What line will the Rickster take?

A new Voice of the Valley is out on Saturday. There will be nostalgic meanderings from the usual suspects, but what line will editor Rick Everitt take on ESI?

The tone of the opening pages of the last issue reflected Rick's background as a journalist (he is a NUJ member). Journalists by profession are sceptical and required to look for the story behind the story. I know: a long time ago I was one myself.

One might think, therefore, that his probing for the facts would go down well with the pessimists, moaners and cynics who sometimes seem to make up the bulk of the Charlton Athletic support. In fact, for many of the leading moaners Rick is Public Enemy Number One.

Some of them seem to have swallowed Roland's narrative that Rick was the leader of the (surprisingly large) group of disgruntled ex-employees. I attended the proceedings at West Croydon Employment Tribunal which led to a private settlement between Everitt and the club.

I interviewed him afterwards, and although he was properly cautious in what he said, I was left with the impression that he was satisfied with the outcome.

The other charge seems to be me that he is a Labour activist. If they follow the national pattern, around a third of Charlton supporters are Labour voters. Admittedly, Rick is an activist, the current (minority) leader of Thanet District Council and has stood in a general election in the Labour interest.

But then I know of Charlton supporters who have been Conservative councillors and are active in the Liberal Democrats. Probably somewhere there is a supporter of the Scottish Nationalists or the Plaid. There are even supporters who live in Northern Ireland. Í am simply not interested in their political views. I would have a bigger issue with someone who is Palace or Millwall.

The conclusion I draw is that I am looking forward to Saturday's issue which will have a focus on East Street Investments. Postal sales are going up as more fans take the option of having VOTV delivered under plain wrapper to enjoy in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Issues seem to arrive from the Isle of Thanet very quickly. To order go to VOTV where you can also read something about the new issue.