Dusting Off The Scarf

Towards the end of my sojourn in Lyon I was reasonably confident that a takeover would go through before my return (early April) and that would pave the way for going to the Scunthorpe game. In the event no confirmed deal kept me ambivalent and as it happened other commitments got in the way. This time around? Assuming a fellow Addick has done the necessary, I will have a ticket and I’ll get to my first game of the season. Hopefully there will be at least one more, I still haven’t been to the new Wembley.

Lest there be any doubt, for me this doesn’t amount to an end to boycotting, as things stand it’s a one-off. If we get promoted and Duchatelet is still our owner come August, I will not be there. And while it’s every Addick’s decision when it comes to a season ticket for next year, I hope nobody has renewed and will not until a sale is confirmed. In that context, a bumper turnout tomorrow tells a new owner how things can be, provides a reminder to Duchatelet of the extent to which he’s screwed things up, and would amount to a fitting tribute to Johnnie Jackson, even though he’s not going to be on the pitch let alone running down the wing for us and it may not be his last game at The Valley. Hungry Ted penned a splendid tribute to the guy and I can only endorse it, can only add that the opportunity to join in the tribute is alone a good reason for going tomorrow.  

Among the daft things that Duchatelet has said, the suggestion that protesting Addicks wanted to see the club fail is right up there. Rather we had reached the conclusion – based on evidence, after initially welcoming him - that our club could not succeed (however that is defined) with him at the helm – unless of course he changed his spots, which has never been on the cards. It must have been so much easier for him to believe his claim, given that the alternative was that there was something wrong with himself.

Equally, among the duplicitous and inane claims from Meire, one of the most insulting to fans’ intelligence was the one to the effect that (I can’t remember the exact words) most would accept the regime did a good job in its first season (remember that one: the sales in January and drafting in of utterly inadequate replacements, the sacking of Sir Chris ...). That season we stayed up despite the regime – and if we get promoted this season it will be a repeat performance.

Duchatelet hasn’t changed. If he had there would be an apology for his failed experiments with our club and for the insulting of the fans. All that has happened is that he’s convinced himself that he is far too busy to be bothered with us. The fact that his lack of interference, plus Meire’s jumping ship, have created better conditions for our success is no doubt lost on him. By the same token, if we get promoted and Duchatelet gets a better price, I really don’t care (of course if the prospect delays a sale I do). If he tells himself for the rest of his life that he was a success as our owner, I don’t care. Self-delusion is his problem. Like every other Addick I only want our club to succeed: promotion and new owners are not incompatible goals.

We all pretty much know the permutations for tomorrow: we win and the guarantee of a play-off place can only be denied us if Plymouth beat Rotherham and Scunthorpe also win (given that those two will play each other next week); we draw and it’s down to the other results and the final round of games; we lose and we really have to hope the other two screw up.

Does it help us that Blackburn are already promoted? Has to. Perhaps not materially, for sure it’s a tough game for us, but some impact at the margins. Sure they would like to be champions, but that’s just not the same motivation, especially so soon after promotion has been confirmed and as becoming champions is not in their own hands. Let’s hope – for our sakes – that Wigan move swiftly into a 6-0 lead at home to Northampton and the Blackburn players and fans can just sit back and celebrate their success.

Almost Back In Our Own Hands

Wow, what a win! And coupled with Plymouth losing at Northampton;  just a pity about Scunthorpe. I can’t comment on the performance (and didn’t get to see the home game against Scunthorpe) but it seems that under Lee Bowyer/Johnnie Jackson we are getting used to spurts of the good and the bad. Starts with three wins in a row and all was suddenly looking good again for the play-offs, perhaps with some real momentum behind us. Then the away draw at Bristol Rovers, the defeat at Wimbledon, and home loss against Scunthorpe, with all the reports outlining a marked dip in performance. With four games then left we were suddenly staring at possibly having to win them all – and so far it’s two in the bag.

We have reached the stage of the season where the mathematical possibilities are narrowing significantly. Wigan are up, Blackburn all but promoted with them, Shrewsbury and Rotherham in the play-offs. Then it’s really two from three to join them: us, Scunthorpe and Plymouth. Mathematically Portsmouth, Peterborough and Bradford could still make it; but that would require some very strange results from those above them.

