What do we know?
Not for the first time, the festive season has us looking out for Charlton Breaking News!
So, what do we know? That something is cooking behind the scenes is without doubt, and it looks as if there are at least two interested parties. The appointments of Messers Rodwell, Scott and Warwick with Methven as a go-between are obviously one party, although it is unclear to where that money has come from because I don’t expect Sandgaard has contributed a cent.
This group has stolen a march on Peter Varney, who I believe is also putting together some potential backers with the goal to acquire all of the assets including The Valley and Sparrows Lane. Whoever they are, I do hope they had a seat at The Valley on Wednesday.
Of the three ‘executive’ appointments only Andy Scott has football pedigree, Jim Rodwell has M&A written all over him and our new FD Ed Warwick doesn’t have an accountancy qualification to his name.
Scott came across well in the interview yesterday and openly admitted to only having a contract until the end of the season. That might seem odd, and odd describes a lot of what is going on at the moment, but football has become a very short term business, and a six-week contract to someone out of work, but confident in his own ability with strong relationships and lives local would be appealing especially with an upside of a more prominent role in a newco.
The one concern is that we are reliant on Scott building a platform for not just the rest of the season, but beyond, yet he could be gone by February. Or do we think any window additions will also be short term in nature?
Thomas Sandgaard may well have been party to the hiring of Dean Holden, but Holden will get his instructions from Rodwell. Holden’s contract is until the end of season and there is a lot of football and spot the bankrolling games to be played before then.
Holden and Scott talked of money being available to net spend. There is not a lot of additive asset value in those players on the fringes. Nonetheless this action obviously flies in the face of Sandgaard’s ‘project break-even’ and the burning question is where is this money coming from?
The silence of Sandgaard, who was haplessly unable to keep his gob shut until recently is bizarre. It looks as if Jack Rodwell will be the face of the club going forward (photo), whilst son Martin makes the tea for Andy Scott and Steve Gallen.
Chicago Addick 
Greetings CA and Merry Xmas to you and your family.
I am hoping for the best but fearing the worst.
This all smacks of a remix of Nimer, Eliot, Farnell and of course arch shyster Southall, all names that make one want to throw up.
And in the backgound now not just RD but Mrs and Mrs Sandgaard.
I really don’t like the sound of this.
I just hope and pray that PV can pull a rabbit out of the hat. He is the only name I trust.
Season’s greetings and best wishes houndal.
I hope whoever the first lot are realise the crowd and atmosphere was a direct result of peter varney’s appeal (and sensible pricing) so perhaps they should just bugger off and let someone we trust save us.
I really hope that Peter Varney will have influence on the situation
Peter is Charlton through and through and when at the club did a brilliant job…and also in his previous role at Britush Heart Foundation.
First of all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone, especially to you CA for creating a stage for us real CAFC supporters to let off steam.
Like many people who comment on here I am very wary of what may be around the corner regarding the ownership issues of our beloved club.
At the moment the onus has shifted from our league position and poor results, to who will be in charge if, or when Sandgaard sells up.
I also would like to see Varney involved in that somewhere as he has always worked for the best interests of the club.
However, us true supporters will always be the last to know and it is out of our hands, so we have to trust in the Gods and hope for a positive outcome in 2023.
Greg Brown.
Much appreciated Greg. Merry Christmas.
Echo that Greg Brown.
PS – would you buy a second hand (range rover) car from Mr Rodwell??
Looks like an enforcer for Reggie and Ronnie.
CA wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas and 2023 and also thank you for your humour and thought provoking content.
Also festive greetings to everyone who has exchanged comments with me over the year.
Let’s all hope for a better 2023
Thank you Chris. Much appreciated. Merry Christmas.
Keeping this short and sweet, I’m keeping a much more positive outlook on all this. Yes I think the new management structure has everything to do with a new owner.
Regardless of what might have been said, the new company set up ‘SE7Partners’ I feel has been set up to allow the new owners to inject cash into the club to facilitate January transfers and I assume this has been set up to keep the new owner/s identity anonymous!
Short term contract for Andy Scott, is again to facilitate and manage transfers in the January transfer window, on behalf of the new owners.
Shorter term contract for the Manager, is to ensure the ship is steadied. I feel sure TS was intending a longer term contract, after all what manager would be attracted to a club who’s owner sacks managers every 6 months!!! But I think the new owners have interjected as they don’t necessarily want a longer term liability going forward. So they’ve agreed a contract to the end of the season, with a much bigger carrot for Dean Holden should he impress, otherwise why would he have signed it!!
The reasons for all this cloak and dagger stuff, is if the wider football world get wind of a multi billionaire taking over at Charlton, then the transfer fees we pay in January will be highly inflated, as will the players wages.
So in summary, it’s a multi billionaire who chooses to stay anonymous until after the January window and who’s going to pump £20m into the transfer budget for us in January!
Have a great Xmas and a happy new year
T
Just the £20m Trevor!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Love your positivity Trevor.
Wishing it in reality.
What was I thinking about, oh yes of course and apologies £20m + VAT of course 😀
Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2023
Must get back to my wrapping now
T
Where are the clowns which are Efl ? Nowhere just like the invisable cast and the fan advisers nowhere the whole club is a complete mess,tony keohene 30 staff bullied needs a full acas and met and efl investigation everyone tip toeing around tk to afraid say boo cast r a bunch of cowards who are not fit to be in charge of this great club of ours and any new takeover completed I would like see club sack every single one with tk and dismantle cast and fan. Advisors
25m Sandgaard wants when he only paid a quid chancer bully fraud and a crook do one sandgaard
Had an x chairman of a popular London club who I wanted take part in a consortium really nic guy had an hour chat with him on phone his first words to me your chairman out of his depth and a chancer if this is a well respected x club owner saying this why don’t the efl know yet passed him anyway I bet everyone didn’t know Peter risdale sits on efl board efl stinks of curuption at the highest level