CAS Trust questions protest disruption

CAS Trust has issued a statement in response to the club's rather tawdry and last minute decision to create a Family Activity Zone in the West Stand car park on Saturday where some supporters are planning to protest against the current regime at the club: Peaceful protest

Roland has a low opinion of football fans which the protest may simply confirm, although clearly supporters want to show how they feel. The most ingenious idea has come from the Chicago Addick which is to use the Belgian media to embarrass Roland.

There is quite a lot of interest in his activities there, although surprisingly a special Financial Times supplement on Wallonia earlier this week failed to mention him.

A glimmer of hope?

Up to now there has been little sign of the club being willing to engage with the CAS Trust in a serious dialogue on strategic issues. However, the Trust leadership thinks there is now a glimmer of hope: How to cope with disarray?

Many people are critical of CAS Trust, but it is the only representative structure we really have for fans. Admittedly, some fans would not want any kind of representative structure, while others would want one more committed to direct action.

The Trust faces a real dilemma. Should it attempt to pursue constructive dialogue with Roland's representative on Earth? Or should it back various forms of protest? Of course, it's not entirely an 'either or' choice. However, the worst outcome would be various forms of uncoordinated protest which made very little impact. I am also sceptical about how far Roland, as an elitist visionary, is susceptible to the views of the lower orders.

However, he is a businessman and presumably he wants his project at Charlton to succeed, although one of the difficulties we face is uncertainty about what that project really is, or whether it takes enough account of local conditions.

The Sunday Times magazine had an interesting article about London yesterday in which it said that since the 1980s, 'the capital's centre of gravity has been shifting ever eastwards' and it names Woolwich as a 'go to' location when for years it was a 'get away from' place. Hong Kong-born Sammy Lee is spending £5bn on the Greenwich peninsula. What about buying a nearby football club?

There is a strategic opportunity here. As it is, the incomers interested in football are likely to forsake the unfashionable club nearby for one of the glamorous Central London teams, or perhaps they will be tempted by a short trip on the Jubilee Line to West Ham from next season? However, it would not be impossible for Charlton to take at least a slice of this growth, but the offer has to be tempting, i.e., a club with ambitions to push for the Premiership. And time is running out.

Trustworthy

I think the CAS Trust is doing a good job given the constraints they face, but it is evident from conversations that some supporters are still suspicious of them. It is difficult to see what alternative representative structure there is or might be. I suppose some fans might say they don't want to be represented by anyone, but then it is difficult to see how the club can have any kind of dialogue with fans.

Some of the difficulties that can arise in that relationship are evident in Richard Murray's remarks at the Trust annual general meeting which can be read here: Richard Murray

The latest Trust News was also very good value, particularly considering it was given out free! I particularly enjoyed the article on how the Second World War affected the club.

The interview with Katrien Meire was also very interesting, not surprising that she came across as charming but steely. It was interesting to learn that she had approached Roland about a job, given her love of football, and that he had already certain her a number of e-mails on the day of the interview, which shows that he is very 'hands on'.

Interesting also that she is a competition law specialist, an area of law that has particular relevance for football and has brought about many changes in the game, e.g., the Bosman decision. However, given that, I am a little surprised that she and Roland place so much faith in financial fair play delivering a more level playing field for clubs like Charlton.

I am not a lawyer, let alone a sports lawyer, but I have talked to a number of them and read some of their papers and they are doubtful whether the Uefa scheme as drafted is compatible with European Union law, and by extension whether the Football League scheme has also has a sound legal basis. QPR may, of course, mount a court challenge, but one could also be initiated by a player, as in the case of Bosman.

CAS Trust and the G21/Royal Oak Group

The CAS Trust has issued a statement about what is variously known as the G21 or the 'Royal Oak' Group from the location of its initial meeting: Oak Group. The CAS Trust emphasises its status as a democratic, membership-based organisation, but indicates its willingness to enter into dialogue with the Oak Group.

Some fans consider that the latter group is too closely associated with the 'Old Guard' of Valley Party campaigners, although they would argue that their experience is relevant to the present situation. The CAS Trust does make a considerable effort to consult its members (of which I am one) through online surveys.

I suppose that I am somewhat less concerned about the supposed threat to the club posed by the takeover than either of these groups, particularly when one considers what the alternative might have been. However, there is always value in more information and greater transparency, if only to kill off some of the wilder rumours that have been circulating.

Varney slates Powell sacking

Former Charlton chief executive Peter Varney slates the sacking of Chris Powell in a long interview with the South London Press: Varney

The Ebbsfleet supremo reckons that owning half a dozen clubs dilutes the passion. But perhaps we can leave the passion to the supporters?

I watched Roland's latest video and whilst it didn't tell me very much that was new, he is making more of an effort to communicate with the supporters than his predecessors.

The recent initiative by a group of supporters to set up a dialogue with the board has come under criticism for being self-serving and pompous. Others argue that the initiative should be left to the CAS Trust, although that only has just over 1,000 members which is at best about 10 per cent of the hard core support. If you haven't joined, I would urge you to do so, as it is the nearest thing we have to a collective voice for the fans.

The 'Royal Oak' group is formed around a core of old Valley Party warriors which means relatively little to 'Generation Y' younger supporters. One fan commented, 'Gen Y have a habit of disregarding anything that involves a struggle. In the research I have seen their number one priority is themselves and is a huge move from previous generations where it has been family, friends, community.'