We may sit fifth but making the play-offs still isn’t quite back in our own hands. We could win our two remaining games, end with 74 points, and miss out – but the odds would be heavily in our favour. Scunthorpe have a maximum potential points total of 76 with three wins, so do Plymouth with four to play. But perhaps crucially they will play each other, so 76 is the maximum possible for only one of them – and if either wins their game, 74 points would be enough. Of course Scunthorpe and Plymouth could draw their game, leaving them both with a potential maximum of 74 also. In that event, Scunthorpe currently hold the whip hand with a goal difference of 11, ours stands at seven, Plymouth’s just three. But if we’re assuming that Plymouth win three of their final four we could still be edged out.

What seems reasonable to say is that if we win our final two games it is highly probable we will be in the play-offs. Fail to win one of them and it’s likely we will miss out – although no doubt there will be twists and turns. Home to Blackburn, who need one win from their final three games to guarantee automatic promotion, and away to Rochdale, who need every point they can get if they are to avoid relegation – they would have been out of the bottom four today if they hadn’t conceded an injury-time equaliser at home to Bradford.

Of our two rivals, Plymouth are up next with a game at Rochdale on Tuesday evening. If Rochdale win, we will know that winning our final two will be enough; if Plymouth win, they will join Scunthorpe on 67 points. While we entertain Blackburn next Saturday, Scunthorpe will be away at MK Dons, which you have to say is entirely winnable for them, while Plymouth are at home to Rotherham, who must now be preparing for the play-offs. Then on Tuesday May 1 we have the Scunthorpe versus Plymouth game. And on the last day of the season, while we travel to Rochdale, Scunthorpe will be at home to Bradford, who by then will surely be on their holidays, while Plymouth are away at Gillingham. Not often we get favours from them.

So it’s highly likely to go to the wire, but looking at what’s ahead you’d favour Scunthorpe to win at least two of their final three, giving them 73 points leaving aside the Plymouth game. Plymouth’s defeat today at Northampton was, for us, massive; and you suspect that with four games to play and three of them tough on paper just possibly they will fall away. But that would still leave it up to us. Fail to beat Blackburn and a maximum of 71 points will probably not be enough.

At this stage of the season every team is pretty much where they deserve to be. Some may say we’ve been far too erratic, sometimes too downright poor to merit a play-off spot. Who cares? There is of course the overriding issue of seeing the back of Duchatelet, but new owners and promotion is still a possible combination.

Strange But Still Welcome Reassurance

Leaving aside the very sad news that Ray Wilkins has died, today I’m not sure which is for me the more remarkable: that my three-month sabbatical in Lyon is already up or that I’ll be returning to London tomorrow (SNCF permitting) with the fool still owning our club. While the former has seemed all too brief, the latter was, at least until today, going well beyond a joke. We as supporters have been on the end of nothing but contempt from Duchatelet since he bought the club, so we shouldn’t really be surprised by his apparent indifference to us as stakeholders, to the well-being of the club, or even the standing of the only other current director, who had been made to look at best impotent and ill-informed and at worst – I’d assume unfairly - deceitful.

When the director of a company states that “the terms of the deal, including the price, have now been agreed between the parties and we are now just waiting for their respective lawyers to finalise the sale and purchase agreement” and over a month later nothing has been confirmed or made public, it’s not unreasonable to conclude that either something in the deal has gone wrong or one or more of the parties is not acting in good faith. So in that context at least the club statement released today provides some welcome reassurance.

Have to admit when I first saw the report in the News Shopper that the Lee Bowyer/Johnnie Jackson management set-up would be extended at least until the end of the season I was wondering how’s that going to work, if the sale of the club is still imminent such a decision would be down to new owners? However, according to the statement, “it has been confirmed that one of the conditions of the sale, agreed by both parties interested in purchasing” will be the retention of the two. The statement also quoted Murray as saying that “the takeover hasn’t moved as quickly as we had envisaged” but also that “there are still two parties looking to purchase the club and everything is close”.

Unusual for sure, to after all this time apparently still have two competing potential purchasers, with neither seemingly being treated as a preferred bidder, and with both prepared to go along with the retention of Bowyer/Jackson. And with still no idea why a deal is taking so long to conclude. Unusual but I guess not surprising given the seller. So if Harry Kewell – who just from what we see and read seems to have behaved perfectly correctly through the period of speculation – did indeed say his goodbyes to the players at Crawley (he probably didn’t), he’ll have a little explaining to do, as should whoever raised the notion that St Mirren’s Jack Ross had been having an ‘informal dialogue’ with Charlton over recent days. That seemed to make no sense at all. Last but not least, whoever was behind the shortening of odds on Sir Chris coming back (in the very near future at least) would seem to have lost out.

So, a clear path for the management team through to .... well, whatever awaits us over the next few weeks, either disappointment by 5 May and time for the summer hols, glory at Wembley on 27 May and an end to the purgatory of League One, or something in between. For me, what’s a self-respecting boycotter returning to the UK supposed to do?

The pros and cons are obvious to all: it’s been more than two seasons for me, a little longer and we can all party when we know the deal is done, the boycott was after all until he is gone, in the best interests of our club; against we all want to get promoted, the departure of Karl Robinson and the turnaround in performances and results under Bowyer/Jackson has been remarkable – and worthy of our full support;, return now, shout and sing to the rafters, and the double success of promotion and a change of ownership can be ours.

In light of Murray’s statements I had pretty much got around to the idea that I’d be back at The Valley for the final few games. That was predicated on an assumption that say by the end of March a deal would have been done; and in recent days I’ve been questioning whether after all it would be best to wait. Ultimately the departure of Duchatelet is the most important consideration - not that I’m suggesting for a moment that he will be swayed by what we do individually, it just needs to be driven home, if he were still in any doubt, that there is no possibility of his retaining ownership and the club prospering.

I’ve got until 14 April to make my mind up. Right now I’m inclined to get a ticket (unless of course they are still asking for pledges of ‘good behaviour’). Perhaps I’ve got a bit of a taste for it again (and after their very timely 1-0 home win over Boulogne Lyon Duchere only went and won 2-1 away at then league-leaders Grenoble, who had a player sent off in the first half; two wins and suddenly from a relegation place staring them in the face Duchere sit seventh), more than that as long as we are confident that the takeover is happening what is to be lost by going along for the run-in?

Sure, it’s possible that Duchatelet is having his own private joke at our expense and doesn’t really mean to sell the club (or is changing his mind over the need for a sale). Unlikely but possible. But even in this event, who would the joke be on? What has been remarkable through his stewardship is how little, if any, enjoyment he gets from football. He clearly has no real taste for it, no understanding of it (and no wish to learn). It’s hardly surprising he’s made a pigs ear of his involvement in football (as in politics). If it turns out the jokes on us, he might have a sterile chuckle to himself; we will enjoy whatever the rest of the season brings. I’m already laughing at the fact that of all the managerial changes under Duchatelet the only one that has worked has been the one he (and Meire) wasn’t responsible for.

Positive Omens (For Me) From Duchere

What a difference a win makes. Suddenly it’s game on once more, especially with both Scunthorpe and Peterborough failing to win at home. We are back, however bizarrely, in the position that if everyone wins all the games they have left we will secure a play-off spot. Of course there are going to be twists and turns, and one win doesn’t make for a real about-turn. But we’re back in the mix and with grounds for hope (assuming of course that because of the result Roland hasn’t just added another few million to the agreed asking price).

I can’t of course comment on the performance and mood as I wasn’t there (but all the reports are suitably positive). But I was at a football match on Friday night and, although the fortunes of my adopted French team Lyon Duchere are not going to be of interest to many Addicks, something quite pertinent happened, rather unexpectedly. Best start at the beginning.

Duchere have of later managed to stabilise results and their league position (in France’s third division, National). After a poor run of results through to early February saw them drop into a relegation place (four go down out of 18 – and this season it’s rather confusing as there are only 17 teams competing, someone pulled out or something else happened to the eighteenth team is ‘Exempt’, which on paper fulfils fixtures against the other teams but no points are awarded) and they stopped the rot with a 1-0 win away at Marseille Consolat, the following three games ended in draws: the 2-2 home game against Entente, which was notable for two outrageous goals flagged up back home in The Guardian (the second of which was a stunning stoppage-time equaliser for Duchere), a 3-3 draw away at Avranches (which featured another stoppage-time equaliser, but this time of the unwelcome variety), then a creditable 1-1 home draw against high-flying Rodez.

