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Gavin Carter - Aug 2025 Talksport interview p8
Comments
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It smells to me of no or inadequate middle management and executives focused on window-dressing rather than getting their hands dirty, but that’s been my working assumption from the start so I accept there is an element of confirmation bias.
If the club can afford to pay Methven, Rodwell, Warrick, Scott and Elliott it ought to have resources to manage the day to day detail professionally. If it doesn’t then it should find them by culling this group.29 -
I agree there are some basic things that need addressing- the increasingly dilapidated state of the stadium is a concern - who is responsible under the lease for maintenance - could be either the current ownership or Roland ?Also I tried to get hold of someone in hospitality to spend money all over the Xmas break inc before and after the Cambridge game and they only responded to me on the morning of the Wycombe game. Considering how many chiefs we have you’d think they’d have this covered
in years gone by Roger Alwen’s wife - Heather would answer the phone herself and sell you something!12 -
"Part of that is sorting the structure that sits between the academy and the first-team. They are much closer than they would have been since we came to the club."
I find this hard to believe given how many youth players have come through at The Valley in recent seasons, it's been a cornerstone of RD, TS and was required when the crooks were around d as we had run out of money. Steve Avory was full time then.
"Now we are just starting to turn our attention to our Kent hinterland"
Good. But I still can't get my head around why they started in Jamaica and then looked to Kent. To take 18 months to get your academy looking on its doorstep is odd. The only explanation I can come up with is some nicely expensed holidays to a favourite holiday destination of one of our SMT.
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Hasn't the problems with the infrastructure of the Valley been a problem for about 15/20 years now, since relegation, the toilets, the floodlights, the adverts in the ground, the previous pitches with broken drainage, the PA system, all that stuff has been forgotten or purposely ignored during that time, and allowed to decline to a point it needs proper investment?Airman Brown said:
What this fan is aware of is a failure to do basic things - closed and therefore inadequate matchday toilets, out of date and poorly targeted in-house advertising around the stadium, a matchday programme stuffed with a very high percentage of adverts and lazy editorial (buy your half season ticket for the remaining 14 games when only 12 remain), not putting on a coach by default to a third round FA Cup tie, but starting “a waiting list” like some minor non-league club. That’s just from casual observation. An audit would no doubt come up with a lot more.ShootersHillGuru said:It’s pleasing that stuff is going on behind the scenes that fans are not necessarily aware of. Becoming a well run club again is no small task after the last ten years or so. Good to see some ambition being mentioned too. Of course where we need to see improvement is with the first team. Get that right and everything else becomes slightly easier. As always. Time will tell.
Small things, maybe, and of course not what most fans care about, but indicative of a lack of care and attention to detail among the people in charge. That’s not how you create a successful business. Hard to believe it only applies away from the football as it’s about culture.
It will take time to fix all that if we're being fair, and now I'm starting to sound like the Prime Minister, but the timescales and the failure feel the same on a smaller scale.3 -
I’m not talking about infrastructure which would cost money and inevitably gets neglected when money is tight. I’m talking about basic day to day jobs which aren’t being done properly.Rothko said:
Hasn't the problems with the infrastructure of the Valley been a problem for about 15/20 years now, since relegation, the toilets, the floodlights, the adverts in the ground, the previous pitches with broken drainage, the PA system, all that stuff has been forgotten or purposely ignored during that time, and allowed to decline to a point it needs proper investment?Airman Brown said:
What this fan is aware of is a failure to do basic things - closed and therefore inadequate matchday toilets, out of date and poorly targeted in-house advertising around the stadium, a matchday programme stuffed with a very high percentage of adverts and lazy editorial (buy your half season ticket for the remaining 14 games when only 12 remain), not putting on a coach by default to a third round FA Cup tie, but starting “a waiting list” like some minor non-league club. That’s just from casual observation. An audit would no doubt come up with a lot more.ShootersHillGuru said:It’s pleasing that stuff is going on behind the scenes that fans are not necessarily aware of. Becoming a well run club again is no small task after the last ten years or so. Good to see some ambition being mentioned too. Of course where we need to see improvement is with the first team. Get that right and everything else becomes slightly easier. As always. Time will tell.
Small things, maybe, and of course not what most fans care about, but indicative of a lack of care and attention to detail among the people in charge. That’s not how you create a successful business. Hard to believe it only applies away from the football as it’s about culture.
