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Posts from the ‘Richard Murray’ Category

Aug 17

5 Comments

Barclay and Varney drop out

The Andrew Barclay and Peter Varney takeover of Charlton was always destined to fail. Too good to be true. A progressive young empathetic businessman with plenty of family money combined with, well, simply one of us. Not only an Addick, but a proven leader. I’ve had dreams not as good as that.

Richard Murray has poisoned Roland Duchatelet’s mind towards Peter Varney about absolute claptrap. But the snake Murray got into the Belgian’s head and he was never prepared to speak to Varney or Barclay. Add to that as Barclay said himself, the risks of doing business with ESI are also too great, then today the pair decided to drop out of their bid to buy the club.

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Apr 21

2 Comments

The fight to save our club

Maybe I’ve been locked up indoors too long, but I think the first person I may hug after all this is over is Simon Jordan.

In event times the ex-Palace owner and chairman has stood up for Charlton and it’s supporters more than Richard Murray has done for years. The world has changed, a lot, but who would have thought that in 2006?

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Feb 27

2 Comments

Well, well. Thank you Simon Jordan

Whoever it was that sprayed naughties on the wall of Roland Duchatelet’s property in Stayen, Belgium rattled the old codger. Not for the first time Roland reacted instantly and called into Jim White’s TalkSport programme yesterday and once again came across as a complete buffoon. I will repeat myself for the thousandth time. How this idiot made any money from business is a complete mystery.

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Feb 17

Sense of dread

I woke up uneasy. Feeling a sense of dread and deja vu, or whatever the Flemish equivalent is.

Yesterday was disappointing, very. Blackpool are decent but it was another missed opportunity. No win in four, and a creeping impression that we are suddenly easier to play against and we haven’t any solutions. Or goals.

Three points behind 2nd and four behind 1st as we approached the end of the January transfer window. Since then we have fallen away badly thanks to one man. The richest, most obtuse and neglectful owner in our history.

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Sep 14

Addicks and Blackpool fans join forces

Charlton and our friends from Blackpool joined forces today to protest against not just our irresponsible owners, but the many others, outside the EFL offices in west London today. Meanwhile northern based Addicks and a large contingent of Blackpool fans gathered outside the EFL HQ in Preston and loudly made their presence known.

The protests were heavily picked up by the national media as well as Sky Sports and a large crowd made their feelings loud and clear. Two Addicks got to meet EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey, and after, one of them Alan Davis, said that Harvey confirmed the delay in the ‘Australian takeover’ is not as a result of any lack of process of documentation at the EFL. This the reason that Duchatelet, de Turck and Murray have all publicly stated as the reason any takeover has not yet happened.

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Sep 6

Bowyer made permanent

Roland Duchatelet did the right thing today and made Lee Bowyer permanent first-team manager. Well deserved Lee.

The statement says a few things, possibly. There is a chance that the EFL told RD the club needs some stability and a permanent manager would be a start, but on recent history I’d be surprised that the EFL would be that demanding. It may tell us that the Aussie bid is dead, or not. It is only a 9 month contract after all, and I don’t think the two things are related. Finally it appears Richard Murray still has a tongue.

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Aug 21

Charlton Athletic 0 Peterborough United 1

The misery continued for Addicks tonight. After the Daily Mail carried a story that Roland Duchatelet is refusing to pay a 10% bonus on salaries to certain staff if specific cross-cutting targets, put in place by the Belgian, were met. Those targets driven home by latest puppet Lieven de Turck have been achieved amongst job losses and a hard restructuring of expenditures across the whole club.

These normal hard working people have worked in a rudder-less and depressing environment for a long time, but have had promises broken by a multi-millionaire pocketing any incoming cash he can and notably refusing to give academy players, lauded by him initially, bottled water and taking out paper towels from the dispensers.

Now we know what a c*** Duchatelet is, but.. Richard Murray. Hold your sorry head in shame.

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Jun 13

No end to this nightmare

There were some not pleasant stories coming out of SE7 today. Roland Duchatelet has been at the The Valley this week and Rich Cawley has just confirmed that the Belgium is making plans for the new season as if he is still the owner. His first decision was to offload Ezri Konsa to Brentford yesterday with other cost saving plans to come shortly involving player sales and staff cuts.

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May 26

2 Comments

Delusional

Honestly is there no end to this man’s derangement?