The next round saw Duchere notionally away at Exempt, so no points accrued. But going into Friday’s home game against Boulogne on paper Duchere were unbeaten in five rounds but with only one actual win. And in a ridiculously tight league they were still just one point above a relegation place. So, not unlike us yesterday, something of a must-win game. Boulogne were placed above Duchere in the league but only by three points, with no chance of promotion (it has tightened up a little at the top as Red Star have fallen away rather and Laval and Beziers have moved into contention, although Rodez and Grenoble still top the league and the battle for the two automatic promotion spots and the play-off place really involves the top five, with now a five-point gap to sixth).

The first 10 minutes or so were cagey. Boulogne moved the ball well and had a left-winger who looked dangerous, while Duchere looked confident and as though they had a plan, starting the game with their big centre-forward. He held play up well and others fed off him and through hard work Duchere began to get on top. It was clear that with the guy up front and tall centre-backs they had a height advantage from set pieces and the Boulogne keeper looked dodgy, spilling a couple of balls and not looking commanding in the air. You sensed a set-piece could be an opportunity for Duchere, but we were kept wondering as the first couple of corners they won were wasted, not even clearing the midriff of the guy on the near post. Corner number three after around 20 minutes and things changed. Good pace and elevation and one of the centre-backs made a run to the near post, was first to the ball, and planted the header into the net.

That seemed to settle some nerves and for the rest of the first half Duchere were well on top, playing decent stuff and creating chances, while Boulogne struggled to retain the ball. Duchere broke on the right side and while the first shot was parried by the keeper the defender muffed the clearance and was lucky to see the ball hit the bar and go over, then just before the break another ball into the box and another header, this one came crashing back off the bar.

At the break Duchere were good value for their lead and nobody could have complained if they had been two to the good. But at half-time they collectively had a nose bleed. They began well enough but it seemed to me that some early joy in sitting back and intercepting Boulogne’s forward moves to hit them on the break turned into a tactic which progressively backfired. Duchere began to go deep, very deep. They had put in a big effort in the first half and may well have been tiring, Boulogne of course had nothing to lose, and nerves may well have played a part. You actually had to go back to 24 November for Duchere’s last home win.

Whatever the reasons, the second half increasingly became a backs-to-the-wall job. Now balls were hit long and high out of defence to a knackered front-man with no support. They just kept coming back. Duchere’s packed defence coped well for most of the time, but there were moments, in particular when for once a guy was free and beat the Duchere keeper to the ball, only for his header to settle onto the roof of the net. Fine margins indeed. And late on an erratic referee (who received an earful in English walking off) developed a habit of ignoring rather blatant fouls only to whistle for the next contact. One end-result was a Boulogne free-kick just outside the area. In stoppage time there was a final drama as Duchere’s keeper came out to clear and was left stranded. But the blessed relief of the final whistle came shortly after and Duchere had the points. At the break they were deservedly ahead, at full-time nobody could have complained had Boulogne grabbed at least an equaliser.

Even now Duchere are only two points above a relegation place, it really is that tight. ‘Exempt ‘on paper occupies the bottom place and Creteil look as if they’ve gone, with just 21 points from 24 played and an eight-points gap to the team above them in 16th, Avranches. Chambly now occupy the last relegation place, level on points (29) with Avranches. To put things in context they won 6-2 on Friday. Above them are three teams on 30 points (Dunkerque, Marseille Consolat and Pau), then Duchere, along with Boulogne and Les Herbiers, on 31. Seventh-placed Cholet with 32 points are just three above the relegation places, that’s how tight it is. In the next round Duchere have a tough one, away to second-placed Grenoble. After that a six-pointer at home to Dunkerque, then away to currently third-placed Laval. So it isn’t going to be easy any time soon.

What was strange about Friday night was me. Now for sure I want Duchere to avoid relegation but in terms of emotional commitment they’re not exactly on a par with Charlton, whatever the effect of the past few years. We went to the game knowing it was an important one, and it proved to be tight right to the end, not exactly a classic but gripping in its way. And I found myself shouting out in exasperation over refereeing decisions, head in hands as a Duchere breakaway in the final minutes wasn’t converted, and genuinely anxious when Boulogne threatened. In short, I was involved and it mattered.

