Charlton Athletic‘s future in chaos as boardroom clash, and it left fans worried about potential administration as reported elsewhere.
Chairman Matt Southall released a statement responding to social media allegations from Tahnoon Nimer regarding his conduct in the role which led the club’s owner to state he’s pulled out of backing the Championship side.
Executive chairman Matt Southall issues statement after Tahnoon Nimer refuses to continue his backing of Charlton Athletic https://t.co/6RLiUplnlO
— Richard Cawley (@RichCawleySLP) March 9, 2020
Nimer accused Southall of using his money to fund his lifestyle, an allegation Southall vehemently denies.
Southall’s statement read: I want to let Charlton fans know and understand what is happening before rumours and speculation run completely out of control.
“On Monday, Tahnoon Nimer sent an incredibly damaging letter on behalf of Panorama Magic General Contracting LLC to members of the club’s Senior Management Team. In the letter, he made allegations about me and my conduct, which my lawyers immediately rebutted.
“It has been brought to my attention that he has repeated and, indeed, expanded upon the malicious falsehoods made in the initial letter. As a consequence, I will now be meeting with my lawyers to discuss an action for defamation. However, my immediate priority is to protect the club and its staff from these damaging statements.
“Also contained in that letter were claims he had appointed a Chief Executive Officer, an action that I am advised by the club’s lawyers would be outside the parameters of Panorama’s influence. Even more worryingly, the letter also threatened members of the senior management team with legal action if they did not comply with his demands. This is completely unacceptable and detrimental to the morale of such a loyal and dedicated staff and the smooth running of the football club.
“One of the claims in the letter was that ‘disadvantageous contracts’ had been authorised by me. I can only conclude that the majority shareholder disagreed with my decision to give Lee Bowyer a new contract on the terms agreed as that is the only major contract signed in my time as Executive Chairman.
“For the avoidance of doubt, both Jonathan Heller and I have passed the EFL’s Owners and Directors Test. However, the majority shareholder has yet to satisfy the EFL in respect of the source of his funds, despite numerous requests made by the EFL and a number of deadlines that have been ignored by him.
“This failure obviously limited our ability to deal in the transfer window although I liaised closely with the EFL and made sure they were aware of every deal we were planning so that they could be sanctioned appropriately. I continue to be in close contact with the EFL who are also aware of the dispute between me and the majority shareholder.
“It is a crucial time of the season and it would seem appropriate that all the stakeholders direct their efforts in support of the team and the club. Therefore, it is disappointing that the majority shareholder should act in such a manner and be attempting to purchase Dinamo Bucharest to the point where he posted a picture of himself in Romania during Saturday’s fixture.
“The Board and the Senior Management Team are determined that Charlton Athletic be run in a sensible, responsible and sustainable manner but this is being made very difficult by the majority shareholder’s actions and his failure to provide either the necessary satisfaction to the EFL or the funds that he has consistently promised to invest. To date, not a single penny of the promised funds has been provided.
“The Board will continue to make decisions in the best interests of club, its fans, its players and its staff with the full support of the dedicated and loyal senior management team
“We look forward to a successful conclusion to the season.”
At 10am on Tuesday morning, another statement was issued by Charlton.
It is with regret that the board of Charlton Athletic Football Club accepts Tahnoon Nimer's resignation as a director with immediate effect.
Read more: https://t.co/EFomyTC1R1 #cafc pic.twitter.com/TXx3MRvhuF
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) March 10, 2020
It read: “It is with regret that the board of Charlton Athletic Football Club accepts Tahnoon Nimer’s resignation as a director with immediate effect.
“Following the events of March 9th, his position is now untenable and the board has no option but to accept his resignation.
“The board of Charlton Athletic and the Senior Management Team will continue to run the club with its best long-term interests at heart.”
Despite all of this, majority shareholder Tahnoon Nimer has denied Charlton’s statement that he resigned as a director amid a dispute among the club’s hierarchy. Talk about confusion!
Fans gave their reaction with Charlton Athletic’s future in chaos as the boardroom clash…
@EFL once again you’ve proved what a shite and worthless organisation you are. Cunts
— owen?? (@cafc_baker) March 10, 2020
we’re actually fucked aren’t we
— tash (@tashaeverittx) March 10, 2020
— Jack Bennett (@jbennett1997) March 10, 2020
In 3 months I’ve gone from thinking I’ll be watching us in the champions league in 5 years time to now watching us at the marathon ground in shooter hill
— Danny Blackwell (@Fire_Cafc) March 10, 2020
Dagenham vs Charlton lads?
— Ben Skinner YFD ?⚔️❤️ (@ben_yfd) March 10, 2020
— Liam Edwards (@Ed_7991) March 10, 2020
#cafc pic.twitter.com/Pbm4dDSAJ4
— Valleyman1973 (@valleyman1973) March 10, 2020
Need to clarify exactly who owns the club (names of those directors who actually own it if part of a company), what plans are in place to buy The Valley and Sparrows Lane from RD and where future investment into the team will come from. #cafc
— Steve Kennedy (@SteveK157DFC) March 10, 2020
Can’t wait to play in the National league ?
— Luke (@LukeDaggers23) March 10, 2020
Sorry Mr Southall, who owns what at this club, we’re is the funding coming from? Nice Range Rover though ???????
— Phil (@phil_cullum) March 10, 2020
That’s fine, we now need to know who will fund the club going forward, purchase of Valley, Training ground, money for players etc ????????????
— David Powell (@powelldavid9) March 10, 2020
5 year plan out the window then
— peekyson (@peekyson) March 10, 2020
Wow. I dream of stable ownership one day…
— Kevin Lay (@KevinnnLay) March 10, 2020
— Liam Jones (@LiamCAFC) March 10, 2020
Give that he paid for the club, I'm assuming he wants his money back? Who's sorting that out?
— Stuart Loversidge (@StuLoversidge) March 10, 2020
How the actual fuck is this possible? Aren’t the @EFL supposed to protect our clubs from this shite??
— Wayne (@Wayne260183) March 10, 2020
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