“The fans missed a big chance. I would have been able to bring the club into the Premier League.” (more)

These quotes came from a meeting that Roland Out Today (ROT) had with Duchatelet whilst they were in Sint Truiden recently and bumped into him when they went to RD’s hotel construction site. A full transcript can be found on here.

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May 11

6 Comments

It’s the hope that kills you

Struggled today after last night’s disappointment. Hopefully the players are thinking more positively but Sunday is going to need a top Charlton performance, one not just of steely determination and passion, but from somewhere we have to get goals. Pearce’s backside and an Amos big goal kick have provided our only goals in the last 4 games.

On the flip side, it was only a perfect strike from Nolan that broke our defensive stronghold, and Amos again looked confident in goal. We all know what it takes, and I am sure 1,500 noisy Addicks will provide tremendous backing on Sunday afternoon in Shropshire.

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Apr 4

1 Comment

Bowyer and Jacko to stay until end of season

“The club are currently in takeover discussions with two separate parties and while the sale of the club has not been finalised, it has been confirmed that one of the conditions of the sale, agreed by both parties interested in purchasing, will be that Bowyer is kept on as Caretaker Manager, with Johnnie Jackson continuing as his assistant, until the end of the season.” (more)

Great news that allows both Bowyer and the players space and encouragement to continue their recent revival under Bowyer and Jacko and importantly boosts the new wave of energy this past week or so has created amongst the fanbase.

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Mar 22

3 Comments

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

After what has seen like a length of a James Cook expedition the Aussies are apparently finally coming. We have seen plenty of false dawns but word is that next week we may eventually get rid of the Belgian poison and have new owners.

According to the sage Richard Murray there were two bids accepted. One was obviously the Aussies, and the other may have been an Arab consortium, or was it English or was it the Scots, and someone said today there was some American interest. Who the hell knows, except that we finally rid ourselves of Roland Duchatelet.

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Mar 15

CARD: Protests to resume

Following absolute silence on the takeover front on the back of a couple of positive Richard Murray proclamations, that have frankly been pointless. Then with Karl Robinson after the Blackpool game saying that any takeover is nowhere near and it could be next season CARD have called for a day of protests at the Rotherham game on Easter Monday and will follow that up with action at the other 3 home games in April.

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Feb 28

6 Comments

Price agreed. Twice?

Despite snow covering SE7 and it’s surrounds Richard Murray put the sun back in the sky this afternoon when he gave a takeover update to supporters.

“I said in January that negotiations with two parties on the takeover were continuing well and I hoped a deal would be concluded in February of this year. Although the takeover has not yet been completed, the good news is the terms of the deal, including the price, have now been agreed between the parties and we are now just waiting for their respective lawyers to finalise the sale and purchase agreement.”

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Feb 8

2 Comments

Just day’s away

On the heels of Richard Murray giving a takeover update to the Fans Forum last night, Rick Everitt today tweeted just two words “Done Deal.”

Maybe a time to hold one’s breath and wait to see what the next few days bring us as a few last items are finalized, such as the long outstanding directors’ loans.

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Jan 30

1 Comment

KAG out on loan

Probably to help balance the wage bill a little 20-year old Karlan-Ahearne Grant went on loan to Crawley today for the rest of the season.

With Mavididi, Kaikai and Zyro, KAG was expendable and a run in a lower division will hopefully see him find his feet, and possibly his level. Harry Kewell’s Crawley are on a good run and have moved to 7 points off the play-off’s and play at lowly Chesterfield tomorrow.

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Jan 16

2 Comments

CARD demands answers

To 10 questions like:

1) Will fan’s liaison and last remaining mouthpiece Richard Murray follow up on Karl Robinson’s claim that he would address supporters this week.
2) Come on, since Kat left what the f is Tom Rubashow doing all day?
3) Will any transfer money received by RD be pledged towards adding to the squad?
4) When will Ezri Konsa be sold?
5) Will Murray and Keith Peacock make up the numbers on the bench on Saturday?
6) Does the old scrote and the remaining SMT members actually want promotion?
7) Is that a little too over-ambitious for us foul mouthed customers?
8) And how are those half-season ticket sales?
9) Oh, and how are those takeover talks?
10) Can us little people get a timeline please?

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Jan 15

1 Comment

Holmes gone. Money not to be reinvested

As expected Ricky Holmes was unveiled as a Sheffield United player today. The fee was undisclosed bu5 reckoned of be no more than £400,000. Richard Murray, remember hump?, said that due to takeover talks the money will not be reinvested in the team, but Holmes wages will, meaning loans and free agents only.