Now I can’t say what it’s going to be like for me and other boycotters assuming the takeover happens and matches at The Valley (plus the periodic trip away) become part of life again. Will we be able to pick up where we left off? If Friday’s anything to go it may be easier than we might fear.

AFC Purchase Pros and Cons

If the fresh speculation proves correct and it is to be the Australian Football Consortium, how do we feel about that? First and foremost, we dance. Barring unlikely developments today, the next opportunity for all Addicks to mark the end of the Duchatelet era will be the home game against Scunthorpe on 14 April. Assuming a deal is confirmed before Easter, I hope that CARD will switch from planning a protest for Easter Monday’s game to turning the match at The Valley into a celebration – and a welcome to the new owners. CARD can take a bow for its role in helping to bring about the change (it still beggars belief that Roland can talk in terms of selling because you can’t succeed if the twelfth man – ie the supporters – is not with you, having done so much to alienate him/her).

There are inevitably plus and minus points arising from what we know or believe about our assumed new owners (and we await confirmation that it will be a ‘lock, stock and barrels’ purchase). But just for the record (it really shouldn’t be necessary), I couldn’t give a monkey’s that they are Australian rather than Belgian. Like every country, Australia has its problems, its share of morons. The fact that we broadly share a language, or that the UK and Australia have historic ties, mean absolutely nothing; arguably if you buy into the idea that Australia has a pro-sport approach there could be something to be said in that an understanding of sport might work against surrounding yourself with – and backing the views of – those who do not. But really, we are talking about individuals here, not countries. And it’s not as if Australia has accumulated expertise in football.

Like just about everyone else I welcomed Duchatelet’s purchase of our club at the time – and there were some early positives (in addition to bills being paid), such as no plan to move from The Valley and initial expressions of support for Sir Chris. It was only when we started to learn about the character that the flags really went up, with concerns then cemented by what he actually said and did. So please, let’s not have any talk about welcoming our new owners because of their nationality (if they were Russian, Chinese etc it would be an issue for discussion given track records elsewhere, goals and expectations etc). It is all down to individuals.

So let’s try a loose pros and cons assessment:

(+) Yet to be confirmed but fair to assume that the AFC has no plans for a move from The Valley. That would be a material distraction from their stated goals and, since they have been raising funds on the basis of a prospectus, would surely need to have been disclosed.

(+)  The objectives of the AFC are surely in line with the wishes of  all Addicks: “to acquire an underperforming English football team with a view to elevating the club back to the Premier League”. Yes please. Some may not like the comparison, but the benefit of the Jimenez/Slater period was that the only point of their involvement was to get us promoted from the third flight, so they and the fans had common interest.

(+)  Others may not agree, but from the wording of the AFC it seems clear that they will not be going for some ‘quick fix’ but will invest and accept that achieving their overall objective will take time. That suggests that even if they fail they would sell the club on in a reasonable state rather than a ‘boom or bust’ resulting in the latter.

(+)  I found it significant that when there was first talk of us being the AFC’s target and the Trust (if memory serves correct) contacted them, the AFC website wording was changed to incorporate that they accept a responsibility “to honour and respect the history and tradition of the club and ensure that the fans are respected as key stakeholders in the process”. Only words for now of course, but the right ones.

 (-)  Under Duchatelet we were an experiment. With the AFC as owners we still will be. There is no precedent for a Football League club succeeding (or failing) on the back of a venture to “incorporate the very best local, Australian and global sports leadership ...” Just how far the AFC will go in prioritising ‘Australian’ over ‘the very best’ remains to be seen, as does whether there proves to be any tangible benefit from Australian input.

(-)  AFC is a purely financial venture. It has raised money in the expectation that it will make money. If it fails the consortium can simply be wound up, investors in it accept that they took a punt and it didn’t work out. Just what happens to Charlton Athletic is, in that context, irrelevant, there’s no sentiment or emotional tie – and the chances are that if further down the line AFC goes bust it will be with a long list of creditors, so investors will probably not be bothered about the chances of getting some money back from a sale of the club. May be nothing, but for me a concern.

