Who are the Senior Management Team?
Andy Scott is the latest member of the new Charlton Athletic Senior Management Team (SMT). Scott was always expected to return once SE7 Partners took control of the club. He joined Messrs. Rodwell, Warrick and Holden in December parachuted in to take a look under the bonnet whilst Thomas Sandgaard considered his options.
Scott’s main responsibility was to support the transfer activity in January. I reckon that was graded a D at best, but there were a lot of cooks in the kitchen and Sandgaard was very much the man behind the curtain with both hands firmly on the budget.
So, Scott is back as Technical Director, and again joins at the height of transfer season with a vital month to run to give Dean Holden the very best chance to challenge for promotion.
There is no doubting that Andy Scott brings a lot of differing expertise after starting out on Wimbledon’s books three decades ago. He has won promotion as a player and a manager, has a long history of scouting and recruitment and worked at some progressive football clubs.
There was a little too much fluff for me in his most recent interview, but I am willing to give him a chance as he is a gigantic step up from a family member of Thomas Sandgaard. Nonetheless he should be judged on his real objective and that is to support Steve Gallen in signing the best players available within budget, and in synch with what Dean Holden requires.
Chair of the SMT board, at least for this season, will be Jim Rodwell. A non-league central defender scrapper in his day, Rodwell has had a slew of management roles at football clubs as well as a seat on both the EFL and the FA Council. There is no denying his football experience but past roles have very much been titled ‘interim.’
Ed Warrick is the Group Finance Director, another friend of Charlie Methven. Eton educated I suspect it will be Warrick that will be the link to the money men mostly living at distance away from the day to day.
Simon Lenagan will support ‘the project’ as a Technical Advisor. He was also involved in the original Methven bid and has an eclectic background in acting, directing, podcasting, software, education and as a voiceover agent. Not sure which part of that resume adds value as a Technical Advisor, but Lenagan is an obvious sports fan.
Two Non-Executive Director’s assume roles on the SMT, which is a clever if simple piece of PR. Paul Elliott has been on the outside of a variety of ownership shifts at The Valley and brings communion and diversity to the board.
Paul was a joy to watch in a Charlton shirt in the early 1980’s who’s burgeoning career was curtailed by a cruel injury at just 28.
Finally lifelong Charlton fan Gavin Carter is also an SMT Non-Exec. I don’t know him, but it looks as if he too is an overseas supporting Addick.
A lot of characters that will need to have cohesion and a plan and will answer to the range of investors now steering our football club on what we hope is a much more steady and exciting journey.
I wonder how many of these are taking a salary?
My thoughts are how big are these salaries.
One would assume they’d appear in good course in the report & accounts. Addicks’ many sleuths will be sure to find them!
Thanks CA
I am hoping there is a tangible link to on field success.
I should like to know the chain of command where transfers are concerned : If DH fancies bringing in a player from another club does he go straight to Rodwell with the request? And will Rodwell have the power to say yes or no to DH or will Rodwell have to refer the request to the board of Global Football Partners, which would be a very long winded process.
Appreciate comments on this matter
Fair question. I think the board of GFP won’t care or even want to know which players are brought in. They will set the budget, what the management team do with that is largely down to them. If an increase in budget or overspend is required it’ll be down to Warwick and Rodwell to clear it with the actual owners. I suspect the budget to begin with is somewhat healthier than in previous seasons, as we’ve seen with the players already signed
One would expect the decision tree has been set. Holden, Gallen and Scott will combine on transfer targets and which players will leave permanently or on loan. They would in turn go to Rodwell, who would work alongside Warrick with the budget set by the Investors, of whom Friedman, Brener and Rosenfeld are the majority of the cash. Sounds a long chain, but it is how proper companies work. As always communication and trust is key.
It’s really just Charlie Methven and his mates. Methven can pretend he’s a go-between the investment board and the SMT but he is leading the SMT in practice as de factor CEO. Paul Elliott’s appointment is a clever sop and Gavin Carter has paid to be the unwanted fan’s rep.