Don’t ask me how during takeover talks players can be sold but not bought. Best to ask Roland how that works. This could get nastier as Duchatelet flogs the family silver one by one.

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Jan 13

1 Comment

Bury 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Making a point..

Pre-game Karl Robinson was again chatting to Addicks outside Gigg Lane and told a fan that Ricky Holmes has been sold from under him by Roland Duchatelet for “debt management.” Afterwards to the press he said that Duchatelet refused to sanction a part exchange with Sheffield United getting Samir Carruthers plus cash for Holmes as Duchatelet just wanted the money.

Duchatelet is taking his last kicks in the stomach of our proud club, which is already doubled up in pain following the Belgian’s 4-year ownership. Just 5 players on the bench today including two long term injuries, an academy player and a goalkeeper.

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Dec 29

1 Comment

The CFO next

Rats and ships.

Rick Everitt has heard what I heard yesterday (from a fellow Blogger) that Charlton CFO David Jones has resigned. Possibly he has a job elsewhere lined up, like Meire apparently.

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Aug 15

2 Comments

Richard Murray steps down 

Richard Murray is to step down as chairman of Charlton due to ill health. 

A statement on the Official Site Murray said: “Over the past few weeks I have been having various tests regarding my health and it’s been discovered I have a number of malignant tumours in my stomach which require minor surgery at this stage.”
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Apr 23

4 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 3

Football took second place today at an anarchic Valley as Addicks upped the protests against Pinnochio, Judas and Roland Rat. 5,500 Charlton and Brighton fans marched on The Valley before the game in a fantastic show of fans being united against a noxious owner. The game was less than 30 seconds old when it was stopped for 7 minutes after hundreds of black & white beach balls were thrown onto the pitch as thousands of balloons of the same colour floated around the stadium.

Of course in true Charlton style, Brighton then scored in the 8th minute, which was really the first!
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Apr 21

2 Comments

The day after the day after

Whilst relegation has been an obvious outcome to a calamitous season, I am finding it hard to digest. Looking at that League One table and the top of League Two does not scream ‘Ooh a new ground’ it shouts ‘up yours.’

The days after the Bolton game have produced a whole range of stories, with I am sure many more to come. Roland Duchatelet was at The Valley today and meetings continue with what Meire called the Senior Management Team this afternoon in a London hotel. Undoubtedly whilst it should be Meire’s future on top of the agenda I would expect it to be Jose Riga.

It is also understood that Paul Elliott planned to meet with Duchatelet, although there will be no uplifting videos or media meetings. The owner was greeted this morning at The Valley gates by a flashmob of Addicks complete with banners. Good work.
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Apr 17

2 Comments

Lennie Lawrence

Lennie Lawrence has watched the last 3 Charlton games, which has fuelled rumours that he is negotiating with the club’s current board about re-joining Charlton in the summer. It is thought that Richard Murray is pushing Roland Duchatelet to embrace a British coaching and management structure with Lawrence as Director of Football supporting a Head of Recruitment and a young Head Coach. Where this leaves Jose Riga is unknown.

Of course, and it is my opinion, that Duchatelet will ignore Murray and simply employ another one of his lackeys with Ujpest coach Nebojša Vignjević in pole position. 
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Feb 20

4 Comments

Fulham 3 Charlton Athletic 0

I think that is it. 7 points from safety isn’t any different from this morning, but a gutless 2nd half ending in a sixth 3-0 defeat leaves us rooted to the bottom of The Championship and there isn’t a cat in hells chance of us being able to finish above three other teams.

This relegation was totally avoidable but everything points to it being so meticulously planned by Roland Duchatelet and Katrien Meire, with Richard Murray looking on, encouraging the complete dismantling of this once proud football club. Whereas Meire can’t get out of her own way and Duchatelet, he who doesn’t do failure, happy that his experiement is working, Murray should be utterly ashamed of himself.

If Riga, who I am starting to think we gave far too much credit for in keeping Powell’s squad up last time, is banging the nails in the coffin, then it was the clown Karel Fraeye that bought them from Homebase and left them on the side with a hammer.
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Feb 12

3 Comments

Nicest club in country

Roland Duchatelet took time out from his busy schedule to visit one of his children this week. He praised his CEO Katrien Meire. “She is a fantastic lady and she has a huge heart for Charlton. Charlton is something she lives for and it hurts her tremendously to be attacked that way by some fans.” and the “very influential” Richard Murray. “Richard is, in my view, the ultimate fan.”

