An Open Letter to our CEO
Comments
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I am happy for copies to be handed out on Saturday for fans to read.MuttleyCAFC said:Just as well she won't read it then
I really want to get thousands of Beth's letter on the pitch - anybody else up for this on Saturday?
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It's all about the budget. The results are secondary.Leuth said:They can't not care about results. That would be stupid on a very basic level. I don't think they prioritise promotion, but they'd have to be idiot children to not care about results. They're clearly not quite that.
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You seen the price of ink nowadays ?Henry Irving said:
Good manMendonca In Asdas said:
I'm on the case!Henry Irving said:Does anyone sit in the West Upper?
IF so could you print out 20 copies and then hand them out to the journalist in the press seats.
And if you have a decent printer could print out some of the Spell it out post.cards too?
Seriously, I'll cover any printing costs (within reason).0 -
The two are intrinsically connected. As I say, we will see over the next 31 days.shirty5 said:
It's all about the budget. The results are secondary.Leuth said:They can't not care about results. That would be stupid on a very basic level. I don't think they prioritise promotion, but they'd have to be idiot children to not care about results. They're clearly not quite that.
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Not to them it's not.Leuth said:
The two are intrinsically connected. As I say, we will see over the next 31 days.shirty5 said:
It's all about the budget. The results are secondary.Leuth said:They can't not care about results. That would be stupid on a very basic level. I don't think they prioritise promotion, but they'd have to be idiot children to not care about results. They're clearly not quite that.
It's budget first, results second. Even Fraeye is realising now what a mess it is, the no more than 30 players rule, no cover, move out anyone not in the first team, cut every cost regardless of long term viability. We're a farm not a football club.10 -
Lifers may be interested in my own modest contribution to the situation, sent on Tuesday at 1.00pm, 'message read' reply at 1.15pm but silence since...
Hello Ms Meire
Having let the ‘dust settle’ following the disappointing display and result in the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday, and waited with anticipation for any relevant news on social media sites this morning, I think that now is the time to contact you, in my capacity as a season ticket holder, Valley Gold member and Managing Director of a sponsoring Company, to enquire as to what progress is being made towards the replacement of Mr Fraeye as Interim Head Coach with the permanent appointment of a Head Coach or Team Manager with any proven experience at Championship level who may be able to motivate, coach, manage and otherwise guide the team away from its current precarious position?
My Company is currently first-team shirt sponsor for Morgan Fox, having been kit sponsor in recent years for Chris Eagles, Jordan Cousins, Johnnie Jackson, Phil Parkinson, Darren Ambrose and others, and Match Sponsor for games over the past five years. You will no doubt appreciate that there are benefits of association with a team enjoying degrees of success, but these reduce significantly under present circumstances.
Sadly the ‘present circumstances’ include comments made by your goodself in the video forum with Messrs Peterson and Derval in making comparisons between football/Charlton supporters and customers of restaurants and cinemas. These would indicate some lack of clarity in your perception of the ‘attachment’ of a football supporter to the club that she/he supports, notwithstanding the rights of shareholders. Even those rights are, of course, subject to variation, as I, as a shareholder of Charlton Athletic Football Club, found to my personal cost when shares were rendered worthless ‘at a stroke’ in a corporate re-structure prior to the involvement of Mr Duchatelet.
You will no doubt have heard the spontaneous reaction of the ever-dwindling crowd yesterday when the first goal was conceded – perhaps steps ARE being taken at Board level to address the current situation and growing perception that the owner has little concern for the footballing demise of Charlton Athletic, notwithstanding his investment in The Valley stadium and the training ground?
The courtesy of a response would be much appreciated.
Clive Richardson
Managing Director
Solar Broadcasting Ltd
t/a Solar Radio
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Well done Clive0
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Excellent stuff Clive.1
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Excellently written and being a current shirt-sponsor and season ticket holder I would hope that you at least get the courtesy of a FULL response.chilham said:Lifers may be interested in my own modest contribution to the situation, sent on Tuesday at 1.00pm, 'message read' reply at 1.15pm but silence since...