(-)  Money. Enough has been written elsewhere about whether AFC has sufficient capital to fund getting us back into The Championship and then The Premiership. Of course if things are going well after a few years they would have the option to raise more if necessary, so we can’t make assumptions based on their current balance sheet (even if we had it). But this has to be a risk factor.

Harry Kewell? No more than a gut feeling at this stage but I’d view him coming in as manager as a positive. He seems to talk a lot more sense than Robinson (which is setting the bar rather low) and to have more about him. Of course, if an AFC takeover is confirmed early next week, would he be brought in now? Perhaps that depends on Saturday’s result. We beat Plymouth under Bowyer/Jackson and promotion this season is back on the cards and bringing in a new manager from outside would make no short-term sense. If we lose, it might make more sense but then we will be planning for next season and there would seem to be no rush. So that would be a decision for AFC to make, another with pros and cons.

There will no doubt be other issues, but while keeping the negatives in mind we should focus on the positives. If we are bought by AFC it will be a fresh chapter in the history of our club, one which will follow a very dark one, so we welcome it and stand ready to play our part in making it succeed. If we get the news we are waiting for, I’ll be buying a ticket for Scunthorpe (of course if we don't writing this - and reading it - has been a complete waste of time).

Bowyer In No-Lose Position

So there we have it. According to Richard Murray it was “an agreement that is best for everyone involved” and Karl Robinson himself, while “not an easy decision”, what is “best for the club and everyone involved”. Can’t blame either for making such comments, but – although I’m not privy to any inside information - let’s get real: Robinson has had enough and has himself brought about his departure by first twice offering his resignation and then making sure that the news was leaked; Charlton have – or rather Duchatelet has - presumably managed to save on Robinson’s wages and any unfathomable pay-out to Robinson (unless he really had something to support a case for breach of contract), perhaps even squeezed something out of Oxford (I’m assuming there’s going to be a decent interval of at least a day before Robinson is confirmed as their new manager).

There’s no ‘best for the club’ here, just individuals doing what suits their interests – although of course it’s possible that the change will actually work to our (ie the club’s) advantage. If we end up with a turnaround in form and make the play-offs, go on to fresh glory at Wembley and find ourselves back in the Championship, I’m ready to hail Robinson ‘falling on his sword’ as the noblest decision in football for some time. If we don’t make the play-offs, we’ve really lost next to nothing as we weren’t exactly heading in that direction. (I am assuming here that we can’t go on such a disastrous run that we manage somehow to get relegated). We will get some inkling of course on Saturday, from the way the team is set up and how motivated individual players prove to be.

Given that nobody is going to be interested in coming in from outside to manage us (unless truly desperate and offered a contract long enough to make the post-change of ownership pay-off worthwhile), it does seem as though the only alternative was to put in charge one or more of Jason Euell, Johnnie Jackson and Lee Bowyer. (I suppose if Harry Kewell is plucked away from Crawley Town it would be tantamount to saying that a takeover by the Australians is all but agreed.) It seems to be Bowyer as caretaker manager, Jackson as his assistant, and Euell left with the U-23s (which probably makes sense as there’s no point in prompting even more disruption and as by keeping that role Euell gives himself the best chance of being retained under new ownership).

We don’t need to go over Bowyer’s previous; he does surely become the first person to lead Charlton who we know used to enjoy a spliff (if you check out Dean Chandler on Wikipedia you find out that after years in the lower leagues/non-league he apparently made his debut for the England Learning Disability team, playing in a 16-0 win against hosts Sweden in the Global Games, before being sent off in the next match, against Brazil, for violent conduct). Perhaps this is why they haven't made him and JJ 'joints managers'. Just why he is given the nod over Jackson I can’t say, guess you have to be closer to these things to have a worthwhile opinion.

Bowyer does have nothing to lose – and hopefully along with JJ will inject some enthusiasm into the team. If the season tails off with defeat against Plymouth and we are consigned to another in the third flight (for me, in my lifetime we’ve never spent more than three consecutive seasons in this division, so it has to be promotion or bust under new owners for the next campaign) nobody’s going to blame him in any way. Whether or not he and/or Jackson are retained under new ownership only time will tell; perhaps JJ was not put in charge so as to increase his chances of being kept on post-takeover.

