Charlton Athletic owner Thomas Sandgaard jets in as pressure firmly on manager Nigel Adkins
Charlton Athletic owner Thomas Sandgaard has flown into the UK for tonight’s home game against Accrington Stanley.
The Addicks are in the lowest league position in their history – 22nd in the League One standings – after Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Lincoln City.
Danish businessman Sandgaard is based in Colorado and his last trip over was in September, although he returned to the United States just before the 12-month anniversary of him taking control of the South London club. His latest stop-off in the capital was pre-planned, with his intention remaining to be a regular visitor – unlike predecessor Roland Duchatelet.
Sandgaard tweeted: “Looking forward to seeing everyone at The Valley for tonight’s game.”
Manager Nigel Adkins is under serious pressure after the Addicks’ misfiring start to the campaign. They only missed out on the play-offs on goal difference last season but have won just two of their opening 12 matches and are 10 points adrift of the top-six, which seemed the minimum expectation before a ball was kicked.
Sandgaard appointed Adkins as Lee Bowyer’s successor in March on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The 56-year-old has won promotion from League One three times – twice with Scunthorpe United and also back-to-back with Southampton as they reached the top flight.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Valley for tonight’s game #cafc
— Thomas Sandgaard (@SandgaardThomas) October 19, 2021
But a section of the Charlton fanbase have turned on the experienced boss after their struggles in the opening months of the current campaign.
Adkins has blamed some of their difficulties on a significant chunk of their transfer business being conducted in the closing stages of the summer transfer window.
Even Karel Fraeye had a better record over the last 10 matches than the current incumbent – the Belgian lasting just 14 matches in charge of the Addicks before Duchatelet wielded the axe.
Adkins vowed to fight on after the weekend reverse.
“I want to be the Charlton Athletic manager,” he said. “We’re working hard. Everything is reflected on the results you get on the pitch. So, I’m aware of that. I want to be the manager and we work hard. A lot of people work very hard at the football club. Today you could argue that things didn’t quite go our way but the reality is we lost the game.”
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Some people will jump to conclusions with this, assuming he is coming for all sorts of reasons, but with one main one in mind, and start to get excited. However, the clue to this for me is ‘ His latest stop-off in the capital was pre-planned, with his intention remaining to be a regular visitor – unlike predecessor Roland Duchatelet’
I do not like to see anyone lose their job, but after tonights display, particularly the 1st half, it is clear that the players are not doing it for the manager. As for Mr Adkins, it was clear that his instructions were to hoof the ball up field from every goal kick or when the Charlton keeper had the ball in his hands, a tactic which was clearly flawed in all ways. As I have said before, this squad is more than good enough to be challenging for promotion, not trying to avoid relegation. so I’m afraid I must join the ‘Adkins out’ brigade before it is too late to get anything positive from this season. A new manager must be brought in forthwith or at least use Jacko and Jason ewell for the time being. It is so sad to see the fans having to endure one loss after another.