Not sure what to make of that. They massively over achieved last season, and he's spent very little since bringing them up. They may be bottom but have 5 games in hand over Millwall and a couple of others. Think sacking Powell may do them more harm than good.
The fans are in uproar. Not only have they spent zero money this season, but the new owner sold their best three players as soon as he got control of the club. They're not happy. Think this could have sealed their fate. Two places to fight out of now.
Madness. That decision could well send them down. Chris Powell is one of the most decent men in football, I hope he gets fixed up with a good club before too long.
Former Standard Liege assistant coach & current AC Milan youth coach Jose Riga expected to take over.
Exactly. People won't look at the facts...... 1) Bottom of the league. 2) Out of the cup easily to a mid table side in the league below. 3) Five defeats in the last six league games. Can't blame the owner for trying to protect his investment by staying in this league. If they go down and have to make massive cuts it will be much worse. There is no guarantee of getting straight back up either. Owners get an hard time when they sack a manager but put yourself in their shoes. When you put millions into an investment you would want to try and protect it too. Not sure about bringing in someone with no experience of English football, but if he keeps them up the fans will soon be on his side.
Just seen this on twitter, shocking if true: Simon Thomas @SimonThomasSky 1h Powell was offered a new contract last week. Signed it. Was returned by Roland Duchâtelet unsigned with the message you're sacked. #CAFC Always seems like a decent bloke Powell.
No guarantee they will go down as usually when there is massive uproar over a sacking the chairman is shown to be justified in their decision. Who would have sacked Gary Megson in the Wednesday league one days? They did and Dave Jones got them promoted. Who would have got rid of Lee Clarke at Huddersfield? They did and Simon Grayson got them promoted? Who'd have sacked Nigel Adkins at Southampton? Now they are higher than he ever got them. Lots of other "he shouldn't have been sacked" stories that proved to be right. I'd not be too sorry for Powell as he's going to get a chunky pay off and will get another club.
I think you are absolutely spot on there, although I think the examples you use are of relatively 'steady ships' (if memory serves) - I clearly know nothing about Charlton (other than they have a $hit pitch) but from the outside looking in they look like a club in turmoil. A chairman looking to bring in AC Milan's reserve team coach and who concedes that all good players will be sold; a fixture pileup that would stretch even the strongest of squads; unhappy fans et al. Let's put it this way, it's going to be the catalyst for something...either the greatest of escapes (boo) or a magnificent implosion (yes please)
It appears the new owner wants to use Charlton as a feeder club for Standard Liege, as is happening with three other clubs he owns. Powell is a club legend down at Charlton and has been made to work with both hands tied behind his back by both the current & previous owners. But this gets conveniently ignored as a probable reason for short term results being adversely affected. Yet another example of new owners knowing or caring nothing about the culture, soul, tradition & history of a club. They and their apologists know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
He does seem like a decent bloke but I think if he was white he would have been sacked a couple of months ago, Charlton have had a poor season.