The owner did agree that there maybe more than 2% of the customers not happy. “I think most of the fans are extremely unhappy now, at least a big part of them.”

But fans “don’t understand everything” and have to rely on Roly and his team even though he is “away, far away,” a million miles away the other side of the Channel, and he has “so many other things to do.” Warren Buffet would know what he meant.
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Jan 7

9 Comments

“You talk to them Richard”

Really, has communication gotten so bad that we now have to be given a Q&A session? Crafted questions that took 5 minutes to write a response to. What kind of statement is that?

Is this Richard Murray attempting to be the conduit between customers and the owner and his CEO? Well, thank you Richard. I can see it now.

RM to RD – “You should really do one of those video pieces again Roland.”
RD to RM – “Huh. No thanks, you talk to them.”
RM – KM – “Katrien darling you really need to address the fans they think you’re lying.”
KM to RM – “Me, no way I’m the CEO I don’t need to talk to the customers. Anyway it’s only around 3,000 of them that are unhappy.”
RM – “Oh bugger I’ll do it then. Right, how do I turn this computer thing on?”
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Jan 2

7 Comments

Proud

A momentous day. Some incredible video and photographs out there of large protests before and after the game, the post game one attended by many thousands of Addicks making their feelings clear in a passionate but orderly manner. It was a day to remember and sat here tonight I am so proud to be an Addick.

Also, there has been much media attention. Talksport, Channel 5 and the BBC both covered it as did many media outlets and commentators. Rick Everitt was interviewed on Talksport, who talked extensively about the protests today and C5 had Chirs Powell on, bringing a tear to my eye if I’m honest. The protest made the Belgium press and there was a lot of support from other club’s supporters, including Forest fans. Even James Corden mentioned it on Twitter, calling the demise a tragedy. And he has 5.9 million followers. 
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Jan 1

2 Comments

Loud and clear

Happy New Year.

As the quest of Charlton fans to reclaim our club grows in the national media, tomorrow’s game against Nottingham Forest is the last home game for 3 weeks and it is essential that we make our voices heard loud and clear. Protests behind the west stand are planned for 2.30pm and at 5pm.

The 5pm protest will be an hour-long sit in and I urge Addicks to make their feelings known towards the owner, his CEO and the amateur of a manager. I also hope that for the 90 minutes in between the fans in the stadium make Meire and Murray as uncomfortable as possible.
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Nov 11

7 Comments

Tuesday’s fan meeting thoughts

I was one of hundreds of Addicks getting angrier and angrier on Twitter last night following Tweets from a couple of media outlets supposedly reporting the fan’s meeting with Katrien Meire and Richard Murray at The Valley. I got myself so wound up I had to go to the pub. 

Upon watching the video this evening the narrative from last night as recorded by the News Shopper and London24 certainly painted a different picture and many of the 140 character missives took out of the context what was actually said.

I sat through the whole 110 minutes of the video, and a lot of it was respectful and uneventful. However my own opinion is that this was not the discussion that I was hoping for. It is possibly a start but there was still no substance to the same old trotted out mantra we have heard many times before.
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Oct 30

1 Comment

Lip service

Cynicism comes easy when you have been a Charlton supporter for 40 years and sadly I read this morning’s announcement of a planned meeting with fan’s representatives through a lens of mistrust. No sign of his lordship getting on the Eurostar of course, but I am sure he will send his apologies with a message to like it or lump it. 

It seems strange to me that the CEO continues to avoid direct communication with the Supporter’s Trust. I know it doesn’t represent everybody, but what would? But it is the largest organised group of supporters  that has over 1,000 paid up members. It will contain a broad mix of supporters and includes many bright minds that can only contribute to the future well being of the club.
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Jan 14

29 Comments

Press conference awkwardness

Anyone see the press conference this afternoon? It was an embarrassment to the club.

No Roland of course, allergic to talking to supporters, but Katrien was there complete with shovel in her hand. They rolled Richard Murray out to put our minds at rest and then there was Guy Luzon, who I had trouble understanding.
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Jan 12

5 Comments

Who is to blame?

