The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
From what I understand Miles Leaburn has earnt his stripes and is a prospect.
What did happen with that sponsorship deal he was working on. I know businesses at the Charlton golf day who were shocked at what happened with the current deal.
The deal (by Mumford not Roddy) was overhyped but it is not a sponsorship deal and it has been done. It will be announced in due course. It was never going to have any impact on the transfer budget.
Airman. Are you hearing any rumblings about Roddys role and influence in the club?
Noise around a bit of a turf war in January, which I think Bowyer-Gallen won. I've never really seen the case for both Roddy and Gallen in L1 tbh.
I think this is the nub of it. Sandgaard is trying to run the club like a "normal" business by having directors of X, y and z but this isn't really necessary.
I don't think this is necessarily something that Roddy can be blamed for personally, he got given the job and is doing it. But I don't think it's been implemented particularly well.
This isnt a dig in anyway mate but you say he has been given a job and he is doing it, how do you know that ? I think it is all a bit vague what his job is let alone that he is doing it ?
Well either he IS doing his job and has part of the responsibility for how things are going (i.e. badly) or he's not doing anything and therefore it's nothing to do with him.
But all the quotes about what his job role actually is and how he fits in suggest he is doing SOMETHING. So while o can't comment on whether he's good at his job he does appear to be involved in some capacity.
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
Do Miles’ parents have the same level of influence?
As far as i can make out online his issue at Reading was with their chief executive Ron Gourlay. Reading were actually doing well, made the play off final then got this new guy in that summer who wanted to take over recruitment and things went to shit. Tevreden resigned and blamed Gourlay, even went on a Reading fan podcast and was pretty vocal about it.
I can't see any reason why he'd have an issue with Roddy, never mind tweet about him 3 years after he left there.
I’m pissed off. Let’s be honest and say that every single one of us thought that we would be signing a squad of players to compete at the top of this league. That was what was promised if not in those exact words. Forget the nonsense about Premier League in five years or whatever was said. Every journey starts somewhere and we’ve started ours by not delivering anything like a top six league one team. Nowhere near. Now either Sandgaard is a fool or he thinks we might be. Much preferred him to be up front from day one but we got sold a load of old flannel. I suppose we desperately wanted to believe it. I’m beginning to think that there might still be legal wranglings going on over ownership that have not been resolved and TS can’t commit because of that ? In any case something doesn’t feel right to me.
But Sandgaard has spent money, probably a decent amount (for a L1 club) on DJ, Stockley and Kirk and new signings are being given multi-year deals.
I'm not sure any fans truly knows what the inner workings of Roddy's role is and some of the anger been put his way is probably a little mis-placed. He may be absolutely amazing at his job, or he could be abysmal, but I'm not sure anyone has seen enough yet to make a firm judgement as a lot of his work is behind the scenes.
The comment from the ex-reading director just fits the narrative at the moment, I'm sure if we'd won our first 3 games people would just be labelling him a bitter ex-employee. As it stands we have started poorly and therefore whatever has been mentioned by one ex-employee of his is been taken as fact.
What I would say is signing your own son shows a degree of naivety you wouldn't expect to see in someone of such a senior role and I remember thinking as soon as I heard the news that it would end up going south. I think it happened early in pre-season therefore probably flew under the radar slightly however I remember seeing it announced and instantly thinking it was a poor call.
Roddy is clearly a very experienced football man, and there must have been an appreciation somewhere that if things were to start going badly at the club then it would be used as a stick to beat him with, as has transpired 3 games into the season and I can't help but think it was a situation that could have been avoided.
That isn't a criticism of his son, you can't blame him for taking a contract, nobody in their right mind would turn down a professional deal. He may also be a genuinely talented player, and I know nothing about him so perhaps he will turn into a great player for the club. However nothing indicates we were fighting off clubs for his signature.
There will always be the weight of expectation on him as the son of a director and he will have to work twice as hard to prove his worth to fans and other players in the academy as there'll always be accusations of nepotism.
You can absolutely bet that other academy players see his inclusion in the first team as favouritism, regardless of whether that is correct or not. Those accusations will be made regardless of how good a player he is, its just the nature of the business however it can't be good for the morale of the academy.
