A few notes from tonight’s fan meeting
I watched the ‘meet the director fan meeting tonight. Not sure how many of you did, certainly the viewer number count on You Tube never got above 500, and we found out tonight that we have 12,500 season ticket holders. It is here if you want to watch the recording.
Charlotte Richardson hosted Board Chair Gavin Carter, Managing Director Jim Rodwell until he had to go, and then CFO Ed Warwick for just over an hour in what has been described as part of the club’s fan engagement framework.
I’m old school and remember too well Michael Gliksten, Roland Duchatelet, Katrien Meire, Matt Southall, Paul Elliott (the other one) and Thomas Sandgaard, so when officials of the club are willing to be questioned, then we should view it positively, whatever the answers.
As a fanbase we can be bloody negative and it’s starting to grate on me. I try to have an open mind and have an ability to see things from different perspectives, and attempt to think longer term. I can be as grumpy or ecstatic post match as anyone, but will always remind myself of what Curbs would say about emotions.
Anyways, I listened to the show, and made some notes. Firstly, Jim Rodwell, who for me has fashioned himself a role at the club, is willing to give insight but loves the sound of his own voice and is far too suntanned for someone that has an day job in Eltham.
I’m a fan of Gavin Carter because he is me, or you. He has made money, built a business and wants to give back to something he truly loves and cares for. Gavin does though look bloody knackered, and Jim needs to give him some of his holiday allocation.
Ed Warwick was impressive. Obviously very media trained, but I felt he was prepared and wasn’t afraid to give candid answers.
Charlotte of course is a superstar and should do every club interview, if only they could pay her enough money.
So then, my notes in no particular order, and in italics are my thoughts.
- Josh Edwards is out for the season. Gutting for us and the boy. Love Josh.
- Luke Chambers was our first choice. It appears the deal was done in the early days of January but Liverpool wanted to wait on his fitness before committing.
- There will likely be more signings, and some going out. Phil Chapple’s net is far and wide. He was in Turkey and Japan last week.
- We have the 3rd lowest budget in The Championship. My guess is Pompey and Wednesday are below us.
- We have 12,500 season ticket holders, an extra 4,000 were sold after Wembley. I believe that is the most since the Premier League days.
- A lot of talk from Gavin of KPI’s, but Rodwell confirmed that points are all that matters, and style is secondary at this stage. Staying up is the only goal for this season. Agree.
- Gavin’s long term goal is to be the 4th biggest club in London. Remember this is a journey.… nice to have ambitions though.
- No desire to sell Micah Mbick. Ideally he will come back and play in the first team. My ideal view is that he will grow his reputation and price tag at Charlton, but money talks and heads get turned.
- No plans to make an offer to Duchatlet for The Valley, but Warwick said they will continue to improve The Valley experience spending money that helps get fans back in the ground, but there will be no major infrastructure expenditure. I do think Charlie Methven loved a sound bite when he used to say we are in discussion with the old Belgian fart. I’d rather us play the long game.
- Gavin Carter said he that the collapse of new CEO Dane Murphy was a huge disappointment but he is in discussions with another candidate.
- The owners are very committed to Charlton, but want to grow the club astutely with financial prudence. They are big fans of the women’s team.
- The medical team is fully staffed. Will Abbott’s role which wasn’t a medical doctor role will not be replaced.
- They are talking to Millwall about how Addicks’ fans will be handled on Saturday, but have little influence. Warwick agreed that the Chelsea and Millwall hook games were a challenge, but they had very little control over the police actions.
- In regard to a question about the pitch, especially with the women’s games on it. Rodwell said it looks and plays better in real life than on TV. I thought from TV it looked very bobbly last night.
I too watched the full hour or so CA, and like you and maybe a few others are getting tired of all the negativity around it was always going to be a tough ask to stay in this league, but apart from our recent form we are in a pretty good place in the league.shame about Josh Edwards but hopefully he recovers well welcome to Luke chambers hope he proves everybody wrong. I did enjoy what they all had to say so let’s get behind the team for the rest of the season coyr
4th biggest in London. I like the ambition, West Ham must be nervous….
Good summary – thanks for that. As you say, any sensible engagement is good. I still think we might grab a special loan deal at the end of Jan to boost us.
I’m not going to get into disecting all of that, others who were there will do the task.
Just two thoughts; 12500 season tickets will be a pipe dream if we’re relegated.
If it’s true Brighton have offered almost £5m for Mbick the club should take it. Micah is young and completely untried at championship level. He may or may not make the grade. Let Brighton take that gamble, include sell on clauses and use the upfront money to improve our team now.