Hello Ms Meire
Having let the ‘dust settle’ following the disappointing display and result in the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday, and waited with anticipation for any relevant news on social media sites this morning, I think that now is the time to contact you, in my capacity as a season ticket holder, Valley Gold member and Managing Director of a sponsoring Company, to enquire as to what progress is being made towards the replacement of Mr Fraeye as Interim Head Coach with the permanent appointment of a Head Coach or Team Manager with any proven experience at Championship level who may be able to motivate, coach, manage and otherwise guide the team away from its current precarious position?
My Company is currently first-team shirt sponsor for Morgan Fox, having been kit sponsor in recent years for Chris Eagles, Jordan Cousins, Johnnie Jackson, Phil Parkinson, Darren Ambrose and others, and Match Sponsor for games over the past five years. You will no doubt appreciate that there are benefits of association with a team enjoying degrees of success, but these reduce significantly under present circumstances.
Sadly the ‘present circumstances’ include comments made by your goodself in the video forum with Messrs Peterson and Derval in making comparisons between football/Charlton supporters and customers of restaurants and cinemas. These would indicate some lack of clarity in your perception of the ‘attachment’ of a football supporter to the club that she/he supports, notwithstanding the rights of shareholders. Even those rights are, of course, subject to variation, as I, as a shareholder of Charlton Athletic Football Club, found to my personal cost when shares were rendered worthless ‘at a stroke’ in a corporate re-structure prior to the involvement of Mr Duchatelet.
You will no doubt have heard the spontaneous reaction of the ever-dwindling crowd yesterday when the first goal was conceded – perhaps steps ARE being taken at Board level to address the current situation and growing perception that the owner has little concern for the footballing demise of Charlton Athletic, notwithstanding his investment in The Valley stadium and the training ground?
The courtesy of a response would be much appreciated.
Clive Richardson
Managing Director
Solar Broadcasting Ltd
t/a Solar Radio2 -
It will be interesting to see if you do. Well done mate.0
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MuttleyCAFC said:
It will be interesting to see if you do. Well done mate.
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Nice one, Clive.0
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Sir Bobby would have set Katrien straight....
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Just perfectValleyGary said:Sir Bobby would have set Katrien straight....
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Nice one, Clive.
A letter from the Soul indeed.1 -
^brilliant use of the minute you're supposed to be downing bubbly in front of fireworks while everyone's trying to shake your hand ;-)0
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Unlikely. She would have dismissed anything he said because he was old.stonemuse said:
Just perfectValleyGary said:Sir Bobby would have set Katrien straight....
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Love that from sir Bob.
RIP0 -
So much I agree with here, and I too was virtually reduced to tears by MuttleyCAFC's contribution. I don't suffer like so many of you. I live miles away and would at most visit the Valley maybe three times a year. But this club is in my heart. And it is in my blood. My grandad supported Charlton from the day they first joined the football league. My mum was at Wembley in 46 and 47. My dad was (genuinely) at the famous Huddersfield match in 1957. He first took me to the Valley 1965, which would also have been the last match that my grandad ever saw (and which coincidentally ended in a dismal 0:2 defeat). I remember wearing a black armband to work one day during the Hulyer stewardship. But I've never felt as devoid of hope as I do today.8
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GoldthorpesHeel said:
So much I agree with here, and I too was virtually reduced to tears by MuttleyCAFC's contribution. I don't suffer like so many of you. I live miles away and would at most visit the Valley maybe three times a year. But this club is in my heart. And it is in my blood. My grandad supported Charlton from the day they first joined the football league. My mum was at Wembley in 46 and 47. My dad was (genuinely) at the famous Huddersfield match in 1957. He first took me to the Valley 1965, which would also have been the last match that my grandad ever saw (and which coincidentally ended in a dismal 0:2 defeat). I remember wearing a black armband to work one day during the Hulyer stewardship. But I've never felt as devoid of hope as I do today.
Tomorrow is a new start ...retain that hope.GoldthorpesHeel said:So much I agree with here, and I too was virtually reduced to tears by MuttleyCAFC's contribution. I don't suffer like so many of you. I live miles away and would at most visit the Valley maybe three times a year. But this club is in my heart. And it is in my blood. My grandad supported Charlton from the day they first joined the football league. My mum was at Wembley in 46 and 47. My dad was (genuinely) at the famous Huddersfield match in 1957. He first took me to the Valley 1965, which would also have been the last match that my grandad ever saw (and which coincidentally ended in a dismal 0:2 defeat). I remember wearing a black armband to work one day during the Hulyer stewardship. But I've never felt as devoid of hope as I do today.
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As promised here is the letter I have sent to Ms Meire today-:
Dear Ms Meire
It is with great sadness that I find myself having to write to you to highlight my total discontent with the way that Mr Duchatelet and yourself, supported by Mr Murray have been running our club over the last few months.
When you and Mr Duchatelet arrived just on 2 years ago we were admittedly struggling in the relegation places of the Championship and I, for one, was pleased to see the takeover. However since those heady days of optimism and faith, I have to say both have been destroyed.
I understand that any new owner wants to run things their way, that is only natural, and completely understandable.
However, most senior businessmen and owners I have dealt with at a very high level, including one of the richest men on this planet, recognise that when a plan isn't working they have to change tack or risk losing what has already been accumulated.
It would seem that both Mr Duchatelet and yourself and either unable or not experienced enough to recognise that currently the 'plan' is not working.
We are still in the relegation places two years after you came in, we have an inexperienced championship manager whose record is worse than the previous 4 managers you have dismissed, yet he remains as our 'interim' manager, you have dwindling attendances, and despite comments to the contrary, it would appear we are still selling our prized assets at knock down prices! That's not even mentioning the merry-go-round of overseas players coming in, based on 'stats' and data, who we then find out they are not used to the rigors of Championship football and are either quickly moved on, or get injured and we never see them again!!
My support of this club goes back to 1960 when my father and grandfather took me to The valley for the first time. I fell IN LOVE with the club and have been ever since and yet now, some 55 years later, you have managed to remove that feeling from me, and it is breaking my heart.
You may ask Why? (if you really cared) well I can answer that quite simply, its called belonging, and many of us, in fact thousands of us, do not feel that anymore. We are more than a cinema or restaurant customer base, we are, or were, the life blood of CAFC. We, for many years have turned up in rain, sleet snow on cold Tuesdays nights at far flung places to support the team no matter what League we were in, because we felt part of the club. When The Valley was taken away from us we fought to get it back.....and won. We don't need sofa's and House DJ's, we want and demand an experienced manager who knows what he is doing and a squad that can compete. Do you not understand by playing the youngsters week in week out your are potentially destroying their confidence, oh and their sell-on value?
The fight is still in every Charlton fan, and when we won that remarkable victory of getting back to The Valley, we didn't think we would have to fight again. However let me tell we have the know-how and are ready to fight again for our club, which, may I remind you, you are just the passing custodians of.
I cannot, for the life of me, understand Mr Duchatelet's business plan. For me as a fairly sensible person, it has more holes in it than a vegetable sieve!!
Why would you preside over dwindling attendances? Why would you preside over a potentially financial damaging relegation to League 1? Why would you say history doesn't matter? Why do want old timers, like me, to fade away? Without us 'old timers' you will not have the supporters of the future, your Target 20k is currently dead in the water, and without the current supporters, that is where it will remain.
I ask you to speak, plead if necessary,with Mr Duchatelet to change his tack, or accept his plan isn't working and sell-up.
We, as the majority, may well have to put up with your current plans, which by the way must be losing you money, however as we have proved in the past, even when losing our ground we can and will fight back.
You have an abundance of experience among your fan base, that I'm sure with sensible dialogue and the recognition that you need help, will be more than willing to offer it. Remember we have been here before and know what needs to be done.
If Mr Duchatelet is not of the mind to accept help from us, then he should, for the sake of thousands of ordinary families, move on. He is not here forever, but I assure you in some guise or other CAFC will be.
I'm not in the best of health and would not want to leave this mortal coil knowing that my beloved club is not successful and attracting real fans with Charlton in their blood.
