Granpa - CAS Trust has made a number of overtures to Roland over the last couple of months. You might be interested in this open letter from Steve Clarke issued today: castrust.org/2016/02/cas-trust-invitation-to-roland/
We are not holding our breath
Far be it from me to sound critical, as I too have posted open letters to RD.
But have the Trust really just posted it on their site, as opposed to actually e mailing it to RD ?
@Granpa Like you, I would love for Roland to sit down with fans leaders (either the Trust, or a cross section of our most able, or some of the CARD people) and have a serious, polite, two-way discussion about everything that has gone on and our feelings about them. But, as others have said, he has refused to do so. And so has Meire so far. What do you think we should do, if they won't play ball? Just give up?
I would be interested to read your thoughts on this Grandpa?
I believe there is a way to open a conversation with Roland, all be it in a round about way and that is to do it via the sponsor, some of these are Charlton fans example Andrews, speak to them, engage with them, get them to open a dialogue with Roland. If necessary take action against the sponsors, make it hard for them to carry out there business. Make it clear what's your aims are to each company open a dialogue with there CEO's, get them on your side, get them to pressurise Roland for you. Keep hitting him in his pocket.
2nd line of attack if this fails in my opinion would be to take the fight to his businesses, inundate each business with requests, block their emails, do anything legitimate to cost him money, but make him aware that it us who are undertaking this action.
3rd line of attack if this fails, go for his end users of his products, companies like Mercedes as an example wouldn't appreciate a concerted effort against there infrastructure, but again let them know why they are being targeted.
Keep hitting him hard in the pocket, and keep constant pressure up at Charlton, at every opportunity keep demonstrating. you must not keep the pressure constant, but keep it building, the dam will burst once the pressure is great enough.
what I'm suggesting will take months to get a result, but ultimately we will.
Something has tailed off with the protests, the one prior to Cardiff felt a bit flat - and I thought not protesting against Bristol was a very good idea. However against Cardiff it felt like something had happened at around 5:30, and I looked around to see it looking very bare.
Not to mention there seemed to be larger numbers leaving before the protests than I've seen recently - that said, I was approaching from the North Stand and not the West Stand this time.
My own view is bordering on apathy now; the interviews with Roland - and even the news of Miere's behaviour before the match - put a dampener on my own enthusiasm. Not because Roland's soundbites worked, but because it was just another signal that this really is going to be a long and arduous battle and it doesn't look like there will be a decisive victory (either way.) any time soon.
I think this was reflected by the SUIYWTO chants during the match, the latter ones were flat - and I've been belting it out every time a chant has happened. Regardless of the views of those around me, I do not care one bit what they think of me or the campaign in general, I /want to voice my opinion and stand together with others who hold the same concerns I do.
On Saturday however this was more difficult, I just couldn't see the point. I know that's not the attitude, and in fact it's the attitude that Katrien & co are banking on us having.. but personally the whole experience is simply negative for me. The only positives that have come out of recent visits to The Valley have been the works of CARD FFS! Laughing at the masks, taking a few stickers and looking at all the B&W scarves being worn by people who all want the same thing..
I doubt I'll be making it to The Valley again this season, at the very least I wont be attending every home match like I have the past few months. I simply can't be bothered, and it almost feels like I'm defeated to be honest.
I can't be bothered watching the same utter trash refereeing the games.
I can't be bothered having to ignore utter idiots who shout down those who stand and chant.. but are only ever heard shouting abuse themselves, if not to other fans then to the players.
I can't be bothered getting worked up watching things like "Windowgate" or "Bannergate", seeing other fans getting a slap on the wrist for acting like fans - not obedient little customers in a quaint countryside restaurant.
At a time when, for whatever personal reasons, I feel pretty frustrated and stressed out 99% of the time - Charlton (sadly, and I write the word "Charlton" as though it were a person - a friend.) seems to just fill that 1% with even more frustration and anger. It's not healthy, it's very sad but I feel powerless and tired of it.
Exactly how I feel. My get up and go got up and went after the Bristol City game. I've gone from fury to just being fed up. I won't hear a word said against CARD and their efforts and, somewhere inside, I'm seething. But the whole situation just makes me feel empty rather than revolutionary. Why? Well, my biggest bugbear at the moment is not actually the three stooges but the large percentage of our own support who have their heads in the sand. That's the biggest battle and the most depressing thing. I hate to say it but a proportion of our support deserves what's happening.
You have to be co-ordinated. I feel passionately that it is time to delay a match - in a non dangerous way. But I put my view forwards and accept CARD may see it differently. If we all did our own thing, we would all be doing different things and it would be a shambles. Divide and conquer and all that. The Pinocchio day got mentions in the press so was a success. In terms of the car park there are two issues - one is that you get a feeling nobody is listening and two, you need it to be dry to get a big turnout. The turnouts will be variable, but I'm sure at some point we will have the biggest yet.
Something has tailed off with the protests, the one prior to Cardiff felt a bit flat - and I thought not protesting against Bristol was a very good idea. However against Cardiff it felt like something had happened at around 5:30, and I looked around to see it looking very bare.
Not to mention there seemed to be larger numbers leaving before the protests than I've seen recently - that said, I was approaching from the North Stand and not the West Stand this time.
My own view is bordering on apathy now; the interviews with Roland - and even the news of Miere's behaviour before the match - put a dampener on my own enthusiasm. Not because Roland's soundbites worked, but because it was just another signal that this really is going to be a long and arduous battle and it doesn't look like there will be a decisive victory (either way.) any time soon.
I think this was reflected by the SUIYWTO chants during the match, the latter ones were flat - and I've been belting it out every time a chant has happened. Regardless of the views of those around me, I do not care one bit what they think of me or the campaign in general, I want to voice my opinion and stand together with others who hold the same concerns I do.
On Saturday however this was more difficult, I just couldn't see the point. I know that's not the attitude, and in fact it's the attitude that Katrien & co are banking on us having.. but personally the whole experience is simply negative for me. The only positives that have come out of recent visits to The Valley have been the works of CARD FFS! Laughing at the masks, taking a few stickers and looking at all the B&W scarves being worn by people who all want the same thing..
I doubt I'll be making it to The Valley again this season, at the very least I wont be attending every home match like I have the past few months. I simply can't be bothered, and it almost feels like I'm defeated to be honest.
I can't be bothered watching the same utter trash refereeing the games.
I can't be bothered having to ignore utter idiots who shout down those who stand and chant.. but are only ever heard shouting abuse themselves, if not to other fans then to the players.
I can't be bothered getting worked up watching things like "Windowgate" or "Bannergate", seeing other fans getting a slap on the wrist for acting like fans - not obedient little customers in a quaint countryside restaurant.
At a time when, for whatever personal reasons, I feel pretty frustrated and stressed out 99% of the time - Charlton (sadly, and I write the word "Charlton" as though it were a person - a friend.) seems to just fill that 1% with even more frustration and anger. It's not healthy, it's very sad but I feel powerless and tired of it.
I get where you are coming from and understand why the apathy kicks in, but we just need to try and raise it every home game. I'm not saying you or others aren't prepared to, it's just a natural dip after such a momentous start.
We were all fresh and angry when we first took to the west stand car park. We're still angry (well I'm fuming), but the demos aren't new, aren't novel. That is why I thank CARD for their efforts in trying to mix it up a bit. All this last week has gone to prove is that we cannot let them off the hook now.
RD has given us one of the most pathetic PR stunts in his time here with those interviews in the SLP. The clown has told us we're not preparing for relegation. We're 6 pts (7 with GD) from safety. If he thinks we shouldn't be preparing then it just goes to show how utterly stupid he is.
The Oyston's are still in charge at Blackpool. It might not be next season, it might not be the season after, but they will be gone eventually. It will probably come about by him taking us into league one and realising he's wasted £44m. That will hurt us, but I will take some small pleasure in seeing him lose that money. I will take greater pleasure in being at the Valley the day KM has to pack up her bags and we can say fuck off.
I beg people to stick with it. Nothing good ever comes easy
Hi Henry, opposite opinions obviously. I am 100% sure that we need to aim everything at Roland, as you rightly suggest any approach to Meire would be ignored which is exactly the sort of information I would want to advise Roland about. The only good thing I can see at the moment is that Roland felt obliged to speak up on his feelings. I will wait for the next game to see how many masks will be on show, but at least you now know that if you see one it won't be me.
i think focusing a bit more on RD is a great idea.
people are saying he isn't aware of the extent of the discontent because KM is hiding it from him, well if he is the new focus of the action by fans he is going to snap and have to pull KM up on why he is now in the firing line and this in turn will make him aware of how bad things have got.
Granpa - CAS Trust has made a number of overtures to Roland over the last couple of months. You might be interested in this open letter from Steve Clarke issued today: castrust.org/2016/02/cas-trust-invitation-to-roland/
We are not holding our breath
Far be it from me to sound critical, as I too have posted open letters to RD.
But have the Trust really just posted it on their site, as opposed to actually e mailing it to RD ?
I believe there is a way to open a conversation with Roland, all be it in a round about way and that is to do it via the sponsor, some of these are Charlton fans example Andrews, speak to them, engage with them, get them to open a dialogue with Roland. If necessary take action against the sponsors, make it hard for them to carry out there business. Make it clear what's your aims are to each company open a dialogue with there CEO's, get them on your side, get them to pressurise Roland for you. Keep hitting him in his pocket.
2nd line of attack if this fails in my opinion would be to take the fight to his businesses, inundate each business with requests, block their emails, do anything legitimate to cost him money, but make him aware that it us who are undertaking this action.
3rd line of attack if this fails, go for his end users of his products, companies like Mercedes as an example wouldn't appreciate a concerted effort against there infrastructure, but again let them know why they are being targeted.
Keep hitting him hard in the pocket, and keep constant pressure up at Charlton, at every opportunity keep demonstrating. you must not keep the pressure constant, but keep it building, the dam will burst once the pressure is great enough.
what I'm suggesting will take months to get a result, but ultimately we will.
I believe there is a way to open a conversation with Roland, all be it in a round about way and that is to do it via the sponsor, some of these are Charlton fans example Andrews, speak to them, engage with them, get them to open a dialogue with Roland. If necessary take action against the sponsors, make it hard for them to carry out there business. Make it clear what's your aims are to each company open a dialogue with there CEO's, get them on your side, get them to pressurise Roland for you. Keep hitting him in his pocket.
2nd line of attack if this fails in my opinion would be to take the fight to his businesses, inundate each business with requests, block their emails, do anything legitimate to cost him money, but make him aware that it us who are undertaking this action.
3rd line of attack if this fails, go for his end users of his products, companies like Mercedes as an example wouldn't appreciate a concerted effort against there infrastructure, but again let them know why they are being targeted.
Keep hitting him hard in the pocket, and keep constant pressure up at Charlton, at every opportunity keep demonstrating. you must not keep the pressure constant, but keep it building, the dam will burst once the pressure is great enough.
what I'm suggesting will take months to get a result, but ultimately we will.
How about writing to our sponsors and asking them what they think. No need to harass them, they should want to open a dialogue in their own interests, that would carry more weight than acting as our agents.
Re Sponsors: Have you read how Axis (tunnel sponsors) were treated (see current VOTV) ?
I asked long ago how the Andrews people viewed the current situation? Anyone know one of their top bods? If they are unhappy could they withdraw their sponsorship, could they insist on having their name removed from the shirts? Imagine that, would get media attention.
At the Reading game it's footabll for a Fiver, meaning a higher turnout. By definition any after match protest will be bigger. We need to make it bigger by letting fans on the day know of the issues involved. A free VOTV or specific leaflets will get the message across. We need as high a turnout as possible. Would be great if we could attract fans from other Clubs to attend especially as its only a Fiver. If they are lucky a game of football might even break out at some point.
Re Sponsors: Have you read how Axis (tunnel sponsors) were treated (see current VOTV) ?
No, enlighten us.
Axis Chief Exec's PA received email last summer asking if they wanted to renew sponsorship (no phone call). The reply was "no". In mid-September the club again emailed his PA asking if they had reconsidered and called it 'an exciting sponsorship opportunity'.
Doesn't sound like they value their sponsors, does it ?
Firstly my thanks to Pico for showing me the letter to Roland from Steve Clarke. As a salesman all my life I am well practiced in achieving business from large companies by identifying the one person who I know is my real target, and who subject to me doing my job properly, will give me success. Despite a number of you not agreeing with me, Katrien and Murray have no power to influence things that really matter. If our attempt to kill Hitler had succeeded which it nearly did, the Second World War would have ended relatively quickly. We need to concentrate upon Roland, try to find his achilles heel, what forced him to sell Standard Liege, why did he give up on his political aspirations ? The letter from Steve Clarke was excellent, one businessman to another, and a posting from Charlton Kerry was also excellent. I would have preferred it to have gone from a Group representing supporters with more reference to the errors being made here rather than a head to head challenge. I would want it to be a continuous series of information and ideas, presented in a businesslike, professional manner. By all means continue your activity at the Valley, I personally arrive and leave on a Coach. A nice picture of Roland with a target on him might disturb him a bit, or perhaps labelled WANTED The Fugitive. (That one made me laugh !)
Firstly my thanks to Pico for showing me the letter to Roland from Steve Clarke. As a salesman all my life I am well practiced in achieving business from large companies by identifying the one person who I know is my real target, and who subject to me doing my job properly, will give me success. Despite a number of you not agreeing with me, Katrien and Murray have no power to influence things that really matter. If our attempt to kill Hitler had succeeded which it nearly did, the Second World War would have ended relatively quickly. We need to concentrate upon Roland, try to find his achilles heel, what forced him to sell Standard Liege, why did he give up on his political aspirations ? The letter from Steve Clarke was excellent, one businessman to another, and a posting from Charlton Kerry was also excellent. I would have preferred it to have gone from a Group representing supporters with more reference to the errors being made here rather than a head to head challenge. I would want it to be a continuous series of information and ideas, presented in a businesslike, professional manner. By all means continue your activity at the Valley, I personally arrive and leave on a Coach. A nice picture of Roland with a target on him might disturb him a bit, or perhaps labelled WANTED The Fugitive. (That one made me laugh !)
