We ran out of time at our Q&A with Gavin Carter and Ed Warrick with three submitted questions unasked. Gavin and Ed agreed to provide written answers to those questions and here they are:
Q: Does the Board regret not allowing Nathan to spend more in the January window - especially as it could have meant automatic promotion?
As with every half-season, the Board will undertake a full assessment of the past windows. The objectives going into it were clear: strengthen the areas Nathan identified as priorities, while rationalizing the size of the squad to ensure better balance and clarity for the second half of the campaign. On those fronts, we believe the window was largely successful. Given the team’s excellent run of form in the latter part of the season, we have to be pretty pleased with how things played out. That said, we always aim to learn and improve, and will continue working closely with Nathan to ensure he has the support needed to take the team forward.
Q: Can you tell us about the player recruitment process? Do we have a scouting network? How important are the analytics compared with scouts?
We have a structured recruitment process that combines traditional scouting with modern data analysis. We’ve recently made new appointments to further strengthen this area and bring in fresh expertise. Analytics play an important role in shaping our understanding of the market, helping us identify potential targets, assess risk, and support evidence-based decisions, but they complement rather than replace the insight of scouts and coaches.
The manager always has the final say on player decisions. You can’t underestimate how important a cultural fit is, both in terms of how a player contributes to the dressing room and how they respond to the expectations of the club and our supporters. We also place strong emphasis on maintaining a clear pathway for academy prospects. That pathway is fundamental to our identity as a club and a vital part of the value proposition we offer to young players and their families.
Q: Can you tell us more about the new Fan Advisory Board?
What we’ve established is more than a Fan Advisory Board, it’s a Stakeholder Board that brings together voices from across the Charlton community. This includes representatives from the supporter base, the Ex Players’ Association, and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust. It serves as a formal forum for structured, two-way dialogue between key stakeholders and the club’s leadership team.
The Stakeholder Board is already active and plays an important role in counselling the CAFC Board. It is a meaningful mechanism for embedding supporter and community perspectives into the club’s decision-making and long-term planning, particularly around opportunities relating to ticketing, matchday operations, club identity, and supporter engagement.
CAST plans to host further Q&As for members in the year ahead. If you are not already one of the 2500 Charlton fans who are CAST members you can join here: