I've actually re-read the full thread. What a fantastic record of the beginning of RDs rein and how fans felt, acted and reacted to the changing circumstances. It really does put to bed the continual digging out of RE and his acolytes by Royston. A lot of long serving fans and considered posters have question the raison d'etre behind REs original post.. Quite rightly it is challenging, questioning, robust and thoughtful. Yet not one hint of personal abuse that Royston has to resort to with regard the principle members of G21. Says more about Royston than those RE 'sycophants' on CL.
There is plenty of room of the forums for different posting styles. I would hardly call one post beginning “ I’m terribly sorry, but” from old Private Godfrey here, being “owned” ?
Nice fishing trip Royston, but wrong poster. You've only got a further 26 pages to work your way through to continue guessing. There are at least 20 well known posters there questioning RE motives and not hanging on his every word. I'm bound to be one of them. Aren't I?
The fact that Duchatelet has remained for almost 4 years after that 25 pages of verbiage was written says it all. #PitchforksIntoBattle You are not Rich Pemberton by any chance? Very similar traits
Dear Mr Duchâtelet, We are writing to introduce you to the Roland Out Today (ROT) Party. As you are no doubt aware, this new venture, organised by a collective of Charlton Athletic FC supporters, was launched on December 5th 2017 – the twenty-fifth anniversary of Charlton Athletic’s historic return to The Valley. We can well imagine that you are not best pleased to learn of this initiative. Indeed, we are aware of your scathing comments you made about it on the day of the launch. ROT was formed because we believe that your tenure as owner of ‘our’ football club is, for the most part, malign. As we reach the fourth anniversary of your ownership of CAFC, ROT seeks to invite the citizens of Sint-Truiden to a) discuss your involvement in politics, business and football, b) register their verdict in the form of a vote. In effect, this will be a public poll concerning your way of doing things. At the outset, four years ago, you made little, or no, attempt to introduce yourself and your ideas to the Charlton supporters. Decisions were taken which many found strange and it soon became apparent that the many things we saw as being of merit and in the true spirit of Charlton Athletic were marginalised, derided and then jettisoned. To many supporters, the recognisable became unrecognisable. We looked for evidence of a business strategy but we failed to see one. The Charlton Athletic Supporters’ Trust sought to engage with you but you repeatedly rebuffed their approaches. We acknowledge your right, as owner, to do as you see fit. But what has been done, over four years, has upset many people and has led to our famous football club being ridiculed and then relegated. Numerous supporters – some of many decades’ duration – have ‘voted with their feet’ and declared that they will not attend at The Valley whilst you remain the club’s owner. We note your previous involvement in BANAAN and establishing Vivant! political parties. We also note your comments about modern-day professional football – e.g. Agents’ fees, interference and influence. This, we believe, demonstrates your apparent dissatisfaction with aspects of the status quo and shows a desire to oppose the norm and do things differently. We have sympathy with such an outlook, Mr Duchâtelet. If only you had taken some time inform yourself of the things that have shaped Charlton Athletic FC; its history (some of it as ‘the under-dog’), the spirited activism shown by some club supporters, the stance shown against racism and bigotry; the desire to do things differently to the norm and, one hopes, for the better. Was there not, in a variety of ways, a similarity of views between yourself and the fans? Were that the case, could not those symmetries have been investigated and expanded upon? Much experience and goodwill existed within the Charlton fan-base, but you chose not to utilise this rich resource. Instead, there was a lack of communication and engagement and Charlton supporters were advised that ‘the owner knows best and does things his way’. Generally speaking, we are believers in redemption and second chances. However, the sad reality is that your tenure has continued for nearly four years and, in that time, the special connection between Club and Supporter has been diminished to the point where many have said ‘enough is enough’. We do not wish to tell you what to do. Instead, we ask, politely, that you do all that you can to sell Charlton Athletic FC, The Valley and the training ground at the earliest opportunity so that that we, with the input of a new custodian, may make good the damage that you have done, and shape this famous old football club in the fashion that we recognise as being meritorious and decent. Yours, after four years of frustration, disappointment and heartache. Roland Out Today