A helpful summary thanks. I have stopped looking at Club Facebook posts because of all the negativity. I do wonder what world some of our supporters inhabit.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Just your opinion and as many if not more see the wider picture
One point that l picked up on.
– “continue to improve The Valley experience spending money that helps get fans back in the ground, but there will be no major infrastructure expenditure”:
The surefire way to achieve this, l believe, is to focus all efforts on strengthening the team. A winning team is all that matters. If the team does well then the fans will come. Having said that, Greenwich Council’s ridiculous parking strategy is a ‘real & present’ barrier to bigger attendances. Those who travel by car because it is the only realistic option – especially if they have mobility issues, or travelling to night games because of limited public transport – need better free parking facilities closer the the ground. The additional cost of parking is offputting. (Travelling to a night game by train is impossible from Norfolk. By the time the game ends it is a race to get to Liverpool St, and then make the last connection for another service from Norwich).
I agree parking is a real problem, I travel by car to games. But you may not be aware night games do not have the same parking restrictions. You can park for free in the 2 hour restricted bays or single yellow lines after 6.30.
I knew it was on and have not had the time to listen to it but CA appears to be spot on, and I have never felt comfortable with Mr Rodwell at all and I do not know why there seems too much about him.
We also question the ambition of the Board, but at the time of writing, they have turned down 2 bids for Mbick so far?
And people questioning the negativity, and I rather see it as the truth, and no one likes it, and if we carry on with hoof-ball and not change the system, and at least have a go, but Mr Stubborn will not change the system otr tactics.
Surely the Board are not happy with the amount spent on players who are not even playing or not in the squad at all
However, with 3 free signings and still injury-prone players, what are we supposed to say and realism really hurts, and IMHO there is more problems behind the scenes.
Sort it out at CAFC from top to bottom and very quickly too/
Reference the appearance of the pitch.
On telly on Tuesday it looked like it would be bobbly but the ball always ran true. It was extraordinarily wet all evening and there was a lot of reflection of the lights off the wet surface.
From halfway up the Curbside on Saturday the pitch looked absolutely fine, green and grassy.
£2.5M now for Mbick with the possibility of more later, sounds huge for an inexperienced 19 year old – but that much cash ain’t going to make a significant dent in Charlton’s immediate squad inadequacy. If the offer grows significantly and the player wants the opportunity then maybe but any incoming fee won’t guarantee any returns on the pitch this season
Great summary. Regarding Mbick, we are apparently interested in one of Brightons midfielders for 3.5 million, if true surely a player plus cash would be beneficial to the club, approximately 1.5 million going into the bank for further players.
I didn’t watch the meeting, but I do have some thoughts on the outcomes.
We, as Charlton fans, like to talk about the importance of our history, but at the same time, some seem to forget much of what happened in the last fifteen years. Whilst I was wary of our new owners, I now sense a realistic balance of ambition/expectation. How many clubs welcome new owners, who promise so much, and then leave a club on its knees and going out of business? It feels a bit different this time.
If we have the third smallest budget in the Championship, then in our current position we are actually punching above our weight. NJ did what many other managers had failed to do, and get us out of the hell that was League One. The owners seem committed to NJ, and therefore so should we. The Championship has got a whole lot more competitive in the five years we were out of it, and it will take a few seasons for us to consolidate and push on. At this point, I would take staying up above us playing more attractive football.
In spite of being an Addick my whole life, I somehow have retained the perspective of being a glass half-full kind of person!
From another glass half-full person… I appreciate the summary and agree with the points you make. Of course season ticket sales depend on league status so let’s be happy we are the championship on a small budget trying to punch above our weight. Style of play is irrelevant as points on the board count at this stage.
I think board is behind the club and given the spate of bad owners we have had it’s refreshing to see. Ambition and words are all well and good, structure and investment are the KPI’s . As said previously if Mbick is £5 million.. then for me it could be worth considering as potential is one thing, delivering is another. If that money delivers a better quality player to our current squad it makes sense. Of course you would have add ons as well.
We need squad depth in key positions like left side and in the midfield areas. Yes some will have to go to balance the books but providing if they are better than we have now , not a problem , however this has not always happened in the past.
We all have opinions about the team , players, management.. some are warranted , some quite baffling and sometimes it feel like gaslighting! 😀.
I didn’t listen either too busy working but totally agree Daggs like I said in a previous comment if mbick sale is anywhere near £5m cash in now cause NJ will never play him i ll put money on it
I didn’t hear it either too busy working but totally agree Daggs like I said in a previous comment if mbick sale gets anywhere near £5m cash in on him NJ will never play him i ll put money on it he hasn’t yet anyway