Methven group warn Sandgaard of legal action

Richard Cawley reports: ' It seems like there could be some kind of legal challenge coming from Charlie Methven's group about Thomas Sandgaard ending their takeover talks.'

“Our group refutes Thomas Sandgaard’s claim last Friday February 10 that we are in breach of the signed agreement to buy Clear Ocean Capital, the holding company of Charlton Athletic. We were expecting to complete the deal last Thursday February 9: a substantial deposit had been paid, the agreed purchase price had not changed, the money required was in the relevant bank accounts and Owners and Directors Test applications had been lodged with the EFL.'

'Our clear legal advice is that we are still in exclusivity to complete the purchase and we still expect to do so imminently, as stipulated by the agreement of December 20 signed by Mr Sandgaard. We note Mr Sandgaard’s statement that he has been conducting discussions with other potential investors and had been working on “a Plan B”. Such actions were, and are, in contravention of the exclusivity agreement, and any third party participating in such discussions would be committing tortious interference, for which the penalties are significant.'

'We note also Mr Sandgaard’s removal of the entire senior management of Charlton Athletic, also in contravention of the December 20 agreement. This, together with attempting to renege on the deal, has introduced unwelcome uncertainty and instability to the club and its’ fans, after a brief period when a competent management team had started to plan constructively for the club’s future. We urge Mr Sandgaard to complete the signed deal he previously agreed without the necessity for legal action.'

VOTV website editor Rick Everitt has commented: 'I’m calling bullshit on this statement from Methven, as the exclusivity expired on January 31st. Only reason they got a few days more in situ was a family issue for Thomas Sandgaard which was rightly his priority until last Thursday.'

Background on the situation at Charlton and possible options can be found here: https://www.castrust.org/2023/02/faqs-regarding-ownership-of-charlton-and-the-valley/

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Charlton to appeal Inniss red card

Charlton are to appeal the red card given to Ryan Inniss on Saturday.  Dean Holden is a qualified referee and says that it was a poor decision: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-set-to-appeal-ryan-inniss-red-card-against-fleetwood-town/

The FA has said they will come to a decision this afternoon.  I am not too hopeful as they don't like overturning their officials.

Miles Leaburn is not available for tomorrow.  Penney and Clare are to be assessed to see if they are available.

Dean Holden wants clarity about his future

Understandably Dean Holden wants clarity about his future as Charlton manager after the failure of the takeover.  I wouldn't read too much into the use of the past tense in his remarks as he states that he is manager until the end of the season: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/dean-holden-seeking-talks-with-thomas-sandgaard-after-charlton-takeover-collapse/

Thomas Sandgaard has stated that he will be offered a strengthened contract.

Cod Army catch three points

It was four wins out of five for Charlton and four out of five league losses for Fleetwood and the visitors came out on top at The Valley this afternoon with a 2-1 win.  It was a tough watch for those there. Charlton were left with defensive worries for their midweek outing to Nailsworth after Inniss added to his red card collection (three this season) and other defenders were injured.

Charlton remain 12th, although there are four teams on 37 points.

Miles Leaburn was out with a slight knock for the game against Fleetwood, but Chuks Aneke featured on the bench.

Charlton started brightly, pinning Fleetwood back.   Dobson had to defend well to block a cross as the visitors advanced.

Fleetwood's experienced left back Andrew went down injured and had to be substituted by Rooney who is usually a right back.

Fraser put in a good cross, but Fleetwood cleared well.  

Charlton were keeping the ball well, but needed to get more bodies into the final third.   Fleetwood were dropping quite deep.   Patterson defended well against Blackett-Taylor and got the ball back to his keeper.

Charlton were looking strong on their left and won a corner, but it was unproductive.   A Charlton free kick was defended by Stockley with a header.   Fleetwood changed their formation after substitute Rooney got a yellow card.   He moved to right wing-back as the visitors went to a back three.