There is of course absolutely no good reason for the change to affect CARD’s plans for a return to protests at The Valley on Easter Monday. We all I’m sure continue to hope that the protest will not be necessary as a sale is confirmed before then, but nobody’s holding their breath.

Just Another Day In The Twilight Zone

Just what to make of yesterday? We began the day with Oxford apparently promising an “exciting announcement”, assumed to be confirmation of a new manager, the position having been vacant since January (and with the club’s new owner having reportedly said in February that he expected to make an appointment in the “next couple of days”). And although Karl Robinson had previously played down the rumours and distanced himself from the job, the bookies had reinstalled him as odds-on favourite, the odds on Sven Goran Eriksson apparently lengthening.

We ended the day with not a word from Oxford, nothing from Charlton officially, but with seemingly well-sourced reports that Robinson had offered his resignation to Duchatelet not once but twice. To add to the speculation, reports resurfaced that if the Australian Football Consortium does end up taking us over current Crawley Town boss Harry Kewell would be brought to replace Robinson. Just another day in the tragicomedy that is currently our club.

So basically so far nothing has actually happened (except that we are one day closer to an end to Duchatelet’s ownership). Robinson may still be off to Oxford, he may still resign irrespective, or he may be in situ for Saturday’s game against Plymouth, one which probably represents our last chance saloon as far as fading play-off chances are concerned. I think we could all use some clarity before then, which would be in everyone’s interest.

Perhaps best to separate out the two issues re Robinson. First, is he trying to jump ship having been tipped the wink about Oxford (as a convenient – for him – switch given location and the opportunity to get across a message that he is leaving us because of broken promises from Duchatelet) or was he instead acknowledging that he is failing to get us promoted and in taking responsibility for that by rather more honourably giving the owner the option to replace him? Second, should we be happy or sad if he is gone before Saturday?

Of course on the former there’s currently no way to tell. If Oxford announce the appointment of Robinson it will be up to him to persuade us that he has not behaved badly; in the absence of any convincing explanation – rather more than ‘I did my best but ...’ - we will probably be left to assume that he has, irrespective of the lunacy of Duchatelet’s ‘stewardship’ (there would be a certain irony in that for most of his time with us Roland has been sacking coaches but now he would have seen his trusted CEO and a manager walk away from him). If they announce the appointment of someone else, there would still be a need for some comment from Robinson on the resignation reports. It’s not as if he isn’t going to get asked at every press conference from now on.

How we would feel about him going or not will in part I suspect be conditioned by what is said re Oxford. Nobody can blame Robinson for wanting to get away from Duchatelet – and the line that he was let down in January would carry some conviction – and being tired of the lame duck position he finds himself in vis-a-vis the drawn out takeover. But he is well paid and should have known what he was getting into when he joined us; also, some of the players that have been brought in over the past 12 months are ‘his guys’ and so far they have not turned us into worldbeaters, while disappointment at January window departures and arrivals should be conditioned by the fact that Ezri Konsa was not sold (nor was Josh Magennis). If he goes now Robinson will still deservedly carry the ‘failure’ tag with him. If he is to stay, he has to demonstrate clearly that he is up for the task in terms of enthusiasm and commitment (to Charlton, not the owner).

Ultimately whether Robinson stays or goes is now very much secondary to the takeover, given recent results and current form. We may yet pull off what would in the circumstances be an entirely unexpected victory on Saturday, in which case the picture changes once more. Quite possibly the players are well aware that Robinson has come to the end of his time here – but that would be no excuse for playing with indifference.

There is one issue that still nags at me, one which I don’t think was fully resolved at the time (early 2017). When Robinson joined us he talked of having been won over by the vision and strategy that Duchatelet had for the club, most obviously the emphasis on developing young players. It still seems to me entirely inappropriate that when manager of MK Dons he managed to end up with a (small) shareholding in the company of Dele Alli’s agent, which only came to light with that company getting sued by the tax authorities (MK Dons said they did not know about the holding). This may be something and nothing, but I’d still welcome some reassurance that Robinson has – and has not had since joining us – any personal financial interest in the young players developed at Charlton.