Charlton chief executive Peter Storrie talks takeover timeline and Dean Holden’s crucial role in transfer window business

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Charlton Athletic chief executive Peter Storrie says that manager Dean Holden will dictate their summer transfer window business.

It was confirmed on Monday that Addicks owner Thomas Sandgaard has signed a shares purchase agreement (SPA) with SE7 Partners to buy the League One club.

SE7 Partners had former Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven and Ed Warrick as their sole directors.

Filing history on Companies House shows that Methven and Warrick ceased being “a person with significant control” on June 5 with a further notification that Cayman Islands-based Global Football Partners were “a person with significant control”.

The EFL have to approve the takeover, which includes the owners’ and directors’ test. That is expected to take between six to eight weeks.

The potential new owners cannot inject capital until the governing body have rubberstamped their acquisition.

It throws up the question how Charlton will press ahead with their squad rebuild as they look to mount a promotion push after two disappointing campaigns which have seen them out of the play-off picture months before the finish line.

Any transfer fees or expenditure in the meantime will be shouldered by Sandgaard.

The summer window opens on Tuesday.

“We will all work together on that process,” Storrie told the South London Press, when asked how recruitment will move forward. “I’ve been working on a couple (of signings) today (Tuesday).

“At the end of the day it will all centralise around Dean – he will select the players he wants to bring into the club to give it a good go for the top six next season.

“He will be the central one around that. Other members of staff will do the negotiations and we will discuss it with all parties going forward.

“There has been a pretty detailed budget for some time. Everyone knows, not necessarily the names, but exactly the type of positions and salaries that those positions are going to command.

“Dean will be a pivotal point in all that, in terms of what he wants.”

A bid has been made for Cheltenham Town’s prolific attacker Alfie May, who turns 30 next month.

May, who was born in Kent, scored 22 goals in 46 matches for the Robins.

Storrie said: “I’ve been doing this job for many years and I go by the same philosophy – I don’t comment on any player until we have physically signed him – because on so many occasions, over the years, deals go wrong. People think you are signing someone and it doesn’t happen.”

There have been suggestions that the EFL could ratify the takeover within three weeks.

Asked about that timeline, Storrie said: “No chance. The process is not short, let’s put it that way.

“I don’t know how long it will be but I’ve never known any to be short. I think it will take a while to do. It is the responsibility of us and the buyers together to put forward the information that the EFL require and them being satisfied with it.

“I will lead that process on behalf of both parties. It is the responsibility of the club and SE7 to get all the information together. I’ll be the central connection on that – along with whoever I need to help me at the club.

“It’s not a question I can answer (about timescale), it will be entirely and utterly about if the EFL are happy with the information they are receiving.

“I think the Huddersfield one has been eight to nine weeks.

“It is whether they have enquiries on any of the information. So it is one of those unknown numbers, no-one knows quite how long it will be.”

Storrie says there are no plans to sell a prize asset like Miles Leaburn.

“We’re only interested in bringing people into the squad to make it better,” he said. “Miles is an important aspect of us going forward.

“If anyone comes in with an absolutely stupid offer then we would look at it, like everyone does in football, but it would have to be a stupid offer because everyone we have got signed is part of the process of getting us to the top six, and hopefully the Championship next season.”

Storrie, brought in as chief executive after Marc Spiegel entered into a period of exclusivity with Sandgaard over a takeover earlier this year, is expecting to leave once the takeover is completed.

“I was only supposed to be here for a few weeks anyway and now it is coming up for four months and it looks like it will be at least six months by the time this all finishes through,” said Storrie. “I’ve enjoyed it and loved my time here – the fans have been good with me – and I’ve got a good relationship with the staff on the football side, men and women’s. It will be a shame to leave it all but new owners come in and they want their own people, I fully understand that.”

“Over the past 10 years, Charlton have suffered under a succession of poor owners,” said Charlton Athletic Supporters’ Trust (CAST) earlier this week. “Fans have become increasingly sceptical regarding promises and fine words at the outset that do not translate into action.

“At CAST we will maintain such a position and scrutinise not only what SE7 Partners say but also what they do – providing this deal concludes successfully.”

Asked about scepticism or caution from the club’s fanbase, Storrie said: “I think it is for anybody who buys any football club – supporters are not going to be sure what happens. Supporters are right in what they are saying – the proof will be in whatever happens over the next little while. That happens with new owners at any club – it’s not about talking it is about doing.”

PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS