I do not understand why successful business people invest in a third rate English football club, be it Charlton or any other club, there is no sense to it, and understand even less why people from other countries who have no connection with the purchased club do it. I'm glad that they are setting up a SMT with people who have professional football knowledge and I wish them well. As others have said the proof of the pudding .......
Wealdstone here we come!
One correction there - we are currently a third rate football team - we are not and never have, or will be, a third rate football club.
Classy statement from Thomas well intentioned in my opinion but didn’t find the reality of running a third division team what he thought it would be.Personally I wish him good luck in the future
Waited patiently before I renewed but now its done so am I with waiting. Looking forward to hopefully a brighter future. We have to live in hope after all
Just renewed mine trusting that we'll continue to squad build by the end of the window.
Felt less of a gesture of goodwill than recent times.
At the end of his reign, I thank TS for stepping in when he did, we would’ve been really screwed had he not, but pretty much everything after that was serious neglect. Fair play he spent a bit of money initially and I think he was unlucky in trusting Gallen with Mansfield and then Kirk and Stockley in the summer of 21. But after that, it was a shambles and although he put the money up, his lack of understanding was brutally exposed. And that’s all it comes down to. If you buy something whose people’s livelihoods depend upon it, or something that people have a genuine, deep love for, and don’t run it properly, then you leave yourself open for criticism and ultimately, he shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place
i haven’t even read the statement, don’t care. He’s gone. Fingers crossed the next mob are able to address a lot of his shortcomings
We've not had credible leadership at board level for too long - I'm just relieved to see that appropriate appointments are finally being made.
The early signs are giving me some optimism, though naturally this optimism is dashed with a huge amount of cautiousness.
The appointments and signings so far are, in my view, the signs of a somewhat 'well run' club - this for me is enough for now.
I just want to head to The Valley on a Saturday afternoon looking forward to seeing a well managed and resourced team. With the board level appointments, Holden, and new signings so far, for the first time in years I feel excited about the start of the season.
It's not perfect, not having the assets is rightly still a huge concern, and big questions remain on what happens if we don't get promoted within 2-3 years. However, these guys aren't Southall crooks, nor will their wives be heading up HR or their kids leading our transfer strategy.
For now I'm going to enjoy the takeover and see what unfolds at this ridiculous club over the next few seasons.
Time to move on from the past however many years of false hope ! I personally thank TS for saving us when I don’t believe anyone else was going to but also glad he has gone. Im feeling super positive about this now especially now we can see a decent board structure being put in place. I really hope everyone gets behind the club now and we rip the league up this season
I’m trying to figure out if the lack of obvious rejoice from the fanbase is relating to people knowing the deal was almost done anyway or just a malaise set in after the previous false dawns.
Let’s hope we see what they’re made of soon enough through positive actions🤞🏼
TS did indeed save our club, but then made every mistake in the book with his ‘heart in the right place’. Tell that (heart in the right place) to the staff that were negatively impacted throughout his ownership and all of us who ploughed hard earned cash into his born to fail break even model wishful thinking.
I was hopeful when he arrived, I will remember him as a failed egotistical naive businessman of an owner. I do not take glee from this way of thinking but equally won’t be liking a ‘touching’ farewell message.
I will tonight raise a fond glass to all the past employees who shone and whose lights were pissed on unnecessarily. It is they who I will remember most from this last 3 year period.
I hope that the next 1-10 to more years are a more enjoyable ride with an appropriately supportive, nurturing and together growing club culture. Let’s see how we go…?
Up the Addicks - all paid up and raring to go again!
Late to the party as usual & only just caught up with the posts of fellow Lifers.
Interesting to read the varied views on both TS / his hand over of the keys to the "kingdom" and the new key holders themselves.
But two have stood out for me and the words therein will stay with me for a loooong time.
The first was "our" Olly's brief but pertinent contribution which deserves a frame & a place on the Boardroom wall lest the latest incumbents forget that mutual respect between owner/s, staff and fans is of paramount importance....but is earnt, not a given.
Pavoren007's thoughts echo those sentiments from the "other side " and emphasis that the interaction we have with staff is an important element of our support for our club albeit one that not everyone recognises.
