The whole situation is a mess, and to me there's so right thing to do, it's up to individuals to choose.
What has struck me, is that many of the people buying season tickets for other clubs (whether lower league on non league) are mainly living a considerable distance from The Valley, well outside of the "natural" catchment area of a football club. I imagine its easier to make such a decision in such circumstances, than if you lived in say Woolwich or Blackheath
This is spot on. If I lived a short walk or bus ride from The Valley then I'd probably be more active in protesting, etc, and less inclined to start going to a non-league club I've watched on and off for more than two decades. But a three-hour round trip makes it much easier to simply boycott The Valley and switch to an alternative football fix until RD is gone.
And it also means a Ryman Premier club gets some much-needed revenue, out of RD's pockets and into the grassroots of the peoples' game. I'd say that's win-win as long as the regime remains in place.
Through health issues I haven't attended more than a handful of games this season and because of what's happening to our club I originally decided that I wouldn't be attending next season.
I've now decided that the madman Duchatelet and his minions are not going to come between me and Charlton Athletic. It's what I do on Saturdays and have for 55 years win, lose or draw. I support the shirt and all it stands for. I'll protest and not spend a penny more than I have to but he's not going to destroy the Charlton that's in my heart.
Through health issues I haven't attended more than a handful of games this season and because of what's happening to our club I originally decided that I wouldn't be attending next season.
I've now decided that the madman Duchatelet and his minions are not going to come between me and Charlton Athletic. It's what I do on Saturdays and have for 55 years win, lose or draw. I support the shirt and all it stands for. I'll protest and not spend a penny more than I have to but he's not going to destroy the Charlton that's in my heart.
The lack of a decent pre-season schedule under a respected gaffer, not to mention any new players that won't have time to "gel" (whatever that means) with the squad, must point towards mid-table at best, and every chance of a flirt with relegation again.
I predict another Wim Bom Van Der Nubbidy as gaffer, with an equally notable sidekick, and ten new players with names like Eurovision presenters.
As the AWB put it - "maybe we'll turn back the hands of time"
The whole situation is a mess, and to me there's no right thing to do, it's up to individuals to choose.
What has struck me, is that many of the people buying season tickets for other clubs (whether lower league on non league) are mainly living a considerable distance from The Valley, well outside of the "natural" catchment area of a football club. I imagine its easier to make such a decision in such circumstances, than if you lived in say Woolwich or Blackheath
That is true to some extent - but in my case and many others, it just goes to show how badly and deeply their ownership has affected some. I may NOW live in Essex, but I was born in Sidcup, raised nr Swanley and for the past 11 years have happily commuted from Essex to the Valley as a season ticket holder and would have continued to do so for the rest of my life I guess. Same with my Dad - born and raised in Bromley/Orpington but NOW lives in nr Maidstone. But again, has never had a problem driving from Maidstone to SE7 and back.
As someone has mentioned, it has cost me MORE in season tickets to watch southend than it would have at Charlton. But the difference is, I dont have to travel miles to watch a game. I dont have to watch a club I love dearly slip into the conference. I dont have to be mindful of spending money at the ground (which I fully support by the way, less money to RD the better). I wont feel sad, angry and bitter when they lose, becuase I dont fully support them.
But none of this would have been an option a few seasons ago - even with a relegation or even 2, I would never have thought about leaving my club. But the truth it, I just dont want to go anymore. I hate the owner. I hate the MD. I have very little time or connection with a lot of the players. I struggle to respect any manager who is prepared to work under their ownership. I hate the sofa. So why would I keep on going?
Through health issues I haven't attended more than a handful of games this season and because of what's happening to our club I originally decided that I wouldn't be attending next season.
I've now decided that the madman Duchatelet and his minions are not going to come between me and Charlton Athletic. It's what I do on Saturdays and have for 55 years win, lose or draw. I support the shirt and all it stands for. I'll protest and not spend a penny more than I have to but he's not going to destroy the Charlton that's in my heart.
Great post and spot on for me.
After almost two decades living abroad, I started going regularly to the Valley again just 2 years ago. Very bad timing for our club's fortunes. But now I'm going to matches with my 86 year old dad and 12 year old son. Spending time together (albeit suffering our idiot owner and CEO) is a precious thing and won't last forever, maybe not even till said idiot owner is out of our club.
I also thought @thai malaysia addick's opening post was spot on. It's really confusing right now and each individual fan needs to make decisions on how to support, how to protest, etc. based on his or her individual circumstances.
Having said that, there's no way any of us are giving them any money up front for season tickets!
ER - You really think a professional football manager or head coach will give precedent to the musings on a football web site over the protracted failings of the CEO and owner to consistently fail to support 6 head coaches over 30 months.
The issues at stake are of far greater importance. Any "manager" in any industry charged with a series of tasks and duties will be climbing over precisely what those specific tasks and duties are and the empowerment to fulfil them in terms of financial & human resources and crucially the authority to act.
They will then take into account the measure of remuneration and period of commitment being made by the employer.
Implicit to these considerations will be the social impact of the working location and environment on family interests.
During these evaluations, in the football industry, any candidate will be seeking any amount of anecdotal evidence from other industry professionals as to the nature of the people he would be working for.
I do not disagree the negative publicity surrounding the club will factor into this latter category but there are circa 10 factors of disconnect before he will get round to the club supporters.
I note various entreaties to support the club close to our hearts but that club no longer exists. They may play at the same location and wear the club kit but the values associated with the club and with the vast majority of clubs across the industry have been ridiculed and devalued by the current regime to the point of destruction.
So crucially until the club returns to its historic values Charlton Athletic Football Club is a singularly unattractive proposition as a worthwhile and traditional football club. This regime is being rejected because the type of people we need at this point will always likely pursue better options.
On what basis would any experienced coach/ manager not simply looking for another pay cheque or indeed any coach wish to entrust their professional reputation, career and future prospect to people who have treated previous footballing and non footballing employees with such disdain?
Those seeking to find something to hold onto have commented on one of the threads we have always bought players to sell them - that is simply not true. We have sold any number of players because of financial necessity or to reinvest in the team but until this regime arrived I struggle to name one player who was specifically bought for resale. Others may have a different recollection.
The nearest I can get to is Paul Went who we purchased aged 17 so there was always a potential upside to selling him on but he served us for 5 seasons playing over 150 games.
It is true we have picked up any number of players for small fees or free transfers who later developed to become key players and in so doing outgrew our playing status at the time but virtually all contributed to the improvement of the team before their departure.
Players at nearly every club will have a price but the primary objective in bringing in players has to be to strengthen the squad in attempt to secure better team performances whether to stave off relegation, try to climb the table or seek promotion.
It is the pursuit of sporting excellence.
Under Lennie Lawrence did we bring in Humphreys, Thompson, Pender, Reid, Shipley, Loveridge and Pearson for resale?
Under Chris Powell did we bring 18 players for resale?
Such a fundamental objective no longer exists at the club. This regime has no sporting aspiration. Its sole ambition is to prove it can break even. The manner in which they have tried to pursue such an agenda has alienated virtually an entire industry.
Any entertainment analogy is facile. The entertainment comes watching sportsmen compete to win - if not why not just play any number of attractive friendlies and see how many turn up?
Over and above their flawed strategies they have insulted our history and our supporters and proved abject failures in every aspect of running a football club.
The regimes' continuing stumbles do not augur well for any improved performance or stability going forward on or off the field.
In truth it is immensely depressing. My continued interest remains on my love of the game and indeed is simply based in the memories of supporting and following the club for many decades but I refuse to have such memories tarnished by the abomination that the regime today represents.
I suspect I will to my dying day always check the media on news about the club and its players which will give cause for reflection on happier times but there it will remain unless and until there is clear and unequivocal evidence of a material and protracted change in the way this regime does its business.
Today its very presence offends every fibre of my sporting and business psyche.
As long as this lot remain in charge the crowd and support will just drop off due to the terrible atmosphere and awful football. I have been more interested in the fate of Wimbledon recently as they resemble a proper football club where the fans have a proper voice - getting from tier 9 of the football pyramid to League 1 after rebuilding from scratch is amazing. We seem to be doing the exact opposite. What RD and KM have done is criminal....
No confusion here: 1) CAFC is owned by a lunatic 2) The business is run by a mendacious chancer 3) The football will be awful 4) The squad will be inadequate 5) The first team manager/head coach/interim patsy/whatever will be replaced at least twice during the season 6) Avoiding relegation will rely more on there being 4 shittier/unluckier teams than Charlton All the while that 1 &/or 2 remain true 3 to 6 are inevitable
Comments
And it also means a Ryman Premier club gets some much-needed revenue, out of RD's pockets and into the grassroots of the peoples' game. I'd say that's win-win as long as the regime remains in place.
I predict another Wim Bom Van Der Nubbidy as gaffer, with an equally notable sidekick, and ten new players with names like Eurovision presenters.
As the AWB put it - "maybe we'll turn back the hands of time"
As someone has mentioned, it has cost me MORE in season tickets to watch southend than it would have at Charlton. But the difference is, I dont have to travel miles to watch a game. I dont have to watch a club I love dearly slip into the conference. I dont have to be mindful of spending money at the ground (which I fully support by the way, less money to RD the better). I wont feel sad, angry and bitter when they lose, becuase I dont fully support them.
But none of this would have been an option a few seasons ago - even with a relegation or even 2, I would never have thought about leaving my club. But the truth it, I just dont want to go anymore. I hate the owner. I hate the MD. I have very little time or connection with a lot of the players. I struggle to respect any manager who is prepared to work under their ownership. I hate the sofa. So why would I keep on going?
Nothing confusing about that, just the norm!!
After almost two decades living abroad, I started going regularly to the Valley again just 2 years ago. Very bad timing for our club's fortunes. But now I'm going to matches with my 86 year old dad and 12 year old son. Spending time together (albeit suffering our idiot owner and CEO) is a precious thing and won't last forever, maybe not even till said idiot owner is out of our club.
I also thought @thai malaysia addick's opening post was spot on. It's really confusing right now and each individual fan needs to make decisions on how to support, how to protest, etc. based on his or her individual circumstances.
Having said that, there's no way any of us are giving them any money up front for season tickets!
The issues at stake are of far greater importance. Any "manager" in any industry charged with a series of tasks and duties will be climbing over precisely what those specific tasks and duties are and the empowerment to fulfil them in terms of financial & human resources and crucially the authority to act.
They will then take into account the measure of remuneration and period of commitment being made by the employer.
Implicit to these considerations will be the social impact of the working location and environment on family interests.
During these evaluations, in the football industry, any candidate will be seeking any amount of anecdotal evidence from other industry professionals as to the nature of the people he would be working for.
I do not disagree the negative publicity surrounding the club will factor into this latter category but there are circa 10 factors of disconnect before he will get round to the club supporters.
I note various entreaties to support the club close to our hearts but that club no longer exists. They may play at the same location and wear the club kit but the values associated with the club and with the vast majority of clubs across the industry have been ridiculed and devalued by the current regime to the point of destruction.
So crucially until the club returns to its historic values Charlton Athletic Football Club is a singularly unattractive proposition as a worthwhile and traditional football club. This regime is being rejected because the type of people we need at this point will always likely pursue better options.
On what basis would any experienced coach/ manager not simply looking for another pay cheque or indeed any coach wish to entrust their professional reputation, career and future prospect to people who have treated previous footballing and non footballing employees with such disdain?
Those seeking to find something to hold onto have commented on one of the threads we have always bought players to sell them - that is simply not true. We have sold any number of players because of financial necessity or to reinvest in the team but until this regime arrived I struggle to name one player who was specifically bought for resale. Others may have a different recollection.
The nearest I can get to is Paul Went who we purchased aged 17 so there was always a potential upside to selling him on but he served us for 5 seasons playing over 150 games.
It is true we have picked up any number of players for small fees or free transfers who later developed to become key players and in so doing outgrew our playing status at the time but virtually all contributed to the improvement of the team before their departure.
Players at nearly every club will have a price but the primary objective in bringing in players has to be to strengthen the squad in attempt to secure better team performances whether to stave off relegation, try to climb the table or seek promotion.
It is the pursuit of sporting excellence.
Under Lennie Lawrence did we bring in Humphreys, Thompson, Pender, Reid, Shipley, Loveridge and Pearson for resale?
Under Chris Powell did we bring 18 players for resale?
Such a fundamental objective no longer exists at the club. This regime has no sporting aspiration. Its sole ambition is to prove it can break even. The manner in which they have tried to pursue such an agenda has alienated virtually an entire industry.
Any entertainment analogy is facile. The entertainment comes watching sportsmen compete to win - if not why not just play any number of attractive friendlies and see how many turn up?
Over and above their flawed strategies they have insulted our history and our supporters and proved abject failures in every aspect of running a football club.
The regimes' continuing stumbles do not augur well for any improved performance or stability going forward on or off the field.
In truth it is immensely depressing. My continued interest remains on my love of the game and indeed is simply based in the memories of supporting and following the club for many decades but I refuse to have such memories tarnished by the abomination that the regime today represents.
I suspect I will to my dying day always check the media on news about the club and its players which will give cause for reflection on happier times but there it will remain unless and until there is clear and unequivocal evidence of a material and protracted change in the way this regime does its business.
Today its very presence offends every fibre of my sporting and business psyche.
What RD and KM have done is criminal....
1) CAFC is owned by a lunatic
2) The business is run by a mendacious chancer
3) The football will be awful
4) The squad will be inadequate
5) The first team manager/head coach/interim patsy/whatever will be replaced at least twice during the season
6) Avoiding relegation will rely more on there being 4 shittier/unluckier teams than Charlton
All the while that 1 &/or 2 remain true 3 to 6 are inevitable
Keep smilin'