It will take time to fix all that if we're being fair, and now I'm starting to sound like the Prime Minister, but the timescales and the failure feel the same on a smaller scale.This isn’t about the quality or performance of junior staff either. It’s about management and accountability. It’s about attitude and priorities. Getting that right isn’t about spending more money.16 -
I wonder if Gavin Carter reads this thread ?2
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What does it actually cost to replace or remove this large ad on the AC concourse, which has the wrong price on it from last season (eight months later)? The club increased the VEX price to £16 in the summer, which was foolish of itself IMO, but why would you leave the old price on display to illustrate the hike? Only one reason, because nobody is paying attention or thinks that it matters enough to do anything about it.
i accept it isn’t important to the fans on the concourse and that the impact of advertising VEX here is insignificant in any event, but it’s indicative of the management culture.
Similarly, why would you publish out of date material lifted from the internet in the paid-for club programme? What is the cost of updating it?16 -
AB makes very valid observations and you have to wonder why the management team havnt got a handle on the basics. Perhaps there’s an element of Bertie big bollox syndrome.4
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In case Mr Carter was to check in to this thread... One of the two turnstiles for the family stand broke about 3 games ago. They now have a steward outside telling people that use it they need to scan and then be super quick to push through or it locks on them. The oldest person in my party is 79. You can imagine how effective that method is.
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The club is responsible for maintenance.alburyaddick said:I agree there are some basic things that need addressing- the increasingly dilapidated state of the stadium is a concern - who is responsible under the lease for maintenance - could be either the current ownership or Roland ?Also I tried to get hold of someone in hospitality to spend money all over the Xmas break inc before and after the Cambridge game and they only responded to me on the morning of the Wycombe game. Considering how many chiefs we have you’d think they’d have this covered
in years gone by Roger Alwen’s wife - Heather would answer the phone herself and sell you something!3 - Sponsored links:
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"marking our own homework"
Almost as if someone has been reading this thread.
Having an independent Chair is a good thing for all the reasons stated which makes me wonder why it took 18 months for it to happen?
As usual, what Charlie SAYS is fine and their is little to argue with, IMHO.
The reality however, in terms of how these initiatives are moving the club forward, are still up for debate.16 -
New touch screens were installed in some of the Harvey Gardens East Stand turnstiles a few weeks ago but still not all the turnstiles are working.Athletico Charlton said:In case Mr Carter was to check in to this thread... One of the two turnstiles for the family stand broke about 3 games ago. They now have a steward outside telling people that use it they need to scan and then be super quick to push through or it locks on them. The oldest person in my party is 79. You can imagine how effective that method is.
The Sam Bartram entrance turnstiles don't work at all so you just walk through and a steward checks your ticket once you are in. Fine if you are happy to cooperate, which most fans will, but an easy way to bunk in if you are quick on your feet.3 -
Henry is so correct, these days finance is enormous, accountability is essential in any form of business. Unfortunately people like airman live in the past. Percy Dalton peanuts are no longer big earners. The days of the owner appointing a mate to look after the books are over.
Football even in div2 is big business.4 -
Believe Coventry and at the back of West Stand after the game, if I remember correctly.shirty5 said:
Was that game against a fence incident against Coventry or is my memory playing tricks on me?Athletico Charlton said:T_C_E said:
I'll have you know that Keohane is held in high regard by those that know him and everyone else is wrong! 😉Henry Irving said:
We have people in key positions now eg Finance director, CEO, director of football, who are not unskilled relatives of the owner or Tony Keohane.valleynick66 said:
I thought some on here said the infrastructure / back of house stuff was already fixed / in course of being fixed and that’s why we should be hopeful about the future?Henry Irving said:
Wouldn't disagree at allAirman Brown said:I would suggest it was the Spivs who smashed the club infrastructure up, if you look at the long list of long-serving employees who left during and as a result of their tenure. No doubt Katrien and Ssndgaard contributed further damage and failed to put it right, but it’s been a basket case of an organisation for over a decade.
Either things are being fixed where needed or it’s still an Elastoplast approach.
Whether those current post holders eg those named on a similar thread are up to the task is the question.
I had heard about this but never seen it. Pisses me off more than it should probably, but Keohane employed security who had young Charlton staff up against a fence and also took other fans to court iirc. For Rodwell to send a message like that around shows an enormous lack of judgment in my opinion.
The shite transfer business with him having a football related role is another show of his judgment.
Bin him off.1 -
I know I shouldn't FTT but I don't think Airman and I are in disagreement on this and no one is mentioning peanuts.RoytheBoy said:Henry is so correct, these days finance is enormous, accountability is essential in any form of business. Unfortunately people like airman live in the past. Percy Dalton peanuts are no longer big earners. The days of the owner appointing a mate to look after the books are over.
