Exclusive: Super-wealthy Danish businessman Thomas Sandgaard wants to buy Charlton Athletic
Super-wealthy businessman Thomas Sandgaard wants to buy Charlton Athletic.
The 62-year-old is the founder, chairman and CEO of Zynex Inc, which produces medical devices and is based in Colorado.
Born in Denmark, Sandgaard moved to the United States in 1996 and became a citizen there in February 2018.
He also founded The Sandgaard Foundation to help end the opiaid epidemic.
And now Sandgaard, who wealth is pegged at around $500m, is keen to do a deal for the Addicks and speak to Roland Duchatelet, who still owns The Valley and Sparrow’s Lane training ground.
Asked if he has been able to hold talks with Duchatelet, he exclusively told the South London Press: “No, this is why I’m going public.
“I think Duchatelet and his advisors need to know I’m not just another random person with a long shot who tries to see if I can do something.
“I’m serious and I will make this happen.
“The goal is to make this happen before the club enters a phase of potentially administration. We don’t want penalties and other things against us.
“We need to start building from day one. Let’s get it sorted out now before the season starts.
“I’ve done my research. I started talking to people in England towards the end of last season.
“I found that Charlton is, for me, probably the biggest potential of the clubs out there that need to be sold. They are London-based, which I prefer. The fanbase and history gives this club so much potential.
“My intention is to get hold of Duchatelet in Belgium and maybe these characters in England that have been involved and get a deal done as fast as possible.
“My ownership would provide the stability that the club needs. If we keep playing good football and win games then promotion will take care of itself.”
East Street Investments own the football club with the chance to buy The Valley and training ground for £50m by 2025.
“Ideally I acquire everything,” said Sandgaard. “Maybe there is a mix but ideally we come up with a deal where everything is included.
“I went out to the stadium and it is beautiful. I was really surprised – but of course the club has history of also being in the Premier League. You’ve got to have a stadium of that standard.
“If in five or 10 years we do really well we can increase some of the stands a little bit and get even more people in there.
“I set up my business in a one-bedroom apartment. I’ve had good times but also setbacks where they said I had got to shut the business down. I’ve always found a way to work through it and make it a success. That experience I can bring to the table for Charlton.”
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Another “unknown” rich man wanting to buy CAFC. The Club has certainly had more than it’s share of buzzards circling the “corpse”. By American money standards $500,000 is not a lot of money when you consider alone that Duchalet wants 50 million GBP for the Valley and training ground. Further, there is no mention of any English football experience (or any football experience for that matter). His story sounds so familiar to the of ESI version 1 and 2. Not particularly hopeful or inspiring.
Where did this guy come from ? If he has done his research as he says, then could he be the new knight in shiny armour. But hold on, we have been here before with people we know nothing much about – haven’t we ?. I still want to see Varney/Barclay take over, we can trust them. What irks me and I know many, many others, is that there are decent guys out there who have Charlton’s interest at heart, why can’t the EFL get their collective finger out and make it happen ?
There is no need for this to drag on.