Football is all about the blame game, whether we like it or not. Personally my only blame laid at the door of Bob Peeters was his tactical naivety, and as time went on I questioned whether he was able to get his points across to the players.

However Peeters was responsible for introducing a momentous change in the way Charlton played the game. Some of our play was truly inspiring and I thank him for giving that to me, albeit for a only a tiny amount of time, but it is something I will remember.

Peeters’ trouble, our trouble, is the squad is made of straw and has more perforations in it than a Belgium waffle.
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Jun 23

7 Comments

Liking the cut of his jib

I quite liked what Bob Peeters had to say today. Sat in between his boss and Richard Murray, Peeters came across as eager, methodical, personable, witty and up for it.

Duchâtelet looked disinterested and was happy for Peeters to answer all the questions, except for the one about the difference between a head coach and a manager, which startled Roland into action. Meanwhile Murray happily jumped in to explain the benefit of one-year contract agreements, still aggrieved obviously, like we all are, at the £1m the club paid to say goodbye to Alan Pardew.
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Apr 19

2 Comments

Made in Charlton

Some good news earlier today as the Charlton’s U18’s won their Development League after beating QPR 4-3 away from home. Rangers were two points clear going into the final game of the season but in an exciting game the Addicks’ Brandon Hanlan grabbed the winner in the 88th minute.

The U18 Development League works the Play-Off system and as South Division winners we play the runners-up in the North, who were Crewe Alexander and QPR will play Huddersfield Town, the North winners.
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Feb 20

Powell in contract talks

Those of you that followed today’s press conference would like me have had an overwhelming postive yet anticlimatic feeling by the end of it. The actual conference itself only lasted a little more than 15 minutes and this was followed by journalists questions that weren’t captured by the Official Site, but some of which were relayed on Twitter by journos in the room.

Duchatelet again spoke about the history of the club and the importance and attraction of the youth set-up as well as making the supporter experience at The Valley better. The Belgian is a big believer in Financial Fair Play and Richard Murray again said that finally the club is on a sound financial footing.

RD said there were no plans to leave The Valley and that the pitch would be replaced at the end of the season. Category One status for the academy is also under consideration.
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Jan 29

8 Comments

Worrying similarities between Standard Liege and Charlton

It is looking increasingly like both Kermorgant and Stephens will be gone by the end of the week. According to witnesses Yann’s forlorn clapping of the travelling support last night at Doncaster told them all they needed to know.

Sky Sports are reporting that a fee has been agreed between Bournemouth and Charlton and Wyn understands it to be £500,000.

Yann is a huge loss to the side and it’s supporters. Alongside Johnnie Jackson, Yann has stood for everything that has been good about Chris Powell’s reign as manager. Google any range of Charlton highlights from the past couple of years and there he will be stood, chest puffed, steely grin, arm raised, our Breton warrior. But not for much longer it would seem.
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Jan 22

3 Comments

Pay to listen interview

Anyone else think that the very first interview with Roland Duchâtelet and Katrien Meire only available on CAFC Player is a little bit out of order? It’s not very inclusive is it? I don’t know how many fans pay the annual fee of £43 a year, but surely the wider audience want to listen to Roland and Katrien’s plans. It’s quite important isn’t it?

It’s not been widely advertised either. Hopefully those that signed up today get their moneys worth, because I personally think it’s not value for money at the best of times, and I’ve been buying it for years!

Richard Murray joins Duchatelet and Meire as well on camera. Kind of funny that when Richard was the majority owner he would happily show up at fan gatherings for the price of a pint, then we had the recluse Kevin Cash and his publicity shy stooges Tony Jimenez and Michael Slater and now the new owners are charging us to listen to them.
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Jan 10

Welcome Katrien Meire

Roland Duchâtelet first statement today included a welcome to Katrien Meire, who one assumes will be Roland’s eyes and ears at The Valley.

“Richard (Murray) will act as the spokesperson for the board, just as Chris Powell will represent the first team, and both men are hugely respected by our fans. I would also like to introduce Ms Katrien Meire who has been appointed onto the board and will be working at The Valley from now on.”

Ms Meire is currently the Legal and International Relations Manager at Standard Liège, which roughly translates into business leader with a legal background.
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Jan 9

Stewart moves to Leeds

I think Roland Duchatelet’s takeover came a little too late to prevent Chris Powell changing Cameron Stewart’s mind.

