Charlton Athletic announced today that Charlie Methven is stepping down as CEO.
The club will recruit a replacement, aiming to have the new person in place during the close season. The club has strongly reassured CAST that this is an amicable and planned change and will cause no disruption at all on the footballing side, where Nathan Jones and Karen Hills continue to report in to James Rodwell. Regarding the non-footballing side, the Commercial and Communications teams will temporarily report to CFO Ed Warrick, who retains leadership of Valley Operations, supported by the CAFC board.
Charlie Methven will also no longer be an owner. The club’s major shareholders continue to be Gabriel Brener, the Friedman family and the Rosenfeld family. Non-executive Chair, Gavin Carter, oversees the organisation on behalf of the ownership group, who prefer to stay in the background.
CAST has spoken today with Gavin Carter who reports that the owners are very much enjoying their involvement with Charlton. Like all of us, they would love to see both Addicks teams, men and women, promoted this season. Gavin confirmed that the owners are nevertheless aware that sport can be unpredictable and they are fully realistic about scenario planning and the ongoing level of investment required to sustain Charlton. He says they are committed to this as a project and aim to ensure ongoing progress, with no immediate pressure to cut costs and no intention to gamble with the club’s future.
While the news of the change this morning came as a surprise to fans, we are reassured from speaking with Gavin Carter. He has always been consistent and transparent with CAST and is of course a Addick himself.
We view this change as a deliberate and considered step to ensure longer term stability and sustainability. This is refreshing after the turbulence under previous owners.
We wish Charlie Methven all the best in his new role with Mount Pleasant in Jamaica. He leaves with the club in a better place than when he joined.
The club's statement:
