As a competition lawyer there is one area where she could have lent her expertise - the State Aid complaints re the Olympic Stadium (which BTW is still being worked on by a very serious law firm on behalf of another club). Yet apart from passing my name to them, she has shunned all participation, and has never acknowledged our own efforts re the Olympic Stadium. There's a guy called Steve Lawrence still ploughing his lone furrow on this State Aid issue too. How he could have benefitted from a short chat with her. As it is, he keeps asking us if we can persuade CAFC to get involved in a new complaint. We just sit there looking embarrassed.
I can't believe it - she does what amouts to little more than a small module on TV rights as part of her studies, sells herself to Rat as a specialist and a few years later she's CEO? Come on!!! And reading her typical day, what is it with the contract/agent negotiations? She makes it sound like 90% of her time is taken up by that. Given half of them come from the network, and most of the contracts must be pretty standard, I reckon that's one mighty leap of the imagination. Still, typical Squirrel Face: 100% BS.
Good luck with the mails/letters - might have a go myself (and thanks for your advice on how to avoid litigineous comments etc).
Finally, and more than ever it is my belief that Katrien Meire would not have sanctioned the explanation given in The Statement regarding the meaning of the word 'weird (meaning unique)'. Her command of English is such that she would without question know that weird doesn't have the meaning of unique and this part of the statement makes her look foolish (or incompetent in her use of English which I don't accept). No the statement must be the work entirely of Doh-Land and he must have thought he could bale Meire out with this faulty explanation of his own making. That he insisted on its appearance on the web-site against all reasoned advice (for which Mel Baroni resigned) and possibly without KM seeing it (as it suggests she's isn't all that with English) demonstrates the flawed personality traits that drive Roland D. Such a man is a danger to the future of this club whist he presents himself as a sole benefactor. The sooner we can re-build following this damage the better. How much longer do we have to endure this?
At the Fans' Forum in January Meire did indeed use those very words, that she meant unique. I'm sure the statement is from Duchatelet, but those words are hers.
Finally, and more than ever it is my belief that Katrien Meire would not have sanctioned the explanation given in The Statement regarding the meaning of the word 'weird (meaning unique)'. Her command of English is such that she would without question know that weird doesn't have the meaning of unique and this part of the statement makes her look foolish (or incompetent in her use of English which I don't accept). No the statement must be the work entirely of Doh-Land and he must have thought he could bale Meire out with this faulty explanation of his own making. That he insisted on its appearance on the web-site against all reasoned advice (for which Mel Baroni resigned) and possibly without KM seeing it (as it suggests she's isn't all that with English) demonstrates the flawed personality traits that drive Roland D. Such a man is a danger to the future of this club whist he presents himself as a sole benefactor. The sooner we can re-build following this damage the better. How much longer do we have to endure this?
At the Fans' Forum in January Meire did indeed use those very words, that she meant unique. I'm sure the statement is from Duchatelet, but those words are hers.
ok, that is interesting but it does sound as if she was trying some damage limitation at the Fans Forum long after the event then to try to cover the 'went-viral' examination of the implications of her word 'weird' It looks as if she explained the incident to Roland during the height of the furore as a misunderstanding based on this usage of the word to mean unique. I am still suspicious that she came up with this explanation only after the Ireland interview started to be aired widely. Frankly, its a weak and patently flawed excuse and in PR terms was best left buried.
However, Roland in his wisdom clearly thought he was doing her a favour by reviving the debate last week to get some of the pressure off her but it was yet another PR mistake within the body of the greater PR disaster that was the statement as a whole.
It would have been illuminating to be in the room at CAFC when Roland was insisting (by phone/video conf?) that his statement be put onto the official site with the Head of Comms telling him in no uncertain terms (one would believe) not to do it. I assume something on the lines of 'I am the owner and you will do as I say' would have been the order of the day.
If we assume that the statement was all Roland, the depressing conclusion is that he thinks, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that KM Is doing a good/acceptable job and those good efforts are being undermined by a limited group of the revenue contributors.
It sounds borderline insane and maybe it is.
Reinforces the view that it has to be a sale from Roland, nothing less has any long term effect on our downward spiral.
How can someone who has been a CEO of a major organisation that has declined and be in a worse position (Championship to League 1) than when she took over be awarded a prize. In the real world she would be sacked!.
My understanding is that not a single person at the club was happy that statement went out, including our award winning CEO.
One can't help but wonder though, if our dear CEO was being completely honest with Roland all along - and keeping him up to date with all the latest developments - what would've shocked him in to sending such a statement?
My understanding is that not a single person at the club was happy that statement went out, including our award winning CEO.
Katrien is realising the owner does it his way then.
We have a fans forum in April I believe.
At the last one it is a matter of record that Katrien said they get enquiries to buy the club every week, yet the statement asks who would buy the club. My first question if I were at the fans forum would be for her to explain these two opposites.
I would then ask why Mel Baroni quit after 46 days. We waited 84 days between the announcement of her appointment and Mel starting work, and she left after six weeks or so.
I would ask why we were urged to buy season tickets last year with the promise of building a better tomorrow together when things are now much worse.
I would ask in the light of season ticket sales and our impending relegation what preparations have been made so far for next season.
My understanding is that not a single person at the club was happy that statement went out, including our award winning CEO.
One can't help but wonder though, if our dear CEO was being completely honest with Roland all along - and keeping him up to date with all the latest developments - what would've shocked him in to sending such a statement?
Seeing a whole match via TV feed for once. Don't believe that rubbish that he watches the rest on live feed.
How can someone who has been a CEO of a major organisation that has declined and be in a worse position (Championship to League 1) than when she took over be awarded a prize. In the real world she would be sacked!.
She's from Belgium. I imagine the shortlist was really small (ie just her) and Roland probably bought them some new computers to sweeten the deal
My understanding is that not a single person at the club was happy that statement went out, including our award winning CEO.
One can't help but wonder though, if our dear CEO was being completely honest with Roland all along - and keeping him up to date with all the latest developments - what would've shocked him in to sending such a statement?
Seeing a whole match via TV feed for once. Don't believe that rubbish that he watches the rest on live feed.
Of course he doesn't!
As for the statement, almost certainly the ramblings of a mad millionaire but suspect he incorporated material gleaned from discussions/emails with Meire. The defence of the CEO wasn't just a random aside to the rest of his rant.
Pretty sure when she was put in place she said she was surprised at being given the CEO title as she was inexperienced but RD insisted upon it so she would be taken seriously...
Laureate VRG - Alumni Price 2016 Katrien Meire CEO football club Charlton Athletic FC
What does a typical day / week for you?
I have every Monday senior management meetings where we plan the week ( ticketing , communications, commercial etc). Furthermore, I am at least 1x per week through our training ground where to train our young players and senior players , for about 40 people work at that location. Usually I have the rest of the day meetings with players' agents and stakeholders in English football and also a lot of networking. I try 1-2 days a week to take no appointments , so I have time to drive the team . The most important aspect of my job , the contract negotiations. We have 48 professional players , so there are always a few that need to be renegotiated and it takes still fast a few weeks before there is an agreement.
And on Saturdays I go to the match , both home and away . When we play at home I usually before and after the match back agreements with players' agents and commercial partners. During an away game , we usually commercial partners with which we have to ' entertain ' . In addition, building good relationships with colleagues occupying the same position as me with other clubs also very important.
Request that KU Leuven consider withdrawing the Alumni Prize to Katrien Meire.
The letter at the head of this thread (in a very slightly revised version) is being sent this morning by post to the senior board member of the University Rector Prof. Rik Torfs, the Vice-Rector and head of Alumni, Prof. Katlijn Malfliet, the Head of the Legal Dept of KU Leuven (but based at Maastrict University) Dr Dimitri Droshout and the Head Alumni Office of KU Leuven based at the University.
The response to this letter will be posted here in due course.
Any subsequent press coverage in Belgium and maybe here is likely to be handled by CARD although this has yet to be confirmed.
Should others wish to write then the address of the Uni is available on the KU Leuven web-site but at the risk of banging on about it if you do write please do not put anything which would leave you open to a malicious communication charge. You will be aware that KM has drawn attention in the past to 'the abuse' she receives from fans. She would no doubt love it if someone overstepped the mark as it would deflect from the embarrassment she should rightly feel when it becomes public knowledge that the Charlton fans are challenging the academic award recently given to Katrien Meire CEO at Charlton Athletic.
What's with the Daisy thing btw? Middle name? Roland's pet name for her?
She really is...
That's uncanny
The funniest thing on looking at these pictures, is that I am reminded that there are people who put insane things on the Charlton Facebook site like "I hate Katrien but I want sex with her so bad" or "I really fancy KM but wish she'd leave our club" whereas here on Charlton Life Katrien is really a laughing cow (we see her for what she really is)
"Driver" Jesus Christ he took the wrong turning when you ended up at our brillant club. I suggest you get back in that car and don't stop driving till you're back on Belgium soil. I cannot believe a university would honor such a loser.
Comments
As a competition lawyer there is one area where she could have lent her expertise - the State Aid complaints re the Olympic Stadium (which BTW is still being worked on by a very serious law firm on behalf of another club). Yet apart from passing my name to them, she has shunned all participation, and has never acknowledged our own efforts re the Olympic Stadium. There's a guy called Steve Lawrence still ploughing his lone furrow on this State Aid issue too. How he could have benefitted from a short chat with her. As it is, he keeps asking us if we can persuade CAFC to get involved in a new complaint. We just sit there looking embarrassed.
Good luck with the mails/letters - might have a go myself (and thanks for your advice on how to avoid litigineous comments etc).
It looks as if she explained the incident to Roland during the height of the furore as a misunderstanding based on this usage of the word to mean unique. I am still suspicious that she came up with this explanation only after the Ireland interview started to be aired widely. Frankly, its a weak and patently flawed excuse and in PR terms was best left buried.
However, Roland in his wisdom clearly thought he was doing her a favour by reviving the debate last week to get some of the pressure off her but it was yet another PR mistake within the body of the greater PR disaster that was the statement as a whole.
It would have been illuminating to be in the room at CAFC when Roland was insisting (by phone/video conf?) that his statement be put onto the official site with the Head of Comms telling him in no uncertain terms (one would believe) not to do it. I assume something on the lines of 'I am the owner and you will do as I say' would have been the order of the day.
It sounds borderline insane and maybe it is.
Reinforces the view that it has to be a sale from Roland, nothing less has any long term effect on our downward spiral.
That she hasn't is very wierd. Possibly uniquely wierd.
We have a fans forum in April I believe.
At the last one it is a matter of record that Katrien said they get enquiries to buy the club every week, yet the statement asks who would buy the club.
My first question if I were at the fans forum would be for her to explain these two opposites.
I would then ask why Mel Baroni quit after 46 days. We waited 84 days between the announcement of her appointment and Mel starting work, and she left after six weeks or so.
I would ask why we were urged to buy season tickets last year with the promise of building a better tomorrow together when things are now much worse.
I would ask in the light of season ticket sales and our impending relegation what preparations have been made so far for next season.
As for the statement, almost certainly the ramblings of a mad millionaire but suspect he incorporated material gleaned from discussions/emails with Meire. The defence of the CEO wasn't just a random aside to the rest of his rant.
*irony meter upto 11*
"I try 1-2 days a week to take no appointments"
So, looks like it's Varney's fault for not choosing the 5/6 days a week she does.
The letter at the head of this thread (in a very slightly revised version) is being sent this morning by post to the senior board member of the University Rector Prof. Rik Torfs, the Vice-Rector and head of Alumni, Prof. Katlijn Malfliet, the Head of the Legal Dept of KU Leuven (but based at Maastrict University) Dr Dimitri Droshout and the Head Alumni Office of KU Leuven based at the University.
The response to this letter will be posted here in due course.
Any subsequent press coverage in Belgium and maybe here is likely to be handled by CARD although this has yet to be confirmed.
Should others wish to write then the address of the Uni is available on the KU Leuven web-site but at the risk of banging on about it if you do write please do not put anything which would leave you open to a malicious communication charge.
You will be aware that KM has drawn attention in the past to 'the abuse' she receives from fans. She would no doubt love it if someone overstepped the mark as it would deflect from the embarrassment she should rightly feel when it becomes public knowledge that the Charlton fans are challenging the academic award recently given to Katrien Meire CEO at Charlton Athletic.
That's uncanny
The funniest thing on looking at these pictures, is that I am reminded that there are people who put insane things on the Charlton Facebook site like "I hate Katrien but I want sex with her so bad" or "I really fancy KM but wish she'd leave our club" whereas here on Charlton Life Katrien is really a laughing cow (we see her for what she really is)
Why would you not say ‘Where our first team squad are training - also the young players ... I guess I’ve already answered my own question.