I arrive on a coach but go home by train, using Valley Express doesn't exclude you from joining in.
Firstly my thanks to Pico for showing me the letter to Roland from Steve Clarke. As a salesman all my life I am well practiced in achieving business from large companies by identifying the one person who I know is my real target, and who subject to me doing my job properly, will give me success. Despite a number of you not agreeing with me, Katrien and Murray have no power to influence things that really matter. If our attempt to kill Hitler had succeeded which it nearly did, the Second World War would have ended relatively quickly. We need to concentrate upon Roland, try to find his achilles heel, what forced him to sell Standard Liege, why did he give up on his political aspirations ? The letter from Steve Clarke was excellent, one businessman to another, and a posting from Charlton Kerry was also excellent. I would have preferred it to have gone from a Group representing supporters with more reference to the errors being made here rather than a head to head challenge. I would want it to be a continuous series of information and ideas, presented in a businesslike, professional manner. By all means continue your activity at the Valley, I personally arrive and leave on a Coach. A nice picture of Roland with a target on him might disturb him a bit, or perhaps labelled WANTED The Fugitive. (That one made me laugh !)
Granpa - Steve Clarke is chair of CAS Trust. You can join here: castrust.org/join/
Granpa - Steve Clarke is chair of CAS Trust. You can join here: castrust.org/join/
Thanks Pico, I tried to join but it would not let me, probably my fault. I will stop by the Upper North if they are there next game and register. ( I may have joined when it started, I will check. )
This is just an idea for future protests. Why not ? base it on the fact that "We Want OUR Charlton Back" & sing old players/managers songs in between singing "We Want Our Charlton Back". We could all wear our old football shirts from the good old days & perhaps have a giant replica of our Centenary shirt. Is the drummer available for protests ?
Comments
But have the Trust really just posted it on their site, as opposed to actually e mailing it to RD ?
Surely it has to be e mailed to him ?
2nd line of attack if this fails in my opinion would be to take the fight to his businesses, inundate each business with requests, block their emails, do anything legitimate to cost him money, but make him aware that it us who are undertaking this action.
3rd line of attack if this fails, go for his end users of his products, companies like Mercedes as an example wouldn't appreciate a concerted effort against there infrastructure, but again let them know why they are being targeted.
Keep hitting him hard in the pocket, and keep constant pressure up at Charlton, at every opportunity keep demonstrating. you must not keep the pressure constant, but keep it building, the dam will burst once the pressure is great enough.
what I'm suggesting will take months to get a result, but ultimately we will.
We were all fresh and angry when we first took to the west stand car park. We're still angry (well I'm fuming), but the demos aren't new, aren't novel. That is why I thank CARD for their efforts in trying to mix it up a bit. All this last week has gone to prove is that we cannot let them off the hook now.
RD has given us one of the most pathetic PR stunts in his time here with those interviews in the SLP. The clown has told us we're not preparing for relegation. We're 6 pts (7 with GD) from safety. If he thinks we shouldn't be preparing then it just goes to show how utterly stupid he is.
The Oyston's are still in charge at Blackpool. It might not be next season, it might not be the season after, but they will be gone eventually. It will probably come about by him taking us into league one and realising he's wasted £44m. That will hurt us, but I will take some small pleasure in seeing him lose that money. I will take greater pleasure in being at the Valley the day KM has to pack up her bags and we can say fuck off.
I beg people to stick with it. Nothing good ever comes easy
people are saying he isn't aware of the extent of the discontent because KM is hiding it from him, well if he is the new focus of the action by fans he is going to snap and have to pull KM up on why he is now in the firing line and this in turn will make him aware of how bad things have got.
Joking, honestly.
At the Reading game it's footabll for a Fiver, meaning a higher turnout. By definition any after match protest will be bigger. We need to make it bigger by letting fans on the day know of the issues involved. A free VOTV or specific leaflets will get the message across. We need as high a turnout as possible. Would be great if we could attract fans from other Clubs to attend especially as its only a Fiver. If they are lucky a game of football might even break out at some point.
Doesn't sound like they value their sponsors, does it ?
The letter from Steve Clarke was excellent, one businessman to another, and a posting from Charlton Kerry was also excellent. I would have preferred it to have gone from a Group representing supporters with more reference to the errors being made here rather than a head to head challenge. I would want it to be a continuous series of information and ideas, presented in a businesslike, professional manner.
By all means continue your activity at the Valley, I personally arrive and leave on a Coach. A nice picture of Roland with a target on him might disturb him a bit, or perhaps labelled WANTED The Fugitive. (That one made me laugh !)
Thanks Pico, I tried to join but it would not let me, probably my fault. I will stop by the Upper North if they are there next game and register. ( I may have joined when it started, I will check. )