An announcement on the Official Site this morning that the club will celebrate the 25th anniversary of both the Back To The Valley (BTTV) campaign in 2017 as well as the formation of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT).
In a slick PR move, the Club have appointed Sir Stuart Etherington to lead an 'independent committee' to oversee the celebrations. Sir Stuart is apparently a lifelong supporter although I have to say I have never heard of him. I would have thought they could have found someone much closer to the BTTV campaign to better legitimise their plans. The club really don't have dibs on the BTTV campaign, it was lead by Rick Everitt and other fans and directed at the club by Roger Alwyn. I will wager Rick's excluded from any of this that the majority, if not all, of the Valley Party candidates are currently heavily supportive of the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet (CARD). Indeed, the Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust's most recent survey today reveals that 88% of those responding to their survey support the aims of CARD.
The announcement also puts Keith Peacock and Jason Morgan on the committee. No-one will argue with Keith as he is the last remaining link with the playing past who will still sit in the Directors Box and Morgan is at least well qualified to represent the CACT.
I think we need a properly 'independent committee' made up of supporters who played their part in the BTTV campaign to organise a proper Silver Jubilee of the fans fight and make sure Katrien Meire has nothing to do with it (Duchatelet either, although he won't get of his arse to attend this). After all "I shouldn't say this, but I don't care about the history of the club."
The announcement today is also unusual coming on a matchday and our FA Cup game at that. I wonder if the intention here, timing-wise, is to try and bury bad news of the embarrassing match attendance that they will announce later today as we exit the Cup? Pitch PR working overtime here - must be costing the club a small fortune. They would be better off trying once again to appoint a Communications Manager, although who in their right mind would take the job based upon Mel Baroni's experience?
In a slick PR move, the Club have appointed Sir Stuart Etherington to lead an 'independent committee' to oversee the celebrations. Sir Stuart is apparently a lifelong supporter although I have to say I have never heard of him. I would have thought they could have found someone much closer to the BTTV campaign to better legitimise their plans. The club really don't have dibs on the BTTV campaign, it was lead by Rick Everitt and other fans and directed at the club by Roger Alwyn. I will wager Rick's excluded from any of this that the majority, if not all, of the Valley Party candidates are currently heavily supportive of the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet (CARD). Indeed, the Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust's most recent survey today reveals that 88% of those responding to their survey support the aims of CARD.
The announcement also puts Keith Peacock and Jason Morgan on the committee. No-one will argue with Keith as he is the last remaining link with the playing past who will still sit in the Directors Box and Morgan is at least well qualified to represent the CACT.
I think we need a properly 'independent committee' made up of supporters who played their part in the BTTV campaign to organise a proper Silver Jubilee of the fans fight and make sure Katrien Meire has nothing to do with it (Duchatelet either, although he won't get of his arse to attend this). After all "I shouldn't say this, but I don't care about the history of the club."
The announcement today is also unusual coming on a matchday and our FA Cup game at that. I wonder if the intention here, timing-wise, is to try and bury bad news of the embarrassing match attendance that they will announce later today as we exit the Cup? Pitch PR working overtime here - must be costing the club a small fortune. They would be better off trying once again to appoint a Communications Manager, although who in their right mind would take the job based upon Mel Baroni's experience?
4,123 (682 visiting fans). Building a better tomorrow together!
ReplyDeleteYour going to find a negative in whatever the owner does, Are Charlton any worse off than they where under Slater and the other idiot who invested bugger all. We now have an academy overhaul, new pitch, modern turnstile, getting rid of the over priced Nike shop, etc.
ReplyDeleteAll I hear is, They've sold our best players, but we've always sold our better players.
Unfortunately Stephen, you are right. Duchatelet's plans have gone down the drain and he has zero ambition for us now - it's all about shrinking the club and making money on player sales. Slater and Jiminez got us up with Cash's money but they were a busted flush without his money. Yann Kermorgant paid for the new pitch and the investment this far in Academy are small beer until they commit to the main building. We have always sold our best players but it's pretty obvious now what the game is. She even told us that the new plan is a 'matchday experience' and watching the PL stars of tomorrow. Zero ambition for our club. All that with a billionaire owner. If that's good enough for you, fair enough but I expect more.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Stephen, you are right. Duchatelet's plans have gone down the drain and he has zero ambition for us now - it's all about shrinking the club and making money on player sales. Slater and Jiminez got us up with Cash's money but they were a busted flush without his money. Yann Kermorgant paid for the new pitch and the investment this far in Academy are small beer until they commit to the main building. We have always sold our best players but it's pretty obvious now what the game is. She even told us that the new plan is a 'matchday experience' and watching the PL stars of tomorrow. Zero ambition for our club. All that with a billionaire owner. If that's good enough for you, fair enough but I expect more.
ReplyDeleteKeith, whatever they are paying you isn't enough. retire now and condemn the witch.
ReplyDeleteAhem. If they did nothing to acknowledge the return to the Valley, most would be screaming and shouting. In some cases the same people who will complain about them doing something. Damned if they do...
ReplyDeleteAnon - I agree, but why not offer the management of it to one of the main figures in BTTV first as an 'independent' event? That way Meire could have been seen to acknowledge her own invidious position in this and be offering an olive branch which might not lead to a split celebration? Appointing Sir Bufton Tufton is a naked attempt at gaining credibility she doesn't have. Sorry but it's bleedingly obvious.
ReplyDeleteAs Chief Exec of the National Council of Voluntary Orgs, Sir Stu should be zillions times better at organization than a certain lady is. On the other hand, whoever did his Wikipage didn't ask him about his football team - no mention. Let's hope this is not a late discovery of affiliation in the Aston Ham United mould.
ReplyDelete