Statement From CAS Trust Regarding Fan Engagement at #CAFC

CAS Trust last week made representations to new Charlton MD Katrien Meire

Engagement with fans had been suspended in order to allow the club to focus on avoiding relegation and rebuilding the playing staff. This included contact with ourselves, and a cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Richard Murray at Bromley Addicks. While we were disappointed with this, we are obviously very pleased that relegation was avoided, and since then our first priority has been to re-establish a productive relationship with CAFC. We feel that has happened at least on an operational level.

CAS Trust has now communicated to Katrien the concerns (many of which we share) of many Charlton fans about the Network approach and have asked for more reassurance on this area. In particular:

  • Questions on Charlton’s position, autonomy and interests,
  • And the preservation of Charlton’s identity and heritage within that structure.
  • We encouraged a genuine dialogue with fans over and above the existing communication so far (which we also welcome).
  • We also raised concerns over the ending of universal pricing on kids' tickets, contrary to decades of established practice designed to encourage new generations of Addicks

We are pleased with the squad building so far as well as the investment in the Valley, plans for the Training Ground, reduction of some season ticket prices, and many of the more sustainable elements of the new Board’s approach; and that an open Q&A will now take place on August 3rd at the club fun day. We encourage fans to attend and seek answers to questions some have, and hope that more meetings where a full and open dialogue can take place will happen. Fans unable to attend might like to forward questions to secretary@castrust.org

Finally we have reaffirmed our desire, as the nationally recognised supporters’ trust for Charlton with over 1000 members, to have a constructive dialogue with the Board, and where possible to work with them in partnership for the benefit of CAFC.

CAS Trust Board