Its time Katrien to stand up and be counted, become part of the club, do not try and destroy it, and sadly that is how I and many others see your regime.
I hope you read this and understand the message. I'm more that happy to meet one on one with you or Mr Dutchatelet, should you wish, to try and ensure we move forward together. Working together we can make this club great again, divided we will fall, but the fans and Charlton will still here long into the future.
Yours Sincerely
Malc Walden
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Very good RM0
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Let's state it loud and clear tomorrow, spell it out in black and white. Our club is being broken. We are more than customers, let's make that as obvious as possible. It's time to stand up and be counted.3
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Great letter RM. Deserves better than it will probably get, and highlights that as fans, we can do stuff when we join forces.0
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Thanks @ken_shabby. I am going to publish on other forums as well, so like @bethanyarcher and her open letter we get it out there.ken_shabby said:Great letter RM. Deserves better than it will probably get, and highlights that as fans, we can do stuff when we join forces.
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Does someone have the software to amend this to 'silly Meire' (as in mare) instead of 'cow'?TellyTubby said:Oops, first one changed now.
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Another one for her inbox/deleted items.
Dear Ms. Meire,
Happy New Year to you.
I thought you might be interested in hearing about my 'matchday experience' yesterday.
I think the best way I can describe it to you, is in the form of an analogy of visiting a restaurant.
I arrived just before three o'clock with several members of my family, in fact, there were about 10,000 of us. You may have heard of us locally, we are the Charlton Family.
I have to confess that I, and several other members of the family have not been for some time, and were slightly amused at the change of staff and decor in general. The new seating near the North West corner was popular, and looked very comfortable. Almost 'Costaesque' with the sofa, quite upmarket.
The staff were finely turned out in their red and white apparel, but I have to say that the head man, whilst donning a suit, looked as if he had just arrived from an all night poker party, and lost his tie on the last hand. Not quite what the family have come to expect on their visits to SE7.
Once we were all seated and proceedings were under way, I have to tell you that it seemed to me that the staff paid little or no attention to their manager, as he nervously tried to attract their attention, and give them directions, to no avail. We had only been seated for 43 minutes when all of a sudden it seemed like somebody had dropped a whole tray of drinks down our backs.
As you can no doubt see, Ms Meire, I am struggling to make a comparison with visiting The Valley to watch my team, and eating a meal out in a restaurant, because as you well know, they are nothing alike at all.
My family, one of which I am immensely proud to be part of, come to The Valley because it's in our blood. If they have a bad meal at a restaurant they will do what other families do, either not leave a tip or go elsewhere.
This doesn't occur with football, we may not go every week, but we don't write the team or club off when things get tough.
No, indeed we don't.
I should also mention we did come round to see you after the game on Saturday, admittedly only half of the family could make it, about 5,000. However, you didn't appear hang around for long and we only got a glimpse of you disappearing through the building with a security guard. We did try to get your attention, but it seemed you were busy with more important issues.
This club is not a restaurant and I'm sorry to tell you that we will be back again, and if what's on offer is not up to scratch, the Charlton Family will let you know.
With kind regards
Joe of the Charlton Family.
P.S. I will write again at the end of January and try and use another analogy, as the Pantomime season will be coming to a close then.
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Sad to say, but if she can't be bothered to show common courtesy to Peter Varney, she's certainly not going to answer letters from customers. With every passing day, her awfulness becomes all the clearer.0
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Having had no response to my message of last Tuesday, I sent a follow-up reminder today:
Hello again, Ms Meire
Despite having received a ‘Message Read’ reply to the message below at 1.14pm on Tuesday of last week, it is disappointing to note that I have yet to receive your response to the points raised.
While welcoming the signing of some players to improve the squad, there is still no news regarding the appointment of a suitable permanent Head Coach or First Team Manager?
Hoping for a response at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards
Clive
Clive Richardson
Managing Director
Solar Broadcasting Ltd
t/a Solar Radio
www.solarradio.com/ Sky 0129
Message sent 3.41pm, Message Read receipt- 3.57pm.
Breath not being held......12
