Roll up, roll up, it's the Charlton circus

[UTS]

This Charlton protest does really seem to be a lot of pretentious moaning for nothing. There are plenty of clubs in much worse positions who make less fuss.

Charlton have steady finances and a good team for this league, what more do you want?

 

[Bobbin']

Can you not read?

Do you not understand anything at all?

Our club didn't go bust last time around because our fans made a 'fuss' maybe if fans of other clubs did they wouldn't be in 'much worse positions'. That is an utterly ridiculous comment anyway as I've already pointed out in this thread. Do you have to wait before your club is on the brink before protesting? That's where we are heading so makes far more sense to protest before that happens. Man United protested against the Glaziers, I think we can all agree most clubs are in far worse positions than them.

It may seem like we have steady finances but any money we have is loaned from Roland's many other businesses, with interest. Please don't think he is just pumping money into the club out the goodness of his heart.

 

[UTS]

Sorry I just don't see what the big deal is. Maybe if you could explain that would help. From the outside there doesn't really seem to be much wrong at Charlton. Bolton seem to have had a much rougher ride and their fans aren't protesting.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Far be if for me to comment on a Charlton thread (we aren't known as being bosom buddies) but it seems pretty obvious to me.
Most clubs can have financial difficulties through a degree of mis-management or bad decision making.
That is a world away from a foreign owner buying a club, having no interest in the club whatsoever, deliberately running it into the ground, slagging off the fans, suing the fans who dare say anything against the regime and generally acting like total c***.

 

[Camborne Gills]

And below us in the league (albeit temporarily)

 

[JJH]

Sorry I just don't see what the big deal is. Maybe if you could explain that would help. From the outside there doesn't really seem to be much wrong at Charlton. Bolton seem to have had a much rougher ride and their fans aren't protesting.

Read the thread mate, it's been bloody well covered by Bobbin in much detail for those who want to keep up with the situation.

 

[Bobbin']

Sorry I just don't see what the big deal is. Maybe if you could explain that would help. From the outside there doesn't really seem to be much wrong at Charlton. Bolton seem to have had a much rougher ride and their fans aren't protesting.

You're literally posting on a 5 page thread of examples and explanations.

If I sat here and posted absolutely everything, I could be here for the entire day. If you go through this thread, I have posted numerous examples and articles that can go into greater depth than I can.

As The Last Waltz rightly says, this is different from someone just spending beyond their means. This is a man who has bought a football club, has never disclosed his intentions, openly admitted he's lost interest in football and that Charlton are only 1.5% of all his business so in his words has 'other things to care about', has somehow taken a mid-table championship side to the bottom half of league one and has spent the whole time insulting fans.

This whole having money thing is a myth too, as I've said these are just loans from other Roland owned companies, he is expecting this money back with interest.​

 

[UTS]

You're literally posting on a 5 page thread of examples and explanations.

If I sat here and posted absolutely everything, I could be here for the entire day. If you go through this thread, I have posted numerous examples and articles that can go into greater depth than I can.

As The Last Waltz rightly says, this is different from someone just spending beyond their means. This is a man who has bought a football club, has never disclosed his intentions, openly admitted he's lost interest in football and that Charlton are only 1.5% of all his business so in his words has 'other things to care about', has somehow taken a mid-table championship side to the bottom half of league one and has spent the whole time insulting fans.

This whole having money thing is a myth too, as I've said these are just loans from other Roland owned companies, he is expecting this money back with interest.​

So you have a wealthy chairman and have a decent squad for this league, still not seeing the deal here. Charlton don't look out of place in league One either in fairness, who did you blame last time you dropped into league one 5 years ago?

 

[Bobbin']

So you have a wealthy chairman and have a decent squad for this league, still not seeing the deal here. Charlton don't look out of place in league One either in fairness, who did you blame last time you dropped into league one 5 years ago?

Then I'm afraid you will never understand, you ask for explanations, you have tons of them and then you interpret them in the way you want to, I'm wasting my time, you obviously have a gripe with Charlton because of some small Kent newspaper article.

It's amazing how many fans of different clubs, journalists and even chairmen of other league clubs can see the problem but you can't.

