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A place in round three of the Carabao Cup is at stake when Charlton travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham, but both sets of supporters will have their minds on other factors.
For West Ham and Charlton, ownership issues have dominated recent headlines. Charlton’s constant wrestle for control against Roland Duchatelet has been much documented with the story seemingly never-ending for Addicks fans.
Since Roland took over the club in January 2014, Charlton endured an endless journey of continuous managerial appointments, questionable transfer dealings and controversies leading to the formation of CARD, the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet.
Protest were rife as supporters sat in the car park at the Valley, whilst also organising throwing an assortments of objects onto the pitch to stop play.
CARD organised fans to throw stress balls onto the playing surface, as well as plastic pigs in unison with Coventry fans, who have had ownership issues of their own.
After five years of turmoil, Roland sold the club to East Street Investments (ESI), with approval reportedly granted from EFL in January. As the controversy failed to cease, ESI’s main investor backed out in March and the EFL stated they had not approved the takeover.
Queue court cases, injunctions and missing Range Rovers. Charlton fans know ownership issues as well as anyone.
A resolution may be on its way as prospective owner Thomas Sandgaard hopes to take over. The Danish businessman believes he is close to a deal and has been received well by supporters, who have praised his communication with them.
This method arrived when Matt Southall, part of the ESI consortium, also spoke positively on social media to Addicks fans. Southall, however, failed to live up to any of these promises made in the early stages of the takeover.
Roland still owns the stadium and training ground at Charlton with Sandgaard hopeful of acquiring these along with the club.
Speaking ahead of the fixture against West Ham, the Dane was still confident of completing the takeover and competing in the cup, despite Charlton being under a transfer embargo since January.
“There is no reason for the fans to worry – which is probably the most important thing. All the uncertainty and worrying – there is no reason to worry.
“For the West Ham game, we might be able to have a team that can really give them a run for it.”
With things potentially looking rosier in SE7, for now at least, West Ham provide the ultimate contrast.
As academy prospect Grady Diangana departed to West Brom earlier this month, the subliminal penny seemingly dropped.
The young winger had been expected to play a key role in the West Ham team for the upcoming season, but was instead was sold for £16 million to a club that will potentially be battling relegation alongside the Hammers.
Many were vocal of their displeasure over the move, including captain Mark Noble, who took to Twitter to explain his frustrations.
As captain of this football club I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future!!!!! https://t.co/oNPPEp8Pt6
— MARK NOBLE (@Noble16Mark) September 4, 2020
One of the 76,000 people to like Noble’s tweet was teammate Declan Rice, a player reportedly admired by West Ham’s London rivals Chelsea.
Their views have ignited the conversation further as pressure mounts on David Gold and David Sullivan. The lack of investment in the training facilities at the club, located at Rush Green, encapsulate their ownership at the club.
David Moyes remains the only Premier League manager not to welcome a new signing through the door this transfer window, despite the Scotsman leading positive business in the January window.
The investment made then, with the acquisitions of Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen, proved crucial in keeping the Hammers in the Premier League.
After successfully avoiding the drop, you could forgive West Ham fans hoping for investment in order to avoid history repeating itself.
Instead, the Londoners look disjointed after a dismal performance against Newcastle.
Just as Charlton before them, West Ham have formed a protest group to rebel against the decisions being made by the hierarchy at the club.
‘GBS Out’ references owners David Gold, Karren Brady and David Sullivan, and the collective made their feelings known ahead of the Premier League clash by protesting outside the ground.
Their biggest previous protest dates back to February ahead of a match against Southampton as thousands gathered outside the Stratford venue (see below).
That day West Ham triumphed 3-1, a first win in nine games, to somewhat quiet the concerns amongst supporters. For now though, the displeasure seems to be in full flow.
Failure to proceed past lower league opposition would only serve to fuel anger at a club which has failed to lift a trophy since the 1980 FA Cup.
As Charlton glimpse at a future finally focussed by events that occur on the pitch, West Ham may look enviously at their London neighbours.
The West Ham saga may have only just begun, Charlton’s may be finally coming to an end.
Tom Hardy will be at the London Stadium to report on West Ham’s Carabao Cup fixture with Charlton.
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