I don't subscribe to all the criticism of the inner workings at the club at the moment, I suspect all parties are finding their feet in their new roles and within the new structure and it is to early to make solid judgements so early on. However it's a lot of pressure to put on a young lad and I can't help but feel that if Roddy himself didn't see it was a bad idea then someone else in a decision making role at the club should have stepped in.
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
From what I understand Miles Leaburn has earnt his stripes and is a prospect.
I have heard this a few times, not comparable at all. Leaburn was in another academy (was it Chelsea) so some pedigree and was about 16 when he joined our youth team. As far as I know he still does not have a professional contract so could be released which I suspect will be down to Steve Avory.
Roddy came in as an 18 year old on a professional contract having been signed from a school and has since played in the first team.
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, who appears to have signed a pro contract! is starting to whiff quite a bit
Adkins is always banging on about ensuring the club have a path way to the first team for the kids. That’s all well and good, but if they are shit it doesn’t really help the us. Besides, looking at the woeful performances we are churning out at the moment, you really wouldn’t want a kid to be part of it - his confidence will be shot from the off.
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
That's quite different for a number of reasons
Firstly, @Tracey isn't a director so doesn't have that level of influence, if any, on recruitment decisions.
Secondly, Miles Leaburn was at Chelsea, one of the most successful academies in the country, until he was released aged 16. He then had something like 24 clubs after him including the likes of Fulham, Leeds, Watford and Rangers. He also joined as a scholar (he's in his second year now) not on a pro contract.
There are good reasons why Charlton would want to pick up any player released by Chelsea whoever his parents were.
Jacob Roddy is in a different situation so I don't think the comparison stands.
I don't think it reflects well on Ged Roddy but I don't blame the son for that.
I'm more concerned about the tweet from Cawley that says
"I think Adkins has said previously how it works. Roddy and recruitment team identify the players and then Gallen is involved in negotiating with clubs/players."
I hadn't heard that before and that wasn't how TS described the recruitment process a few months back.
Concerning if accurate (not that I doubt Cawley)
Roddy is the "new boy" & an unknown to fans so an obvious target for blame but this doesn't feel right to me at all. Gallen is a proven recruiter and much more than just a negotiator. Adkins also has a wealth of contacts.
The question that "Roddy and recruitment team" begs is who are the other people in Roddy's recruitment team and where did they work before?
Who are they, who appointed them and what makes them better qualified then Gallen and Adkins?
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
That's quite different for a number of reasons
Firstly, @Tracey isn't a director so doesn't have that level of influence, if any, on recruitment decisions.
Secondly, Miles Leaburn was at Chelsea, one of the most successful academies in the country, until he was released aged 16. He then had something like 24 clubs after him including the likes of Fulham, Leeds, Watford and Rangers. He also joined as a scholar (he's in his second year now) not on a pro contract.
There are good reasons why Charlton would want to pick up any player released by Chelsea whoever his parents were.
Jacob Roddy is in a different situation so I don't think the comparison stands.
I don't think it reflects well on Ged Roddy but I don't blame the son for that.
I'm more concerned about the tweet from Cawley that says
"I think Adkins has said previously how it works. Roddy and recruitment team identify the players and then Gallen is involved in negotiating with clubs/players."
I hadn't heard that before and that wasn't how TS described the recruitment process a few months back.
Concerning if accurate (not that I doubt Cawley)
Roddy is the "new boy" & an unknown to fans so an obvious target for blame but this doesn't feel right to me at all. Gallen is a proven recruiter and much more than just a negotiator. Adkins also has a wealth of contacts.
The question that "Roddy and recruitment team" begs is who are the other people in Roddy's recruitment team and where did they work before?
Who are they, who appointed them and what makes them better qualified then Gallen and Adkins?
Yes it's a little different and because Carl and Tracy Leaburn are club legends we will probably let it slide and rightly so. TS has looked at Brentford with a Danish owner and coach and their 'moneyball' approach. Is that how we are operating ? Maybe the stats for Dobson and Clare stood out ? Do we have an analytics expert now at the club ? Not sure but not been impressed TBH. Early doors but not heading in right direction.
Yes it's a little different and because Carl and Tracy Leaburn are club legends we will probably let it slide and rightly so. TS has looked at Brentford with a Danish owner and coach and their 'moneyball' approach. Is that how we are operating ? Maybe the stats for Dobson and Clare stood out ? Do we have an analytics expert now at the club ? Not sure but not been impressed TBH. Early doors but not heading in right direction.
Jumping in, remembered some mention of data analysis in an old interview from Adkins, tracked it down and:
Asked about the process of bringing in players, Adkins told the South London Press: “I like to be hands on but we have got a recruitment team here. Steve Gallen heads that up, Ged Roddy is in there – there is all the data analysis that goes on.
“There are attributes I’m looking for in the team. The guys are spending a lot of time researching the players who are out there. At the appropriate time we will sit down together and say ‘these are the players we can bring in, how do we go and do it?’ And I’ll be involved at that stage a bit more.”
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
That's quite different for a number of reasons
Firstly, @Tracey isn't a director so doesn't have that level of influence, if any, on recruitment decisions.
Secondly, Miles Leaburn was at Chelsea, one of the most successful academies in the country, until he was released aged 16. He then had something like 24 clubs after him including the likes of Fulham, Leeds, Watford and Rangers. He also joined as a scholar (he's in his second year now) not on a pro contract.
There are good reasons why Charlton would want to pick up any player released by Chelsea whoever his parents were.
Jacob Roddy is in a different situation so I don't think the comparison stands.
I don't think it reflects well on Ged Roddy but I don't blame the son for that.
I'm more concerned about the tweet from Cawley that says
"I think Adkins has said previously how it works. Roddy and recruitment team identify the players and then Gallen is involved in negotiating with clubs/players."
I hadn't heard that before and that wasn't how TS described the recruitment process a few months back.
Concerning if accurate (not that I doubt Cawley)
Roddy is the "new boy" & an unknown to fans so an obvious target for blame but this doesn't feel right to me at all. Gallen is a proven recruiter and much more than just a negotiator. Adkins also has a wealth of contacts.
The question that "Roddy and recruitment team" begs is who are the other people in Roddy's recruitment team and where did they work before?
Who are they, who appointed them and what makes them better qualified then Gallen and Adkins?
Yes it's a little different and because Carl and Tracy Leaburn are club legends we will probably let it slide and rightly so. TS has looked at Brentford with a Danish owner and coach and their 'moneyball' approach. Is that how we are operating ? Maybe the stats for Dobson and Clare stood out ? Do we have an analytics expert now at the club ? Not sure but not been impressed TBH. Early doors but not heading in right direction.
I don't think its about letting it slide, it isn't an issue because of where Miles came from and how he joined.
We don't know about Jacob Roddy, who was I seem to remember reading was in Southampton's academy, but it's not surprising that people are speculating and seeing it as a negative.
Jacob Roddy hasn't been a total disaster on the field of play. Certainly no worse than plenty of other youth left-backs we've had. He clearly has ability, regardless of how much his move was smoothed by his dad's presence
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
After spending years at Chelseas’s academy he was released following g a bad injury. He had around 20 clubs vying for his signature. He chose Charlton because of personal reasons.
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
After spending years at Chelseas’s academy he was released following g a bad injury. He had around 20 clubs vying for his signature. He chose Charlton because of personal reasons.
Trust me - he is there on merit
And I’d expect Jacob to be there on merit too. I’m sure he is.
Yes it's a little different and because Carl and Tracy Leaburn are club legends we will probably let it slide and rightly so. TS has looked at Brentford with a Danish owner and coach and their 'moneyball' approach. Is that how we are operating ? Maybe the stats for Dobson and Clare stood out ? Do we have an analytics expert now at the club ? Not sure but not been impressed TBH. Early doors but not heading in right direction.
Jumping in, remembered some mention of data analysis in an old interview from Adkins, tracked it down and:
Asked about the process of bringing in players, Adkins told the South London Press: “I like to be hands on but we have got a recruitment team here. Steve Gallen heads that up, Ged Roddy is in there – there is all the data analysis that goes on.
“There are attributes I’m looking for in the team. The guys are spending a lot of time researching the players who are out there. At the appropriate time we will sit down together and say ‘these are the players we can bring in, how do we go and do it?’ And I’ll be involved at that stage a bit more.”
From Gallen's interview on the OS after signing Clare
"We talk through all these things - myself, the manager, Ged Roddy [Technical Director] and the chairman. We’re all talking and giving our opinions, and we all decide whether to move for a player. We all agreed pretty quickly on Sean Clare, we were well aware of him."
Looks like the committee tried to build a horse and ended up with a camel. As it stands. There is still time to flatten the hump, just.
The fact that kids, some of which have been with us since they were 6 years old have been bumped off in the summer and replaced by the new sporting directors son, is starting to whiff quite a bit
Agreed. Its nepotism......but then on the other hand whatt about Miles Leaburn ? Is that the same case ?
That's quite different for a number of reasons
Firstly, @Tracey isn't a director so doesn't have that level of influence, if any, on recruitment decisions.
Secondly, Miles Leaburn was at Chelsea, one of the most successful academies in the country, until he was released aged 16. He then had something like 24 clubs after him including the likes of Fulham, Leeds, Watford and Rangers. He also joined as a scholar (he's in his second year now) not on a pro contract.
There are good reasons why Charlton would want to pick up any player released by Chelsea whoever his parents were.
Jacob Roddy is in a different situation so I don't think the comparison stands.
I don't think it reflects well on Ged Roddy but I don't blame the son for that.
I'm more concerned about the tweet from Cawley that says
"I think Adkins has said previously how it works. Roddy and recruitment team identify the players and then Gallen is involved in negotiating with clubs/players."
I hadn't heard that before and that wasn't how TS described the recruitment process a few months back.
Concerning if accurate (not that I doubt Cawley)
Roddy is the "new boy" & an unknown to fans so an obvious target for blame but this doesn't feel right to me at all. Gallen is a proven recruiter and much more than just a negotiator. Adkins also has a wealth of contacts.
The question that "Roddy and recruitment team" begs is who are the other people in Roddy's recruitment team and where did they work before?
Who are they, who appointed them and what makes them better qualified then Gallen and Adkins?
I agree with this.
There is something quite strange afoot.
I posted on the first page of this thread reacting positively to Roddy's appointment. I saw his role as a structural enabler who would take the edge work away from Bowyer, Gallen and Avory and allow them the time and reduced burden to perform their roles more effectively.
What we've seen since is one of those 3 leave (whether related or not), his replacement regress and the other 2 seemingly be put out of joint.
For me this exposes the flaw in Sandgaard from the start - he neither has direct football knowledge and experience or a CEO who does who can employ his/her own at executive level.
Comments
Roddy on the other hand is still only 18 himself, but has a senior appearance to his name
I've got no issue Jacob being at the club, if he represents the age groups accordingly. But if he's here as the backup LB - That aint right.
But all the quotes about what his job role actually is and how he fits in suggest he is doing SOMETHING. So while o can't comment on whether he's good at his job he does appear to be involved in some capacity.
I can't see any reason why he'd have an issue with Roddy, never mind tweet about him 3 years after he left there.
The comment from the ex-reading director just fits the narrative at the moment, I'm sure if we'd won our first 3 games people would just be labelling him a bitter ex-employee. As it stands we have started poorly and therefore whatever has been mentioned by one ex-employee of his is been taken as fact.
What I would say is signing your own son shows a degree of naivety you wouldn't expect to see in someone of such a senior role and I remember thinking as soon as I heard the news that it would end up going south. I think it happened early in pre-season therefore probably flew under the radar slightly however I remember seeing it announced and instantly thinking it was a poor call.
Roddy is clearly a very experienced football man, and there must have been an appreciation somewhere that if things were to start going badly at the club then it would be used as a stick to beat him with, as has transpired 3 games into the season and I can't help but think it was a situation that could have been avoided.
That isn't a criticism of his son, you can't blame him for taking a contract, nobody in their right mind would turn down a professional deal. He may also be a genuinely talented player, and I know nothing about him so perhaps he will turn into a great player for the club. However nothing indicates we were fighting off clubs for his signature.
There will always be the weight of expectation on him as the son of a director and he will have to work twice as hard to prove his worth to fans and other players in the academy as there'll always be accusations of nepotism.
You can absolutely bet that other academy players see his inclusion in the first team as favouritism, regardless of whether that is correct or not. Those accusations will be made regardless of how good a player he is, its just the nature of the business however it can't be good for the morale of the academy.