Stockley put the ball over the bar into the Covered End on 22 minutes after receiving a good cross with pace from Rooney.   A Stockley header then went wide.

A good cross came in from Blackett-Taylor, but it was ultimately unproductive.  

Fleetwood go ahead

Rooney had a free hit and beat Maynard-Brewer diving to his left to make it 0-1 on 27 minutes.    The keeper had little chance, although he did get quite close.   No one closed the ball down allowing Rooney time and space.   There was no reaction from the midfield.   Steve Brown said that we were out of shape for the goal.  Maynard-Brewer would be disappointed.   Curbs said he should taken it.  He was a young goalie on a learning curve.

Charlton were playing as they did early in the season with a lot of possession but no runs in behind.   (59-41 first half). They were a little bit fragile and cautious.

Fleetwood then played some good football and Charlton struggled to get the ball and out of their own half.  Kilkenny tried to push forward.   The crowd was flat.

Dobson managed to put in a shot on target after an opening on the right involving Clare and Rak-Sakyi.

Five minutes were added on.   Charlton had a chance, but Fraser's effort went over the bar after good defending.  The corner was taken short and eventually ended in a goal kick.

Rak-Sakyi scored a brilliant individual goal with his left foot after a good ball inside by Clare.  Rak-Sakyi drifted inside his marker and jinked from right to left.   Rak-Sakyi took the ball under control well and had a split second look at the goal.   He salvaged quite a poor first half.

Steve Brown said it was a really disappointing first half from us, it only got better in the last five minutes.  We weren't performing well.

Curbs that most of the passes were going backward and square.   We saw hardly any forward passes.  Rak-Sakyi just slipped inside his full back.

Steve Brown said that Bonne needed to get into the game.  Fraser needed to get into space a bit more.  Curbs said that Bonne was not messing up the centre halves, that was the difference between him and Miles.  Leaburn managed to send the centre halves one way and then go the other.

HT: Addicks 1, Cod Army 1

Penney had to receive treatment after a challenge from Robertson.  

Maynard-Brewer had to palm away a shot from Patterson.   It was a free header from the corner and Fleetwood took the lead back through Holgate who had acres of space.   It was one off the training ground.

Fleetwood took Mendes Gomes off and reorganised their defence.

It was scrappy from Charlton.  Fraser advanced, but made the wrong decision in the final third. 

Fraser put in a good ball to Blackett-Taylor, but he was fairly challenged and the move ended in a goal kick.   Maynard-Brewer gathered a shot from Marriott.

Clare needed some treatment for an impact injury.  He had to go off - he had start the half brightly.  Sessegnon came on in his place.

Charlton had some good momentum in a move, but there was no end product.   Penney received a yellow card.

Fleetwood made another two changes with Stockley coming off.    Aneke came on as Charlton switched to 4-4-2.  

Aneke put in a shot on target.  

Aneke and Inniss went down after Rak-Sakyi put the ball over from his right foot following a free kick. There was blood on Innis's head and hand.   He had to change his shirt.

Aneke got past two but didn't have the finishing touch.  There was not enough power to trouble Lynch in the Fleetwood goal.

Inniss gave away a free kick just outside the box with a reckless challenge.   The referee took advice and gave a red card.  Whether it was a clear goal scoring opportunity was open to question and the fans chanted 'You're not fit to referee.'   Campbell came on for the injured Penney.

The free kick took a huge deflection off the wall and Bonne got it away for a Fleetwood corner.  Maynard-Brewer defended well, but had to receive treatment for a potential concussion.

Twelve minutes were added on.   Maynard-Brewer had to make a save after Ness defended well. 

Hayes shot but Ness cleared off the line for Charlton.   

Charlton had not done enough to get an equaliser.  

The pundits: 'flat as a pancake'

Steve Brown said that Fleetwood weren't a fantastic side, but they did enough.   Curbs said we couldn't break them down in the first half.   Steve Brown said we never get going, it was very one dimensional at times, devoid of imagination.   We were no threat today, we looked tame.  We had a whole week to prepare and we had come out as flat as a pancake.  

Curbs said we had played the safety ball.  Their second goal was a poor goal to concede.   Bonne had found it difficult, he was making no headway, we weren't managing to go and support him.   We've had two centre halves go.   Steve Brown said that Hector and Thomas hadn't played any football.

The pundits suggested there could be an appeal against the red card.

Steve Brown said that Aneke backed in well and was strong.  He always caused defensive problems.  He didn't get a good connection on the shot.  He gives us a dimension we don't otherwise have.

Holden has high hopes of Fraser

Although Scott Fraser missed out on the League One player of the month award, Dean Holden is full of praise for his creative abilities and the way in which he reads the game, albeit helped by George Dobson.  Holden is convinced there is more to come: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/scott-fraser-backed-to-build-on-impressive-performances-for-charlton-athletic/

Cod Army sail into town

The Cod Army sail into town tomorrow and the fact that they are not out of relegation danger makes them dangerous: https://www.castrust.org/2023/02/taking-stock-as-the-cod-army-sail-back-towards-greenwich/

They are currently 17th in the league and fourth from bottom in the form table.   They are draw specialists away from home, having drawn six, won four and lost four.   This is better than their home record where they have won just two games.   On the road they have scored more than they have conceded (18-16).

On Tuesday they beat the Massives 1-0 in the FA Cup, having secured a draw at Hillsborough.

They like to call themselves 'The Pride of the Fylde', although upstarts AFC Fylde might also claim that title.

Much of the focus has been on the return of Jayden Stockley to The Valley.  Many fans think it is inevitable that he will score against us and that often happens with returning players.  However, we do know the 'Headmaster's' strengths and weaknesses.

We have some tough games coming up against Peterborough and Plymouth away and the Massives at home, apart from the need to deal with the vegan diet on Tuesday.   We really need three points tomorrow and I am sticking to my Badger League forecast of a 2-1 win.

Methven-led takeover collapses

Richard Cawley reports: ' Sounds as if the Methven-led takeover has collapsed. And that all the people brought in by him - barring Dean Holden - have left Charlton. Trying to find out more.'

Cawley has added: 'Methven's group say price was agreed at £8.5m for 90 per cent of the club. And that deposit paid and banks funded. Then they got a letter from Sandgaard saying "I've decided not to proceed."

Thomas Sandgaard has confirmed that he called off the deal because of a failure to comply 'with very specific terms'. He says that he has a Plan B: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/thomas-sandgaard-on-the-breakdown-in-takeover-talks-with-charlie-methvens-group/

Sandgaard said: "I know they were very interested at getting into the club but if you can't stick to the terms that you set up the original deal with then there is really nothing there. Eventually I had to say this can't continue."

He also says that a stronger contract will be offered to Dean Holden.

According to Ben Ransom of Sky: 'The consortium consisted of Gabriel Brener - who holds a stake in the Houston Dynamo - and Joshua Friedman.' Friedman is the co-founder of Los Angeles based hedge fund Canyon Partners.

VOTV website editor Rick Everitt has commented: 'Lots of questions about this. You don’t get that far down the line without some kind of commitment. Contracts get exchanged. Costs are incurred. In this case, people in the building.'

The Ramsgate-based fan added: 'Unfortunate that we had to waste two months on them, although Dean Holden has been a big bonus. Charlton will not thrive without new ownership so it’s time for Sandgaard to engage with serious bidders.'

I was never an enthusiast for this takeover which looked like a poorly assembled package led by chancers. As one fan commented, 'we have dodged a bullet.' However, it does leave the club in something of a vacuum, particularly given that Thomas Sandgaard is understandably preoccupied with his seriously ill mother in Denmark.

I also thought it might have run into trouble with the EFL. Like the Premier League and Manchester City, they have an incentive to show that they can regulate themselves with the Government poised to publish its own regulation proposals.