Friday 13 June 2008

A great evening with Mr Murray

An invitation for Bloggers to meet Richard Murray

Well folks I have to admit I was a little nervous on my journey from work to the Valley last night to attend a bloggers get together in the Charlton Boardroom and meet Richard Murray and Ben Hayes . Ridiculously strange visions of the Apprentice came to mind whereby Richard Murray would look me in the eye and say CND your fired, leave the room, or I would ask a really stupid question that would be met with mirth's of laughter and my face would be redder than it normally is after a bevy too many . Of course the evening was as far from those visions as you could get and we had a very enjoyable and informative couple of hours in the Charlton Boardroom with Richard Murray, Ben Hayes, Dave Roberts and a selection of fellow Blogger's . It was a privilege to be invited and it was great to meet up with fellow Bloggers Blackheath Addick again and finally meet Wyn Grant , other Bloggers included Kings Hill Addick, Drinking During the Game and All Quite in the East Stand. Several of us finished up in the Royal Oak to continue our discussions on the rights and wrongs of our beloved Charlton Athletic.

Richard Murray

Richard Murray has always come across as Charlton through and through, with the club and its supporters very close to his heart. Well folks I would like to reassure you that Richard Murray is one of most sincere, pleasant and committed people I have met and he is definitely the right man to take us back to the promised land, even if that promised land is not so attractive as it was with its top four domination and the rest having to settle as also- rans.

He spoke quite openly about many subjects -here are a few that are hopefully OK to share


Charlton Athletic PLC

Charlton Athletic Public Limited Company which I'm sure we are aware of is a business and has to be run on a tight financial budget which has become a hundred times harder after the dreaded relegation from the Premiership. My understanding is that the following financial year could see the club break even which will be a great achievement knowing how difficult football finances are.

Darren Bent

Although a large fee was received for Darren, after paying Ipswich Town its contracted sell on clause the money left although still very large is being paid at standard practice terms .

Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew found last seasons Championship surprisingly different and difficult from the last time he managed a club in that division and the mistakes he admitted making to the press and supporters will not be repeated next season. The failure of the club not to achieve promotion and criticism that followed really hurt him but I think he is definitely the right man for the job and I predict promotion next season.- Come on you Reds.

Andy Reid

Andy Reid loved playing for Charlton and liked living in London but Sunderland wanted their man and as Marlon Brando said in the Godfather" Were going to make him an offer he cant refuse."

The Future

The club are exploring ways to extend their already extensive overseas youth projects in countries with little resource. This a worthy project which I fully endorse.

The Team

There could be hope of Bougherra staying put, as his name was mentioned in a team line-up. It
might be that he is here for the time being.

2 comments:

Kings Hill Addick said...

I suddenly feel like the smelly kid that was never invited to social engagements at school. Maybe next time I'll hang around and follow you all to the pub!

charlton north-downs said...

Hi Kings Hill it was great to meet you last night . You would have been most welcome at the pub but for some reason you were not around when we decided to go the Kings Arms and we assumed you needed to get home. During the season we sometimes have a pre-match meal at legends and it would be great to see you there.