Football even in div2 is big business.
It is actually Airman, if I am reading it right, is who calling out the appointment of mates.15 -
No idea what that even means. The ancillary income is of no great significance in the grand scheme of things and never has been at our level but valuing the people who buy your core goods and services and treating them with respect matters more than ever. It appears to be you who is stuck in the 1950s.RoytheBoy said:Henry is so correct, these days finance is enormous, accountability is essential in any form of business. Unfortunately people like airman live in the past. Percy Dalton peanuts are no longer big earners. The days of the owner appointing a mate to look after the books are over.
Football even in div2 is big business.15 -
All the more reason to get everything right, surely? Big business isn't run like a whelk stall in the pub car park.RoytheBoy said:Henry is so correct, these days finance is enormous, accountability is essential in any form of business. Unfortunately people like airman live in the past. Percy Dalton peanuts are no longer big earners. The days of the owner appointing a mate to look after the books are over.
Football even in div2 is big business.13 -
Burger Boy made sure that accountability was non-existent … seems the new lot have a similar attitude.Airman Brown said:
I’m not talking about infrastructure which would cost money and inevitably gets neglected when money is tight. I’m talking about basic day to day jobs which aren’t being done properly.Rothko said:
Hasn't the problems with the infrastructure of the Valley been a problem for about 15/20 years now, since relegation, the toilets, the floodlights, the adverts in the ground, the previous pitches with broken drainage, the PA system, all that stuff has been forgotten or purposely ignored during that time, and allowed to decline to a point it needs proper investment?Airman Brown said:
What this fan is aware of is a failure to do basic things - closed and therefore inadequate matchday toilets, out of date and poorly targeted in-house advertising around the stadium, a matchday programme stuffed with a very high percentage of adverts and lazy editorial (buy your half season ticket for the remaining 14 games when only 12 remain), not putting on a coach by default to a third round FA Cup tie, but starting “a waiting list” like some minor non-league club. That’s just from casual observation. An audit would no doubt come up with a lot more.ShootersHillGuru said:It’s pleasing that stuff is going on behind the scenes that fans are not necessarily aware of. Becoming a well run club again is no small task after the last ten years or so. Good to see some ambition being mentioned too. Of course where we need to see improvement is with the first team. Get that right and everything else becomes slightly easier. As always. Time will tell.
Small things, maybe, and of course not what most fans care about, but indicative of a lack of care and attention to detail among the people in charge. That’s not how you create a successful business. Hard to believe it only applies away from the football as it’s about culture.
It will take time to fix all that if we're being fair, and now I'm starting to sound like the Prime Minister, but the timescales and the failure feel the same on a smaller scale.This isn’t about the quality or performance of junior staff either. It’s about management and accountability. It’s about attitude and priorities. Getting that right isn’t about spending more money.0 -
who wants to go on holiday on fact finding missions to Kent?Athletico Charlton said:"Part of that is sorting the structure that sits between the academy and the first-team. They are much closer than they would have been since we came to the club."
I find this hard to believe given how many youth players have come through at The Valley in recent seasons, it's been a cornerstone of RD, TS and was required when the crooks were around d as we had run out of money. Steve Avory was full time then.
"Now we are just starting to turn our attention to our Kent hinterland"
Good. But I still can't get my head around why they started in Jamaica and then looked to Kent. To take 18 months to get your academy looking on its doorstep is odd. The only explanation I can come up with is some nicely expensed holidays to a favourite holiday destination of one of our SMT.4 -
But it a piece for me, the loos are infra, but no one wants to spend on them, you cut back the junior staff who are responsible or have had a culture of not touching those things for being penny wise pound foolish, and not speaking up, and the rot goes on.Airman Brown said:
I’m not talking about infrastructure which would cost money and inevitably gets neglected when money is tight. I’m talking about basic day to day jobs which aren’t being done properly.Rothko said:
Hasn't the problems with the infrastructure of the Valley been a problem for about 15/20 years now, since relegation, the toilets, the floodlights, the adverts in the ground, the previous pitches with broken drainage, the PA system, all that stuff has been forgotten or purposely ignored during that time, and allowed to decline to a point it needs proper investment?Airman Brown said:
What this fan is aware of is a failure to do basic things - closed and therefore inadequate matchday toilets, out of date and poorly targeted in-house advertising around the stadium, a matchday programme stuffed with a very high percentage of adverts and lazy editorial (buy your half season ticket for the remaining 14 games when only 12 remain), not putting on a coach by default to a third round FA Cup tie, but starting “a waiting list” like some minor non-league club. That’s just from casual observation. An audit would no doubt come up with a lot more.ShootersHillGuru said:It’s pleasing that stuff is going on behind the scenes that fans are not necessarily aware of. Becoming a well run club again is no small task after the last ten years or so. Good to see some ambition being mentioned too. Of course where we need to see improvement is with the first team. Get that right and everything else becomes slightly easier. As always. Time will tell.