This is about far more than results and relegations. We were protesting half way through last season before we were even relegated. You practically said it yourself, we weren't blaming anyone or protesting 5 years ago so what does that tell you?

 

[Lamby]

That you're fickle bastards?

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Wondered how long it would take for Baldrick to turn up.

 

[Bobbin']

That you're fickle bastards?

Not for the first time, you're wrong.

 

[Camborne Gills]

That you're fickle bastards?

What are you then? (apart from someone who argues for the sake of it and seems to know sod all)

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Agreed UTS i don't get the fuss either, Charlton got a £1m+ strike force you bought this season and probably the biggest wage budget in the league. We've been screwed for ridiculous rent for donkeys for our stadium but you just get on with it, and we certainly can't afford a £1m+ strike force.

 

[Bobbin']

Agreed UTS i don't get the fuss either, Charlton got a £1m+ strike force you bought this season and probably the biggest wage budget in the league. We've been screwed for ridiculous rent for donkeys for our stadium but you just get on with it, and we certainly can't afford a £1m+ strike force.

Yes you're right, you don't get it.

It's funny isn't it? On the death of Bury thread, everyone is criticising Bury for overspending but in here are saying that Charlton should be grateful for essentially spending money that isn't theirs.

It's also the total ignorance to the amount of money spent. We've probably spent around 1.5mil on incoming players yet probably had around 6mil come in from outgoings. Where's the other 4.5m then? Certainly wasn't reinvested in the squad.

 

[JJH]

That's a very good point, look at the assets that Charlton have sold on to be able to afford these players. Gudmundsson, Pope, Cousins etc all went for a fee, and it looks like they'll be getting £10m in January for Lookman. Let's see if any of that gets invested back into the club or first team...

Obviously that's a minor issue in the current problems at Charlton but for those looking at the situation and mentioning the money they've spent on their squad it's worth looking at how much they spent as opposed to how much they've raked in.

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

It's probably been swallowed up by the huge wages they're paying.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

I probably have more reason to dislike Charlton than anyone else on here but some of the ignorance being spouted about their current owners beggars belief.
They are utter bellends and the sooner they are gone from the English game the better.
I suppose you were all singing pro SISU songs the other night too.

 

[Bobbin']

It's probably been swallowed up by the huge wages they're paying.

I'm interested to know who we're paying high wages to seeing as you know so much about our finances.

Ajose possibly, who else?

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

The big lad up front is on fair whack i imagine.

 

[Bobbin']

Probably not as much as you think.

Also worth noting that it's not just incoming fees, I think around 16 players left the club so that's a lot wages off the books.

Also remember earlier in the thread, Slade had to fight hard to bring Crofts and Foley to the club and they were free agents, because our CEO said we had to watch the budget. Let's not get having a wealthy owner confused with having a hefty budget, it's only hefty if he's willing to spend it.

 

[UTS]

So the Charlton chairman appears to be asset stripping and pocketing the money for himself and his business interest?

 

[Bobbin']

So the Charlton chairman appears to be asset stripping and pocketing the money for himself and his business interest?

Well it's certainly going somewhere and by his own admission he has other businesses that take priority.

The more cynical Charlton fans believe it's all one big plan for a land grab and there have been rumours that he likes the idea of having flats next to/in the stadium like they have at Orient. I'm personally not sure I believe that although it is completely conceivable, I think he's just a mental fool who has this delusional view on how to run a football club and only looks to make a profit from it.

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/...n_Athletic_protests_can_oust_unpopular_owner/

Here is another good link, this is how Standard Liege supporters view Roland and tells you the lengths they went to to oust him from their club.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

It's not always the actions but the attitude of these people.

Our chairman has now taken the attitude that everything is the fans fault.

Are chairman was gleefully telling national radio how he plans to get the passports of all pitch invaders confiscated, as well as happily telling fans if they boycott matches it doesn't matter to him as he will simply sell players and slash wages as its irrelevant what league we will play in.

 

[Bobbin']

So the Charlton chairman appears to be asset stripping and pocketing the money for himself and his business interest?

