Roland Duchâtelet | Chicago Addick

Jan 22

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 17

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What the papers say

Today both Chris Powell and Michael Slater took to the media to tell their stories. Slater turned again to his pet, the South London Press and like his partner, Tony Jimenez, Michael decided now was a good time to write his own ~~fairytale~~ chronicle of their time at The Valley.

“People may complain about the management style and the staff overhaul. But sometimes, tough decisions have to be made. There is no getting away from it – there is a real need to drag the club, kicking and screaming, into the 21st Century.”

He wouldn’t remember of course what happened at the turn of the century because Slater was busily watching Manchester City brushed aside by a tatty old Charlton as we lifted the Division One trophy aloft.
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Jan 13

Four keepers and counting

Confusing signals in Addickland today.

Sure, it was no suprise that we signed goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien on loan from Standard Liege, as it has been talked about ever since Duchâtelet took us over and the Belgium press had confirmed a done deal for most of last week.

Confusing in that I question why we need another goalkeeper, and whether or not Thuram has been foisted upon Powell. Duchâtelet will want Thuram to play games, because he cost him €2m and under Liege manager Guy Luzon he has only played 3 Pro League games and 3 times in the Europa Cup.

On the flip side, this may just be the beginning of a Duchatelet/Powell rebuilding process and this may just be the start of a plan to strengthen the squad.
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Jan 10

And another added to Duchatelet’s stable

AD Alcorcón announced today in a statement that, “pending some legal formalities, the Belgian businessman Roland Duchatelet has become the largest shareholder” of the Madrid club.”.

So, I make that number 8 in the Pan European football network. Excited or nervous?
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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 8

Football club networks. Who’s behind them?

Roland Duchâtelet got me thinking about other serial owners of professional football clubs.

Back at the end of the 1990’s the private investment trust, the English National Investment Company (ENIC) led the way in football club ownership with large stakes in Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, SK Slavia Prague, AEK Athens, Vicenza Calcio and FC Basel. However UEFA were never happy with this arrangement and by 2007 once Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis had bought the majority of shares in Spurs, they divested themselves from the other clubs.

Major domestic leagues adopted practices where it was impossible to own more than one club, but UEFA or FIFA has never prevented a multi-national investment approach such as Duchâtelet’s.
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Jan 6

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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 4

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What a pitch!

Whaaaat? Today’s game is off? No cracking open chilled bottles of Leffe? No moules and fries at half-time?

Interesting and probably coincidental that the club actually publish something on the state of The Valley pitch after the takeover news. Nonetheless it is well overdue as the pitch has become a source of ridicule and embarrassment and bluntly things are only going to get worse throughout the winter.
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Jan 3

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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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Jan 3

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In Jimenez’s own words

“So, finally, I’d like to thank the fans for their unwavering support of the team and the manager during my time at The Valley, and for all of the kind messages and emails. I am sure that they will provide the new owners with the same levels of warmth and support that we have received during our tenure.” more

You have to give it to him, almost within hours of Roland Duchâtelet officially taking over the club our Tony has knocked out a near 1,000 word blog post for the Huffington Post. Not a dickie bird for 3 years, then with his bags packed Tony is thanking all of the supporters for kind messages and emails.
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Jan 2

SLP: Duchâtelet completes Charlton deal

According the Richard Cawley at the South London Press the club have told the paper that Roland Duchâtelet has completed his takeover of Charlton Athletic for £20m, £6m more than originally thought.

“Belgian millionaire Roland Duchâtelet has completed his takeover of Charlton Athletic. The South London Press understands from sources on the Addicks board that they are now under new ownership. And Duchatelet has paid nearer to £20million for the club – not the £14m that has been widely reported. It ends an uncertain period for the Championship club, with the promise of player arrivals to boost Chris Powell’s squad.” more
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Dec 28

Takeover. Part 564 in a very long series

Charles Sale of the Daily Mail was first out of the traps again with a Charlton takeover story this morning suggesting that Standard Liège owner Roland Duchatelet has bought the club for £14m. The OS later issued a short statement in which Michael Slater was quoted as saying that the current owners are in “very constructive discussions that we hope to conclude soon.”

Since The Mail’s latest tip off the proposed takeover has been widely reported in many media outlets both here and in Belgium, although a later online edition of Flanders News said that there was still a number of conditions to be met, which sounds eerily similar to the Josh Harris offer.

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