Wednesday 1 January 2020

Dartford 4 v Welling United 0

I had every intention of heading down the A2 to take in Welling's return double-header against local rivals Dartford this afternoon. However, having read Chairman/Manager Mark Goldberg's New Year Message this morning I decided not to waste my time.

I was disappointed that the Wings were walloped 3-0 at home by the Darts on Boxing Day but was prepared to take that as something that can happen in derby matches (eh Charlton fans). However, what I wasn't prepared for was Goldberg's update this morning in which he semi-apologises for being on holiday at this time! He went on to say he wouldn't accept the absence of someone else managing the team but that "the financial pressures of supporting our club has taken it's toll on me and I make no excuses for needing to take time out with my family." 

A touch ironic that the financial pressures have forced him to take a family holiday. For most of the rest of us, holidays are the first things crossed off the list when we have financial pressures. He then continues to dig by telling Wings fans that we need to get right behind the side today because that's what they really need when confidence is low. That's right Mark, although they won't be getting your support or, er, management input.

The intent of this message may also be to try to assure Wings fans of his long-term intentions for the ground/stadium. He has been keen to rotate the pitch and gain development permission for the site in the process which he alludes to looking forward. Wings fans remain suspicious and it's not hard to see why. 

Goldberg's decision to part with Steve King in the close season and install himself as manager was highly questionable. He had tried this at Welling once before and it didn't go well. King had taken them within an ace of an unlikely promotion and some continuity was probably all it needed. The squad was churned during the Summer and players have continued to come and go on a near weekly basis. As a casual supporter it's frustrating turning up every few weeks to see several new and unfamiliar faces and to keep asking "where's he gone?" I wouldn't mind if this constituting rebuilding but just as many of the incomings soon become outgoings. Goldberg is responsible for the club's finances, so if he overspent last season, that was his decision, although it's hard to understand why that might have been more expensive than this season, unless he was paying the manager and his deputies a King's Ransom? I also assume any redevelopment of the ground would largely be financed with someone else's money....

Needless to say, the match didn't go well for Welling who were embarrassed once again this afternoon by the Darts. They are down to 19th, two places off the relegation spots. What is sure, is that there will be no upturn in gate money or commercial revenues while the current strategy is pursued.

Meanwhile, away from Welling, disappointing and hard-to-believe that we have Charlton fans who can't see the glaring correlation between the desperate lack of fit squad players and poor results, and instead are blaming Bowyer, Purrington, Sarr, Solly, etc. 

Equally sad to see Charlton fans taking cheap shots at Rick Everitt by circulating a critical local Thanet politician's personal criticism of Rick's election as Leader of Thanet Council from May 2019. Some people have very short memories and why you would consider personal local political jealousy over the track record of a diehard Charlton fan of 50 years who served the club in various senior positions during the rise of Club under Perter Varney? I understand that Rick was elected Leader of the Council in which his Labour Party area a minority. That goes to show that he must have been a fairly popular cross-party choice. Certainly more-so than the author of the vitriolic rant.


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