As fans, we believe we now need to get behind the team and watch to see what happens next in the transfer window and most importantly on the pitch.

Yesterday club Managing Director Katrien Meire chose to make a statement in Evening Standard, prior to the Fans Forum meeting. At that start of that meeting she made a sincere speech about events of last week to the group – the meeting is subject to a reported minuted process so we are obliged to respect that.

Clearly the club have responded to fans reactions to recent events as highlighted by this weeks statement from the Supporters’ Trust, and that should be welcomed. It is apparent that a decision was made by the owner on the new manager, which created the unfortunate sequence of events that have upset fans so much, and hopefully there are lessons to be learned.

There were several key points in the Evening Standard report which we  assume is accurate

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/charlton-chief-executive-katrien-meire-fans-must-accept-how-we-run-club-9981096.html

•    Fans must accept the way Roland runs the club

•    Fans worried about results are ignoring off the pitch improvements

•    The owners do not want Charlton to lose its identity

•    The implication that business is still yet to be done in the January window

 

Fans Concerns?

•  A communication issue that was presented this week which appeared to mislead, and has undermined confidence

•  Some misgivings about selection of a new coach

•  That the interest of and ambition for Charlton are subject to the interests and economies of the Network

•  And that as a result Charlton’s identity is slowly draining away

•  Despite results there have few serious complaints from fans about the poor performances.

There may be solutions:

It good that the club cares about what fans think

Our worry is that the way the club is being run, and the failure to take the fans on the journey is slowly driving fans away - in other words fans do not have to accept the way the club is run, they can stay away - something possibly accelerated this week.

Tomorrow’s opponents Watford are similarly owned, and part of a Network of clubs.

According to our counterparts in the Watford Trust the Pozzo family made an excellent job in gaining the confidence of the fan base, and their is no reason this cannot be replicated at Charlton – something we have highlighted to the new Board from the outset last year. We have also made a point to mention since the importance of taking fans ‘on the journey’.

For a club like Charlton effectively rebuilt since the return from Selhurst 22 years ago, the feeling of ‘ownership’ by the fans and intimate involvement has characterised our support and become ingrained in our culture. So deeply is this felt by a large number of fans that its reversal since the summer of 2012 has begun to undermine the hardcore support largely seen in Season Ticket sales, but also in gate receipts. Having a fans forum is a good thing but it is essentially about moans and groans, and is only to a select group.

 

What we feel is needed are other measures

• Getting out to supporters groups far more, or holding more open events at the Valley, and offering reassurance.
• Forging a strategic relationship between the Board and the Supporters’ Trust – which is nationally recognised and has a membership of paid members and subscribers of approaching 3000, and a network of subscribers totaling 5000.

For one these and other measures would help return the feeling described  above of ‘ownership’, but also in Charlton’s near past and with the kind of relationship that has shown clear benefits in boosting the fan base year on year and filling the ground, even before the Premiership.

This is not about telling professional people how to do the job, its about helping in anyway we can to give a picture of the fan base and to provide manpower that the club would not otherwise have for distribution of leaflets – just one example. Working together to help build the club.

•  As fans we need to stand up and be counted, join the Trust and show support. This will demonstrate we care about how our club is run.

For the immediate future

We as fans we need to for now put this week behind us and get behind the team, and await the progress of returning to winning ways.

For the club to complete transfer window business, and in doing so adequately resource the team.