Having been closely involved in the organisation of the annual POTY dinner for the past 12 years, I've interacted with various members of the SMT and their staff- a predominantly positive experience. On the whole, I would venture to add that their roles have been carefully defined & that, as individuals, they have helped to make the "work" pleasurable, taking on board the guidelines we have successfully worked within during that period of time. I trust that we, the volunteers, have shown them the same respect.
Others have mentioned the importance of the SMT and in my view, the appointment of those taking up those roles is one requiring a great deal of thought. For me, those individuals will set up their teams to reflect their own values, ensure that new recruits will receive all the training required from Day One and not be left to flounder alone but additionally, that respect must be shown to everyone they deal with, inside or outside of our club. These people are often the first point of contact with our club and opinions will be formed by the manner in which they act. ...something I feel strongly about.
Olly Groome & Ravi Patel were two members of staff who epitomised that "job description" in spades and both are a huge loss to our club, although I'm sure there are others. Yet, there is another SM whose dubious actions and well documented "unique" methods of treating staff continue to proliferate regardless of said modus operandi being reported time after time to TS himself.
THIS is how I'll choose to remember the man. And it appears I'm not alone.
Oh, and the Takeover....Everything crossed for an onward and upward trajectory and the return of success for the faithful under Dean and his management team. And the rebuilding of the reputation of our famous football club after years of neglect.
" Rebuild" it properly from strong, honest foundations and with love.....then they will come.
Sandguaard gave it a go and it didn't work. If he'd have enjoyed the success of the Wrexham owners, I genuinely think he'd have been as happy as any lifelong Charlton fan. Sadly for him and us fans his gamble ended following too many poorly places bets, on far too many occasions. It was poor luck and judgement, however as many others have already stated, his takeover 3 years ago, results in us all still having a Charlton to enjoy again come next month and beyond. No hard feelings. On to the next custodian and we continue to live in hope.
Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but I’m completely unmoved by all of it. I’m not going to get all dewy eyed about the TS statement and I can’t get excited about our many new owners. Duchatelet was extremely rich and it didn’t mean a thing because he didn’t give a shit about Charlton, so temper your enthusiasm on that front. If we sign some decent players and are around the top 6 all season I’ll be happy enough, but I think the last ten years have really taken it out of me and I suspect I’m not alone on that score.
Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but I’m completely unmoved by all of it. I’m not going to get all dewy eyed about the TS statement and I can’t get excited about our many new owners. Duchatelet was extremely rich and it didn’t mean a thing because he didn’t give a shit about Charlton, so temper your enthusiasm on that front. If we sign some decent players and are around the top 6 all season I’ll be happy enough, but I think the last ten years have really taken it out of me and I suspect I’m not alone on that score.
All day long mate.
The owners could be the richest in the world, it matters nothing, it is how you spend it. Dushitelet spent a LOT of money, but did not spend it wisely.
It would be good to know the % holdings, but I guess it will emerge in time. No Lenagan family shareholding, so that was a duff call, and we may assume that Warren Rosenfeld is the “New York” based investor that CM refers to and probably the third biggest investor after Friedman and Brener (families). He’s the one that worried me a bit because a casual flip through the web suggests he’s a retired lawyer who owns a couple of unremarkable Jewish restaurants, but the Head of Dossiers established that he made a lot of money in the real estate shark-pool of Las Vegas, which makes him a bit of a badass, and now we find out he has a recycling biz, which we had not come across. I was a bit bothered initially because he didn’t seem to show any sport interest, but now we have all these other names that Methven didnt have in mid-May , and they have some interesting relevant business experience.
It remains to be seen how much each of them bring to the table, and whether they all rub along ok, but they all look like serious people.
Rosenfield runs his family metal and recycling business in Portland
One of CAFC's subsidiaries (the First XI) has a recycling business for injured footballers.
It would be good to know the % holdings, but I guess it will emerge in time. No Lenagan family shareholding, so that was a duff call, and we may assume that Warren Rosenfeld is the “New York” based investor that CM refers to and probably the third biggest investor after Friedman and Brener (families). He’s the one that worried me a bit because a casual flip through the web suggests he’s a retired lawyer who owns a couple of unremarkable Jewish restaurants, but the Head of Dossiers established that he made a lot of money in the real estate shark-pool of Las Vegas, which makes him a bit of a badass, and now we find out he has a recycling biz, which we had not come across. I was a bit bothered initially because he didn’t seem to show any sport interest, but now we have all these other names that Methven didnt have in mid-May , and they have some interesting relevant business experience.
