Charlton Director blames fans

Hard to believe, but Non-Exec Director, Leo Rifkind, has this morning tried his hardest to show just how little he knows (or cares) about football, Charlton Athletic or it's supporters.

In a Tweet of epic naivety and colossal delusion, Rifkind tells us the owner is not responsible for funding and we, the fans, own the decision-making at the club. 

It's the first I have heard from this corporate superstar and, I suspect, you too. Left wondering why he's felt the need to break his duck and go public with something as obviously inflammatory as this?

Perhaps he has been the one whispering in Sandgaard's ear on the pricing policy or the change in strategy from 'promotion and fill the Valley' to 'break even at all costs?' That might explain his outburst this morning when he saw the result from last night and the fans reaction to it - if the bottom-line numbers aren't already causing much anxiety.

He can say that Sandgaard is not responsible for funding but he must know that he will be responsible for all financial losses. Harsh facts Leo.

As for fans owning the decision-making of the club? Oh, were though it were true!

We wouldn't have made some of the short-sighted savings decisions like replacing experienced staff with apprentices to save sixpence and alienate supporters in the process. 

We also wouldn't have recruited in Poundland this Summer and left the squad shorn of goal-scorers. We would have set realistic and attractive Season Ticket and Matchday prices that would have brought more fans in and grown additional revenues. We might also have felt more connected with the club again and resumed spending in hospitality and sponsorship if the pricing of those wasn't designed to make you shout "how much!"

We might even have made a better start to the season, encouraging more supporters to return.....

Communication at the club is clearly all over the place having sacked Olly Groome and evidently alienating other commentators in the process. Sandgaard has stopped tweeting (probably a good move on balance) but large questions are going unanswered and Sandgaard's initial promises are falling by the wayside one by one.

He really needs to come clean and tell us what his game plan is because he has next to no hope of break-even in two seasons. He really is in a vicious circle and needs to break out, even if that involves cutting his losses and selling the club.