No Black Friday as Duchatelet sells

I’m on my 4th expresso, but I’m still rubbing my eyes at the statement on the club website.

“We are proud and delighted to announce East Street Investments have agreed the purchase of Charlton Athletic Football Club.”

East Street Investments, named no doubt for the road in London SE7 where a group of teenagers used to kick a ball about and formed Charlton Athletic in 1905, is a company that will be chaired by Matt Southall (photo), with the board existing of His Excellency Tahnoon Nimer who is the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Business Development, which is the private office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and Jonathan Heller, who is CEO of Abu Dhabi Business Development.

All subject to the ratification of those bright folks at the EFL of course.

There’s all kind of stuff on line, although those Arabic family names are confusing and very intertwined, but on first looks Sheikh Saeed Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan appears to have some serious family wealth, the Al Nahyan family are one of the six ruling families of the UAE.

The baby-faced Sheikh is under 30 and a lover of football.

Let’s hope he soon realizes that there is football and then there is Charlton Atheltic.

Early stories are that the new owners plan to build on Lee Bowyer’s success and offer him an extended contract, as well as sit down with Lyle Taylor and discuss a new contract. The Valley is also thought to be part of the purchase by East Street Investments.

I think we all thought we’d never see the day when Roland Duchatelet is consigned to history. Good riddance, and a huge Addicks welcome to East Street Investments.