More proof today, if any were needed, that Roland Duchatelet's strict financial targets come before safe-guarding the status of our club. In a move of striking similarity to that of the sale of Yann Kermorgant two years ago, our most creative and still highest scoring player this season has been moved on when we are heading for League One and crying out for goals. Sorry but it's blindingly obvious and so, therefore, is their rationale.
Tony Watt made a surprise return to the starting eleven on Saturday against Blackburn Rovers and was our best player but he's moved on loan to them today. His return was only a surprise given our intention to cash-in by selling him to Cardiff fell through because of an unfortunate transfer embargo.
I have been saying it for ages and some still can't comprehend it - Roland Duchatelet isn't overly concerned if we go down. Yes, he will lose revenue but his costs will fall in proportion. With both of those numbers dropping he will simply need a smaller gap filling each year from player sales to turn a profit. It really is that simple. It's a low risk strategy that should mean he can make a profit on his investment in the years to come. They will already have calculated that our chances of being more competitive in a League One are much better than the Championship where you have to invest to stand still. If we can win the majority of home games they will be satisfied that they can stop the gate falling a lot further. Competitive in League One with ambitions for the Championship.
Schemes like letting unused office space to the NHS, moving ticketing all on-line, possibly doing away with programmes and looking to redevelop the Jimmy Seed to accommodate flats will allow him to develop new revenues whilst continuing to trim the footballing budget.
Still room for more protestors...
Tony Watt made a surprise return to the starting eleven on Saturday against Blackburn Rovers and was our best player but he's moved on loan to them today. His return was only a surprise given our intention to cash-in by selling him to Cardiff fell through because of an unfortunate transfer embargo.
I have been saying it for ages and some still can't comprehend it - Roland Duchatelet isn't overly concerned if we go down. Yes, he will lose revenue but his costs will fall in proportion. With both of those numbers dropping he will simply need a smaller gap filling each year from player sales to turn a profit. It really is that simple. It's a low risk strategy that should mean he can make a profit on his investment in the years to come. They will already have calculated that our chances of being more competitive in a League One are much better than the Championship where you have to invest to stand still. If we can win the majority of home games they will be satisfied that they can stop the gate falling a lot further. Competitive in League One with ambitions for the Championship.
Schemes like letting unused office space to the NHS, moving ticketing all on-line, possibly doing away with programmes and looking to redevelop the Jimmy Seed to accommodate flats will allow him to develop new revenues whilst continuing to trim the footballing budget.
Still room for more protestors...
God, I need a drink after reading that Dave.
ReplyDeletePH
It's just so bloody grim Dave. Added to this the debacle of the on then off loan of some West Ham starlet (tbh I'm with Riga on this one), and we have truly become a laughing stock. Throughout my life as a Charlton supporter, I've always endured ribbing from glory hunting Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham, Liverpool, Man U supporting amoeba's. But always been able to laugh it off and shrug because I knew they didn't have a clue.
ReplyDeleteNow, to put it simply, we're a f-ing embarrassment.
So, Dave, if that is indeed Duchatelet's strategy, and many would agree it is the case, do you think there are sufficient takers out there who will pony up for season's tickets to support the League One or possibly still to be League Two team to even justify running a football club? It seems to me that it might be tough to run a football club if nobody comes to the matches, even if you have your costs balanced out. It sounds more like the road to oblivion to me. We shall see I guess, but I know one person who will totally lose interest unless the ownership has ambition to offer up the best football possible and expect there are thousands more, as witnessed by the current groundswell of anger and hostility towards the man from Belgium and his comely assistant.
ReplyDeleteScoops,
ReplyDeleteWe have indeed become a laughing stock for all to see. Those who know me away from Charlton can even see that it's sympathy they need to give not piss-taking. The only people who can't see it or who are preparing to tough it out, are The Shareholder and his two Lackies. The Lackies don't care because one is hanging on to a dream of getting some money for his children and the other is a pyscophant who can't believe her luck she has landed a big job she is utterly unqualified to do but is too naive to see it and too pig-headed to acknowledge her litany of mistakes.
The only place this ends up is in a mass boycott.
Dave.
PH - I suspect many more of us will have more time and need for drinking come the day of relegation and beyond.
ReplyDeleteIf, and its a big if, a complete boycott could be organised, what about as many of the 12 odd thousand regulars (including absent season tickets holders) holding a protest at the fa headquarters about rd's credentials as being fit and proper to run a football club?
ReplyDeleteScoops - trouble is, he passes the fit and proper person test. The fact that he has zero ambition for our club and is only focused on not losing any money un the process doesn't change that....
ReplyDeleteDave, it's all like some kind of bad dream....
ReplyDelete