Actually, that is exactly what they're doing and are happy to admit as much.

With the sale of Lookman imminent, I was reminded of this, can't believe I hadn't already included it in here.

From the mouth of Katrien Meire.

"My proposition would be a real unique football fan experience — and see hopefully the next stars of the Premier League, which we will have play for Charlton in the first team and then sell onto the Premier League."

https://medium.com/@darryl1974/how-...ing-charlton-athletic-dc8a9ed7e91c#.hn6hx6vk4

At Charlton we have a membership called Valley Gold whereby members pay either monthly or annually and the money is invested into our acadmeny to help develop players who will hopefully end up in the first team. It has been hugely successful for years and is a huge part of why our academy is one of the best around.

Her proposition it seems is to take all that money, develop these players and sell them on for as much profit and as quickly as possible.

 

[blade1889]

Ignoring all their other faults, have you not just highlighted exactly what every team outside of the premier league does? They may not say it quite so bluntly but I don't see how developing players, they turn out to be good, and selling them on, differs to the situation we find ourselves in tbh.

 

[Bobbin']

Ignoring all their other faults, have you not just highlighted exactly what every team outside of the premier league does? They may not say it quite so bluntly but I don't see how developing players, they turn out to be good, and selling them on, differs to the situation we find ourselves in tbh.

Most other clubs want to develop youngsters to benefit their own club first and foremost and then sell on.

Their attitude is to develop youngsters, stick them in the shop window at the earliest opportunity and flog to the first bidder. That is their plan for Charlton Athletic. She doesn't say anything like 'We want to develop these youngsters so they become stars for Charlton and will hopefully go on to be stars in the premier league' or 'Our proposition is to develop young talent with the hope of reaching the Premier League ourselves'. Charlton fans are now effectively paying money into Valley Gold so the club can sell their best assets quickly, which isn't what it was about.

There is a world of difference.

Also, other clubs sell on so they can reinvest in their playing squad. We don't.

 

[blade1889]

She's saying bluntly the reality of other teams. I really fail to see the difference and your gripes about selling to the PL are the same I've read countless times on our forums and no doubt many others.

We develop youngsters, (Dominic Calvert-Lewin sold to Everton this summer having barely played for us being a good example) and sell them on to higher placed teams. KM can come out and say "We are developing players to get us to the PL" but the reality of what happens is that until we get there we will be selling these assets to the PL. The argument then comes down to re-investing the money in the 1st team, depending whose opinion you believe we have or haven't done that...personally I believe we have (certainly this year), and that's where the benefit comes. KM would never come out and be as blunt as your chairman as he'd get castigated for it, we still function the same in this particular respect though.

 

[Bobbin']

She's saying bluntly the reality of other teams. I really fail to see the difference and your gripes about selling to the PL are the same I've read countless times on our forums and no doubt many others.

We develop youngsters, (Dominic Calvert-Lewin sold to Everton this summer having barely played for us being a good example) and sell them on to higher placed teams. KM can come out and say "We are developing players to get us to the PL" but the reality of what happens is that until we get there we will be selling these assets to the PL. The argument then comes down to re-investing the money in the 1st team, depending whose opinion you believe we have or haven't done that...personally I believe we have (certainly this year), and that's where the benefit comes. KM would never come out and be as blunt as your chairman as he'd get castigated for it, we still function the same in this particular respect though.

You're missing the point.

I don't have a gripe about selling players to the PL, it's a reality for lower league clubs and one we've been on the end of probably more than most.

Our gripe is that the Belgians have focused their whole business plan around this, their soul intention is to make money from these assets. The future or direction of the club is irelevant.

 

[blade1889]

You're missing the point.

I don't have a gripe about selling players to the PL, it's a reality for lower league clubs and one we've been on the end of probably more than most.

Our gripe is that the Belgians have focused their whole business plan around this, their soul intention is to make money from these assets. The future or direction of the club is irelevant.

Every club has to make money to progress, the easiest way to do that is sell players. Of course it'll be part of a business plan. Once you start selling these players it'll be interesting to see where the money goes...that's when the gripe could be realised. Until then it's nowt different to anyone else.