I don't subscribe to all the criticism of the inner workings at the club at the moment, I suspect all parties are finding their feet in their new roles and within the new structure and it is to early to make solid judgements so early on. However it's a lot of pressure to put on a young lad and I can't help but feel that if Roddy himself didn't see it was a bad idea then someone else in a decision making role at the club should have stepped in.
It appears Avory is the one being taken for a bit of a ride.
I have heard this a few times, not comparable at all. Leaburn was in another academy (was it Chelsea) so some pedigree and was about 16 when he joined our youth team. As far as I know he still does not have a professional contract so could be released which I suspect will be down to Steve Avory.
Roddy came in as an 18 year old on a professional contract having been signed from a school and has since played in the first team.
Totally different.
I'm amazed it's gone this long without creating a din.
Firstly, @Tracey isn't a director so doesn't have that level of influence, if any, on recruitment decisions.
Secondly, Miles Leaburn was at Chelsea, one of the most successful academies in the country, until he was released aged 16. He then had something like 24 clubs after him including the likes of Fulham, Leeds, Watford and Rangers. He also joined as a scholar (he's in his second year now) not on a pro contract.
There are good reasons why Charlton would want to pick up any player released by Chelsea whoever his parents were.
Jacob Roddy is in a different situation so I don't think the comparison stands.
I don't think it reflects well on Ged Roddy but I don't blame the son for that.
I'm more concerned about the tweet from Cawley that says
"I think Adkins has said previously how it works. Roddy and recruitment team identify the players and then Gallen is involved in negotiating with clubs/players."
I hadn't heard that before and that wasn't how TS described the recruitment process a few months back.
Concerning if accurate (not that I doubt Cawley)
Roddy is the "new boy" & an unknown to fans so an obvious target for blame but this doesn't feel right to me at all. Gallen is a proven recruiter and much more than just a negotiator. Adkins also has a wealth of contacts.
The question that "Roddy and recruitment team" begs is who are the other people in Roddy's recruitment team and where did they work before?
Who are they, who appointed them and what makes them better qualified then Gallen and Adkins?
No, no,
no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no
No no, no Ged Roddy
Jumping in, remembered some mention of data analysis in an old interview from Adkins, tracked it down and:
Asked about the process of bringing in players, Adkins told the South London Press: “I like to be hands on but we have got a recruitment team here. Steve Gallen heads that up, Ged Roddy is in there – there is all the data analysis that goes on.
“There are attributes I’m looking for in the team. The guys are spending a lot of time researching the players who are out there. At the appropriate time we will sit down together and say ‘these are the players we can bring in, how do we go and do it?’ And I’ll be involved at that stage a bit more.”
Back in May here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-nigel-adkins-asked-about-transfer-window-recruitment-process/
Edited…… oops sorry late to this. 😉
We don't know about Jacob Roddy, who was I seem to remember reading was in Southampton's academy, but it's not surprising that people are speculating and seeing it as a negative.
Trust me - he is there on merit
"We talk through all these things - myself, the manager, Ged Roddy [Technical Director] and the chairman. We’re all talking and giving our opinions, and we all decide whether to move for a player. We all agreed pretty quickly on Sean Clare, we were well aware of him."
Looks like the committee tried to build a horse and ended up with a camel. As it stands. There is still time to flatten the hump, just.
I know we’re not great at the moment and I’m not defending whether we are or not.
But didn’t Peter Varney have his son at the club for a time, different times, same thing?
And yet in general terms PV is highly thought of by the fanbase.
Time will tell whether all this is right or not, Thomas isn’t daft, if he can see things are not working, I’m sure he’ll make changes in time.
There is something quite strange afoot.
I posted on the first page of this thread reacting positively to Roddy's appointment. I saw his role as a structural enabler who would take the edge work away from Bowyer, Gallen and Avory and allow them the time and reduced burden to perform their roles more effectively.
What we've seen since is one of those 3 leave (whether related or not), his replacement regress and the other 2 seemingly be put out of joint.
For me this exposes the flaw in Sandgaard from the start - he neither has direct football knowledge and experience or a CEO who does who can employ his/her own at executive level.
This needs a rethink, and some explaining.