It remains to be seen how much each of them bring to the table, and whether they all rub along ok, but they all look like serious people.
Rosenfield runs his family metal and recycling business in Portland
One of CAFC's subsidiaries (the First XI) has a recycling business for injured footballers.
So glad to see the back of Sandgaard. I had a really bad feeling about him from the start, with all his bravado bullshit and was 95% sure it would end in tears. The final 5% came in his first interview when he stated that he didn't need to appoint a "Football man" to run the club and it wasn't as hard as people thought. At that point I knew we were doomed from the start.
Comments
Next time I bump into him in the Bromley South Wetherspoons I'll bend his ear.
He certainly does, Eddie Youds likes the odd beer in there as well.
One correction there - we are currently a third rate football team - we are not and never have, or will be, a third rate football club.
A S S E M B L E
Felt less of a gesture of goodwill than recent times.
Huh, strange, so not Count Dracula, Voldemort, Sauron, Professor Moriarty and Simon Jordan after all.
i haven’t even read the statement, don’t care. He’s gone. Fingers crossed the next mob are able to address a lot of his shortcomings
The early signs are giving me some optimism, though naturally this optimism is dashed with a huge amount of cautiousness.
The appointments and signings so far are, in my view, the signs of a somewhat 'well run' club - this for me is enough for now.
I just want to head to The Valley on a Saturday afternoon looking forward to seeing a well managed and resourced team. With the board level appointments, Holden, and new signings so far, for the first time in years I feel excited about the start of the season.
It's not perfect, not having the assets is rightly still a huge concern, and big questions remain on what happens if we don't get promoted within 2-3 years. However, these guys aren't Southall crooks, nor will their wives be heading up HR or their kids leading our transfer strategy.
For now I'm going to enjoy the takeover and see what unfolds at this ridiculous club over the next few seasons.
I personally thank TS for saving us when I don’t believe anyone else was going to but also glad he has gone. Im feeling super positive about this now especially now we can see a decent board structure being put in place. I really hope everyone gets behind the club now and we rip the league up this season
'Takeover Fatigue' has taken its toll on the CL faithful ... so it seems.
Interesting to read the varied views on both TS / his hand over of the keys to the "kingdom" and the new key holders themselves.
But two have stood out for me and the words therein will stay with me for a loooong time.
The first was "our" Olly's brief but pertinent contribution which deserves a frame & a place on the Boardroom wall lest the latest incumbents forget that mutual respect between owner/s, staff and fans is of paramount importance....but is earnt, not a given.
Pavoren007's thoughts echo those sentiments from the "other side " and emphasis that the interaction we have with staff is an important element of our support for our club albeit one that not everyone recognises.
Having been closely involved in the organisation of the annual POTY dinner for the past 12 years, I've interacted with various members of the SMT and their staff- a predominantly positive experience. On the whole, I would venture to add that their roles have been carefully defined & that, as individuals, they have helped to make the "work" pleasurable, taking on board the guidelines we have successfully worked within during that period of time. I trust that we, the volunteers, have shown them the same respect.
Others have mentioned the importance of the SMT and in my view, the appointment of those taking up those roles is one requiring a great deal of thought. For me, those individuals will set up their teams to reflect their own values, ensure that new recruits will receive all the training required from Day One and not be left to flounder alone but additionally, that respect must be shown to everyone they deal with, inside or outside of our club. These people are often the first point of contact with our club and opinions will be formed by the manner in which they act. ...something I feel strongly about.
Olly Groome & Ravi Patel were two members of staff who epitomised that "job description" in spades and both are a huge loss to our club, although I'm sure there are others. Yet, there is another SM whose dubious actions and well documented "unique" methods of treating staff continue to proliferate regardless of said modus operandi being reported time after time to TS himself.
THIS is how I'll choose to remember the man. And it appears I'm not alone.
Oh, and the Takeover....Everything crossed for an onward and upward trajectory and the return of success for the faithful under Dean and his management team. And the rebuilding of the reputation of our famous football club after years of neglect.
" Rebuild" it properly from strong, honest foundations and with love.....then they will come.
I have to say that is very funny