Tuesday 17 March 2009

The Valley of the Doomed

Another analysis of the reasons for our fate: Doom

There's not much that's new there, but it's reasonably sensible and restrained. What does irritate me is the repetition of the headline £20m debt figure when most of this is owed, in effect, by the board to itself. In any case, what matters with debt is whether you can service it.

One Australian once accused me of 'wallowing in the stagnant pool of my own vapidity' and too much reflection on our fate may not help future recovery. I think that the club has some underlying structural problems and I may reflect on those when I have time.

Just after I posted this the chief football writer of the Mirror rang up, ostensibly to do a story on the financial challenges facing League 1 and League 2 clubs. However, he seemed very interested in Charlton and seemed to think I might be able to dish the dirt - which I wouldn't do even if I knew anything.

Time is running out a bit, as it looks as if my call up to government service is imminent. There have been many delays along the way and I thought it was never going to happen. But these are desperate times.

I am meeting my new boss on April 1st and I can't imagine that she will be all that keen on either Charlton or blogging. Also I will be commuting to London from Warwickshire so that they will take up a lot of time and energy.

The Izale McLeod business seems to be rumbling on. Apparently there are going to be new discussions after a 'cooling off' period. It really must have gone off at The New Den. Did someone start throwing spanners?

The thought of McLeod as one of our strikers next season does not fill me with a lot of enthusiam. I know he can run about a lot, but strikers need to be able to find the back of the net, an art we have lost at Charlton.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have to say I'm surprised at how little comment we have attracted so far. The media love to gloat on a disaster story, and if they can demonstrate the target party invited it upon themesleves so much the better (us and Curbs, kerry Katona and her taxi driver boyfriend...)

Wyn, do I interpret this as your lead up to a farewell speech?

I'm intrigued about your reference to call up for government service. I assume that this is as a economic advisor, or are they parachuting you behind enemy lines?

Pembury Addick

Anonymous said...

hi wyn

I assume your reference to valley of the doomed was to the government and not our beloved charlton

Wyn Grant said...

Of course government ministers keep visiting Sparrows Lane, so perhaps there is a connection.

I'm hoping to carry on the blog, as my secondment is only temporary and it's pretty minor. I should never had that chat with Gordon Brown or gone to No.11 during the transition. And no peerage - so Lord Wedderburn of Charlton is safe.

ChicagoAddick said...

Don't you dare give up the blog!

Wyn Grant said...

I don't intend to, but I do need to think about what the League 1 blog should be like and travelling up and down to London will give me some time to do that. Normal service will be resumed in time for the start of the third division season.