Small things, maybe, and of course not what most fans care about, but indicative of a lack of care and attention to detail among the people in charge. That’s not how you create a successful business. Hard to believe it only applies away from the football as it’s about culture.
It will take time to fix all that if we're being fair, and now I'm starting to sound like the Prime Minister, but the timescales and the failure feel the same on a smaller scale.This isn’t about the quality or performance of junior staff either. It’s about management and accountability. It’s about attitude and priorities. Getting that right isn’t about spending more money.
I'm going to be generous, and say there a massive to do list, and it's going to take time to fix, others might not be and expect it all done now.0 - Sponsored links:
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The women’s toilet had been open until the Cambridge game. it has been closed for the last two games due to “an electrical issue”. That’s either acceptable or it’s not. It’s not a problem to put “on a massive to-do list”. Neither are non-flushing systems in the remaining one, which I’m told have been an issue for years.Rothko said:
But it a piece for me, the loos are infra, but no one wants to spend on them, you cut back the junior staff who are responsible or have had a culture of not touching those things for being penny wise pound foolish, and not speaking up, and the rot goes on.Airman Brown said:
I’m not talking about infrastructure which would cost money and inevitably gets neglected when money is tight. I’m talking about basic day to day jobs which aren’t being done properly.Rothko said:
Hasn't the problems with the infrastructure of the Valley been a problem for about 15/20 years now, since relegation, the toilets, the floodlights, the adverts in the ground, the previous pitches with broken drainage, the PA system, all that stuff has been forgotten or purposely ignored during that time, and allowed to decline to a point it needs proper investment?Airman Brown said:
What this fan is aware of is a failure to do basic things - closed and therefore inadequate matchday toilets, out of date and poorly targeted in-house advertising around the stadium, a matchday programme stuffed with a very high percentage of adverts and lazy editorial (buy your half season ticket for the remaining 14 games when only 12 remain), not putting on a coach by default to a third round FA Cup tie, but starting “a waiting list” like some minor non-league club. That’s just from casual observation. An audit would no doubt come up with a lot more.ShootersHillGuru said:It’s pleasing that stuff is going on behind the scenes that fans are not necessarily aware of. Becoming a well run club again is no small task after the last ten years or so. Good to see some ambition being mentioned too. Of course where we need to see improvement is with the first team. Get that right and everything else becomes slightly easier. As always. Time will tell.
Small things, maybe, and of course not what most fans care about, but indicative of a lack of care and attention to detail among the people in charge. That’s not how you create a successful business. Hard to believe it only applies away from the football as it’s about culture.
It will take time to fix all that if we're being fair, and now I'm starting to sound like the Prime Minister, but the timescales and the failure feel the same on a smaller scale.This isn’t about the quality or performance of junior staff either. It’s about management and accountability. It’s about attitude and priorities. Getting that right isn’t about spending more money.
I'm going to be generous, and say there a massive to do list, and it's going to take time to fix, others might not be and expect it all done now.But again you don’t need a team of executive directors who won’t get their hands dirty if you’ve got few junior staff. There’s nothing for them to “direct”. Do we need Paul Elliott’s diversity project more than functioning toilets?14 -
So things ain’t actually going down the pan at Charlton?Airman Brown said:
The women’s toilet had been open until the Cambridge game. it has been closed for the last two games due to “an electrical issue”. That’s either acceptable or it’s not. It’s not a problem to put “on a massive to-do list”. Neither are non-flushing systems in the remaining one, which I’m told have been an issue for years.Rothko said:
But it a piece for me, the loos are infra, but no one wants to spend on them, you cut back the junior staff who are responsible or have had a culture of not touching those things for being penny wise pound foolish, and not speaking up, and the rot goes on.Airman Brown said:
I’m not talking about infrastructure which would cost money and inevitably gets neglected when money is tight. I’m talking about basic day to day jobs which aren’t being done properly.Rothko said:
Hasn't the problems with the infrastructure of the Valley been a problem for about 15/20 years now, since relegation, the toilets, the floodlights, the adverts in the ground, the previous pitches with broken drainage, the PA system, all that stuff has been forgotten or purposely ignored during that time, and allowed to decline to a point it needs proper investment?Airman Brown said:
What this fan is aware of is a failure to do basic things - closed and therefore inadequate matchday toilets, out of date and poorly targeted in-house advertising around the stadium, a matchday programme stuffed with a very high percentage of adverts and lazy editorial (buy your half season ticket for the remaining 14 games when only 12 remain), not putting on a coach by default to a third round FA Cup tie, but starting “a waiting list” like some minor non-league club. That’s just from casual observation. An audit would no doubt come up with a lot more.ShootersHillGuru said:It’s pleasing that stuff is going on behind the scenes that fans are not necessarily aware of. Becoming a well run club again is no small task after the last ten years or so. Good to see some ambition being mentioned too. Of course where we need to see improvement is with the first team. Get that right and everything else becomes slightly easier. As always. Time will tell.
