Ex-Charlton chief Varney as talks enter crucial stage: ‘Club needs to be bought as a package with ground’
Rival buyers for Charlton Athletic look likely to be battling it out into next week to see who will take control of the club.
Talks over a bid by former Ritz owner Andrew Barclay, backed by ex-Addicks chief executive Peter Varney, began yesterday.
But at least two other offers are reported to be on the table for the portion owned by Panorama and East Street Investments.
One is from former Swansea owner Huw Jenkins; the other comes from Portuguese consortium Corporate Football Organisation Portugal – and another one, as yet unrevealed, may be vying for control too.
Director Marian Mihail said on Thursday he did not expect the Barclay bid to progress because one bidder was already in the frame. But the club is currently trying to keep a lid on negotiations with all parties so that external publicity does not disrupt the process.
Varney, a Valley season ticket holder, has refused to reveal any details of how far discussions have progressed.
But he did say this morning: “In my experience, it is essential that whoever acquires the club, and does a deal with Panama and ESI, that they also acquire the training ground and The Valley.
“They would also need to sort out the ex-directors [who loaned the club money].
“Anything else would be a recipe for disaster.
“If the premises are not bought from Roland Duchatelet, he could turn around, down the line, and give the club notice.
“We have been there before in the Michael Gliksten era. And look where that ended up.
“When I go to games, fans are talking not about football but about the board and the ownership, about Range Rovers and expenses – Oh, and by the way, did you see we just scored? It is not right and it has got to stop.”
Gliksten was chairman and owner of the club between 1962 and 1982, taking over from his father, Stanley, aged 23.
In 1982 he sold the club to Mark Hulyer for a token fee – but he retained ownership of the ground through his company, Adelong. And that sparked the six-year exile to Selhurst Park, then Upton Park, which ended in December 1992.
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It’s always difficult to argue with anything Peter Varney says and this is no exception. He knows what he is doing, has been there, seen it and done it, maybe more importantly than all of that, he is a proper Charlton man through and through and has the clubs best interest at heart. Peter every Charlton fan is hoping and praying you can pull this off.
Good luck Peter