying at The Valley, that they aim to progress up the league and that they aim to facilitate entertaining football.
2. Enter into genuine dialog (not just one-off publicity stunts) with fans groups and experienced fans regarding how to arrest the decline in our club and get things on the right track.
3. Appoint a 'manager' (not a head coach) with a proven track record at a suitably high level - not someone that's cheap or is already on the payroll. Make it clear in word and deed that the new manager is in charge of all team issues.
4. Suitable investment in a team of sufficient strength and depth to stave off relegation this season and challenge at least to play-off level in following seasons.
5. End all petty tinkering with the nature of our club. No more nonsense from Little Miss Nightmeire: we keep our traditions. We play in red, at The Valley and we come out to the tune of the Red Red Robin (loud and proud) - no more shitty gimmicks or ill thought out changes.
6. Treat supporters with respect: Emails and correspondence to be replied to. Disabled supporters to be allowed correct and proper access. An end to rip-off prices over food and merchandising. Recognition that supporters are the life blood of the club, not just a bunch of cash cows to be milked for the benefit the 'owner'.
On 6 though. Did the current lot hand over our catering and retail ?
It's the same at Charlton. It's not how much Roland spends. It's about having a feeling of involvement. Players that you feel play for the club, a manager that you trust to make decent decisions mostly, a management that respects its fans, a management that understands how to run a football club more than me.
I'd rather we played in League One with a young or untalented squad that wanted to do its best rather than the (generally) dull bunch assembled to do some sort of job - not that I have any idea what the sort of job is.
Maybe, it's too much to ask. Maybe, I've been spoilt by an era where professionals stuck with their club, were loyal and did their best. Maybe, though, we are just surrounded by fools.
More spend SOME money, some being the operative word.
We seem to have a thin squad due to low spending!
The owner would preferably just take a back seat and just throw us the odd Jena reserve every time we need a first teamer. Managers should not be allowed to stagnate and should be moved on within a year at the most and must have absolutely no experience in the English game.
Oh.......and a bit of pulled pork wouldn't go amiss either.
Start the work at Sparrows Lane by the end of November.
Yes, that should do it for me.