CAST launch Addicks’ Charter – and warn they will campaign for Thomas Sandgaard to sell up if he cannot commit to core points
Charlton Athletic Supporters’ Trust (CAST) has today launched the Addicks’ Charter with the backing of the fanbase.
At an open online meeting attended by over 600 Charlton Athletic supporters on Monday evening, 85 per cent of fans voted that they agreed mostly or completely with the wording. It has since been finessed and developed to incorporate comments received during and after the meeting. CAST continue to consult on the document and have invited further comment from fans.
The Addicks’ Charter encapsulates what fans hold dear about the club and is intended to form the basis of the relationship with the owners of the club – present or future.
“With Charlton hovering on the brink of the League One relegation zone and making serious losses, the club is at its lowest ebb in living memory,” said CAST in a press release. “Present owner Thomas Sandgaard has failed to live up to initial promises and the club is in disarray behind the scenes, searching for its fifth permanent manager in the last two years.
“Sandgaard is due to attend the Fans’ Forum meeting with supporter representatives today (Thursday 15 Dec). Fan representatives will present key parts of the charter in the form of a statement to the owner face to face.”
CAST chair Heather McKinlay said: “If Sandgaard cannot commit to running our football club along the lines expressed in the charter, then we cannot commit to him and we will campaign for him to sell the club.
“It is beyond frustrating that we find ourselves in this position once more. Our fanbase simply seeks to work in partnership with the ownership, recognising that a football club is far more than a commercial asset. Many of the points in the Addicks’ charter mirror the recommendations of the Fan Led Review.”
The Addicks Charter
In recognition of the fact that a football club is far more than a commercial asset, Charlton fans will work in partnership with the owners of our club to ensure the following:
- Charlton’s community and family values are at the heart of the club
- All are welcome and respected
- It is affordable for fans to watch and attend matches
- The club is run from The Valley by a competent and experienced CEO with a board of directors which follows legal and best practice governance principles
- Engagement with the community, partners, sponsors and businesses enables all to thrive
- Fan engagement is integral – involving, listening, learning, feeding back
- Our core traditions – red & white home colours, playing at The Valley, running out to The Red, Red, Robin – are upheld and require definitive consent of fans to change
- Men’s & women’s team managers are given freedom to build squads and play to win without day-to-day ownership interference in on-the-field matters
- The Academy is supported and developed as part of our DNA
- There is a clear, considered and costed plan to reunite ownership of The Valley & training ground with the football club
- Addicks are proud to say they support Charlton Athletic
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