Leeds were in for him in while back and today he finally signed for them on loan until the end of the season, with the lure of a 3-year contract at the end of it when his Hull contract expires. A promotion battle over a relegation one and the security of a three and a half deal I am sure swung it for the Manchester born winger.

I liked Stewart, he was direct, could take a player on and scored a couple of great goals. It does give Harriott a chance to re-establish himself, but I think that leaves quite a big hole in our already thin squad.
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Jan 6

1 Comment

What to expect from M. Duchâtelet

So, what next?

On Friday Charlton became the 7th football club that Roland Duchâtelet owns or has an interest in. In 2003 Duchâtelet took over at Sint-Truidense, where he was originally encouraged to get involved as a sponsor. The then commercial manager had written to some of the wealthiest men in Belgium, and living locally Roland got his first introduction to football ownership.

He had to relinquish ownership of Sint-Truidense when he bought Standard de Liège in 2011 as both teams were in the same division at the time, and like only a man can, Roland gave it to his second wife.
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Jan 3

1 Comment

Richard Murray’s role

The Duchâtelet takeover announcement today by the club stated that Richard Murray will stay on at The Valley as non-executive chairman. The announcement stated that Duchâtelet’s Staprix NV now own 100% of the club so seemingly Murray’s Baton 2010 Limited have relinquished their 10%, even though it was thought he was unwilling to do so.
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May 19

2 Comments

Good on Parky

Riveting wasn’t it? The battle to finish 4th. I nearly wet myself when Newcastle got a free-kick in Arsenal’s half with a couple minutes to go….

More exciting and relevant to us Addicks was Yeovil’s first ever promotion to the 2nd tier. Gary Johnson, who was mentioned in dispatches for the Charlton job post Parky only re-joined the Glovers in January last year. He kept them up and then took them to promotion today, 10-years after he brought them into the league. Welcome to The Championship Yeovil, lets hope it doesn’t rain on our trip down there next season!
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May 13

6 Comments

A few beers with Richard Murray

That is what I had last Thursday evening here in Bermuda. Arranged by a fellow Addick on the island the two of us had a most enjoyable couple of hours in Richard and his son’s company talking Charlton and football in general.

Those of you that have met Richard personally before will know he is very candid and honest. I’m not going to betray any confidentialities, not that there was anything earth shattering because there really wasn’t and those that were at the Bromley Addicks a week or so back would also have heard Richard being very supportive of the owners Michael Slater and Tony Jiminez and less so of others.
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Nov 6

5 Comments

Powell leaving is not worth thinking about

There is a lot of chatter about Chris Powell’s future at the club. It is presumed, with quite good reason, that he doesn’t have much of a relationship with Tony Jimenez, he does with Michael Slater, but his opinion is becoming less meaningful. One would have thought the only Charlton man left standing, I am of course talking about Richard Murray, would be like the majority of us, and still hold Chris in high regard.

I would think Chris Powell is having a fair few sleepless nights. He is still on a massive learning curve and it has been a very tough introduction to this level. There have been games and situations when he has shown his naivety and made errors of judgment, yet he has shown very promising ability and he has also called many, many decisions correctly. He is a quick learner but this is a callous profession to have to learn on the job, especially if you are getting no moral support from up top.
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Jul 26

3 Comments

Stephen Kavanagh gone

Rumours emanating from Charlton Life are saying that long time director and current chief executive Stephen Kavanagh has left the club. I true Kavanagh joins Peter Varney and Alex Newell in leaving the club in the past month. That leaves only majority owner Tony Jimenez, front man Michael Slater and Richard Murray as directors.
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Jul 5

2 Comments

Michael Slater to respond to rumours

Michael Slater is said to be giving a response to the boardroom rumours tomorrow in the South London Press. Slater, chairman and the acceptable face of the ownership conundrum, will address stories only circulating on Charlton Life but unquestionably with a lot of substance.

Ironically the local media have shown little interest nor knowledge of the recent challenges engulfing the CAFC owners. Equally bewildering is why Slater would pick the SLP, a newspaper that Richard Murray and the previous administration used to shun.

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Jul 3

5 Comments

What is happening in the boardroom?

I’ve sat on this for a few days now, as like other Addicks I search around in the dark for clues. The euphoria of winning, sorry walking the League One title after many years of hurt, is suddenly becoming a distant statistic as once again the team we love enters into the murky world of boardroom mistrust and rumour.

For those of you that don’t follow Charlton Life, their forum is awash with scaremongering and unanswered questions. Yet amongst the thousands of comments a couple stand out. Three or four posters, each one I recognise as having some good connections within the club have sources they say, each one different, that suggest that all is not well behind the scenes.

The main source of rumour is that we offered a deal to a potential new signing (I believe a current Premiership player) but then we reneged on the deal. Others suggest that all is not well in the boardroom, with potentially Slater and Jimenez wanting the club to go in different directions and an unknown backer pulling out his investment.
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Mar 29

Get well soon Richard

I’d like to add my best wishes to Richard Murray on a speedy recovery after suffering a mini stroke. Charlton and The Valley without Richard Murray’s influence and investment these past two decades would be a very different place and not a better one for sure. Please click for more

Dec 31

Takeover completed

“As the new owners, we are both football fans and businessmen. Today’s acquisition brings much-needed financial stability to the club. Our plan for Charlton is to run the club on a sensible financial footing and develop a commercial plan to ensure we make progress on and off the pitch to meet the expectations of our fans.

What we won’t do is create unrealistic pie in the sky expectations.”

Comments from new Charlton chairman Michael Slater, who is described as co-owner alongside property developer (those two words always worry me) Tony Jimenez, once of Newcastle ‘fame’. There also appears to be an unnamed 3rd party, whom I wondering maybe the money behind the transaction because I don’t think Jimenez or Slater have the funds themselves. Slater did say that Dennis Wise is not in the new owners’ plans.
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Dec 21

3 days to Takeover Day

Another sleepless night. The family are ill, and the little ‘un was up all night so it gave me plenty of time to think about the impending takeover. I mean there are now only 3 shopping days to go before t-day.

So what do we think? I see Charlton Life has had a stab in the dark at potential buyers, but honestly there is not a dickie bird of gossip out there and really it could be anyone couldn’t it?

The club have been busying itself clearing the decks, we know that much. They settled with Iain Dowie before the planned date of a Premier League tribunal hearing. Shame in many ways, because how much fun would we have had finding out about all the Dowie stories?

Peter Varney has indicated that he doesn’t yet know if he will be asked to continue with the new ownership, but one would have thought he would like to. Richard Murray may well have seen his last game as owner, but most of us hope and expect him to still be involved, maybe as chairman.

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Nov 8

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Takeover rollercoaster ride

The rollercoaster ride of being a Charlton Athletic supporter eh? Yesterday morning we awoke to news that serial football club killer Peter Risdale was bidding for the club (later denied), then early this morning BBC journalist know-it-all Dan Roan tweets that an announcement is imminent and then Richard Murray responds via the Official Site stating that nothing is imminent at all!

So what can we make of these latest developments on a saga that has been a constant in our minds for a couple of years now, and who are the key characters involved in these latest rumours.

Firstly it was the BBC’s Dan Roan who while we were up in arms about Parky, tweeted out of the blue on October 18th that news of a Charlton takeover was due soon. For a journo who from what I can see has only ever been interested in the ups and downs of Manchester United, Liverpool and England’s national team it sure was a perplexing outpouring of a maximum of 140 characters. Why us? What is his connection and frankly why does the ex-Setanta presenter give a toss?

Since the original tweet, Roan offered up a couple of more along the lines of ‘I know something you don’t but all will be revealed’ format. Er, thanks for nothing.
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Oct 22

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What is Richard Murray thinking?

Richard Murray probably doesn’t attend every game but one would think he might make the long trip up to Brunton Park tomorrow, home to many great Addick memories but potentially a graveyard for Phil Parkinson.

The future direction of the club is now Murray’s sole responsibility. Personally I felt the club suffered from having too many directors and divergent opinions previously. That is no longer the case, and in many circles it is acknowledged that Alan Pardew would have gone earlier if he hadn’t cleverly worked the copious amount of decision makers at the club. 

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Aug 23

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Shares

If you haven’t done so already, then please read Kings Hill Addick’s excellent summary of proceedings at today’s general meeting which saw Richard Murray officially take 100% control of the club.

I own, at least on paper, a couple thousand shares that have long been worthless. I too didn’t receive a letter inviting me to today’s meeting although the club and the Company’s Registrars do have details of my various movements. It doesn’t surprise me though as the post once it reaches Bermuda tends to do 400 laps around the island on a 25cc moped before, if you are lucky, appearing at the end of your path in an American style mailbox.
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