Small things, maybe, and of course not what most fans care about, but indicative of a lack of care and attention to detail among the people in charge. That’s not how you create a successful business. Hard to believe it only applies away from the football as it’s about culture.
It will take time to fix all that if we're being fair, and now I'm starting to sound like the Prime Minister, but the timescales and the failure feel the same on a smaller scale.This isn’t about the quality or performance of junior staff either. It’s about management and accountability. It’s about attitude and priorities. Getting that right isn’t about spending more money.
I'm going to be generous, and say there a massive to do list, and it's going to take time to fix, others might not be and expect it all done now.But again you don’t need a team of executive directors who won’t get their hands dirty if you’ve got few junior staff. There’s nothing for them to “direct”. Do we need Paul Elliott’s diversity project more than functioning toilets?13 -
Well it must be no coincidence, that his arrival has resulted in an upturn in form on the pitch!
My contacts in the club let slip that when he put his own plimsoles on and took PE for the first time, the players were inspired...1 -
You'd think as the club are reaching out trying to get more local people to come to games they'd put easy win fan experience fixes into place as a priority...........?
I wonder if the owner and SMT families and friends get the same match day experience we do?4 -
This is a key point.WrightCharlie said:You'd think as the club are reaching out trying to get more local people to come to games they'd put easy win fan experience fixes into place as a priority...........?
I wonder if the owner and SMT families and friends get the same match day experience we do?
Having working toilets, turnstiles, etc won't make anyone say "Fantastic, I'm going to go to the Valley again" but NOT having these these might well make first time or irregular visitors think "I'm not coming here or bringing my family again to this dump".
It's Herzberg's motivator-hygiene theory.
So the hard work done getting the people into the ground is wasted when the facilities aren't up to basic requirements.
Yes, we put up with far worse in the "good old days" but those days are gone and most of the people reading this are the hard core who will be there regardless. It's the new fans or those sensible enough to not put up with sub-standard facilities who are lost.
It's not all down to the current owners/management as some issues, like no hot running water in the Curbs stand, were built in, and others are the result of years of neglect/indifference, or in the case of Tony Keohane corrupt incompetence, but the problems now sit with the current management team.
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We are without doubt going to be in a significant battle with Millwall for suitable Kent youngsters once they have moved their training facilities to West Kingsdown/Brandshatch.Athletico Charlton said:"Part of that is sorting the structure that sits between the academy and the first-team. They are much closer than they would have been since we came to the club."
I find this hard to believe given how many youth players have come through at The Valley in recent seasons, it's been a cornerstone of RD, TS and was required when the crooks were around d as we had run out of money. Steve Avory was full time then.
"Now we are just starting to turn our attention to our Kent hinterland"
Good. But I still can't get my head around why they started in Jamaica and then looked to Kent. To take 18 months to get your academy looking on its doorstep is odd. The only explanation I can come up with is some nicely expensed holidays to a favourite holiday destination of one of our SMT.0 -
It’s the usual corporate BS - ‘hinterland’ for gods sake !
I didn’t read anything genuinely new in this at all nor any real steps forward that we don’t really do already.They can dress this up but really tangible changes seem minor.I read between the lines that we are selling our player assets in the same way we anyways have.0 -
See the title and think Kevin Carter by the Manics.4
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Fingers crossed it’s not Everything Must go in Januaryguinnessaddick said:See the title and think Kevin Carter by the Manics.1 -
@Leroy Ambrose beat you to that line 2 weeks ago mate. A case of Repeat (UK) there.guinnessaddick said:See the title and think Kevin Carter by the Manics.2
