NEW Charlton owner Paul Elliott has promised fans to not do a Matt Southall after taking over at The Valley.
Former chairman Southall fell out spectacularly with Addicks fans after allegedly treating himself to a luxury Thames riverside apartment, Range Rover and expenses out of club funds.
Charlton’s new owner has vowed to not act like Matt Southall
Matt Southall is accused of using club money to buy a flat and Range Rover
But Elliott – who completed his takeover of controlling company East Street Investments – chose his first interview to pledge he will not be draining resources from the South Londoners.
The 50-year-old property businessman said: “I’d like to make clear I got involved in this as a business venture.
“But I’m not one of these people who jumps in, gets hold of a club, draws money out, takes salaries and cars etc.
“I can assure everyone that I will not be taking any money out of the club until it can afford to do so and is sustainable.
“It means I will be putting money in, which I already have done, not taking money out. I’m not asking for a salary and I won’t be, I don’t need to take expenses out.”
SunSport understands previous majority shareholder Tahnoon Nimer was simply refunded the £1 he paid to take control of the club in November to make the takeover happen.
And Elliott is pledging to run the club prudently going forward. He said: “Anyone else who comes in and gets involved with us at this club, I’ll expect the same from them.
“For example if there is a CEO that is great for the job then good but no-one is going to come in and take a big salary out of this business, it’s not there, so let’s not be under any illusion that that is going to happen.
“We can run a business successfully, we can make sure we’ve got support moving forward and if someone comes along that’s in the best interests of the fans, the club and the staff then I am open to it, 100 per cent.”
If someone wants to come along and put money into the club as an investment, then the door is open.
Elliott on potential investors
It is understood that former Ritz owner Andrew Barclay and ex-Charlton director Peter Varney remain in discussion with the club about potentially getting involved after they had initially launched a takeover bid of their own.
And Elliott has left the door open to them, saying: “If someone wants to come along and put money into the club as an investment, then the door is open and we are willing to speak to people because it is what the club needs.
“If someone can do a better job, then I am happy to work with other people.”
The new owner – who lives in Manchester and admits he is not a Charlton fan – has ruled out making any bold promises of Premier League football in a set number of years.
He added: “I’m not going to make any big promises about where we want to go as the focus has to be on the next nine games and maintaining our place in the Championship. Once that is done we can start looking at the future.
“I’ve been looking into buying a club in the past but it has never quite happened. I know there’s been a lot of boardroom problems at Charlton but the club is an unpolished diamond, with a talented manager and a big fanbase.”
Elliott spoke to manager Lee Bowyer on Monday by phone and is hoping to meet him and the squad at the training ground next week before their trip to Hull when the season restarts on June 20.
And he said: “I thought speaking to him was one of the most important things to do.
“I had a chat with him on Monday over the telephone and I’ve exchanged a couple of texts with him since.
“My view is that, as with any business, it is only as good as the staff you have got and from what I can see Charlton have good, hard-working staff both on and off the pitch.
“I would like to come down to the stadium next week, to meet Lee, the players and a few other people.
“I do think it’s nicer than impersonal video screens and if it is possible with social distancing, maybe I can go to Hull and watch the team in person.”
Watch Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah score hat-trick as Arteta’s Gunners thrash Charlton 6-0 in friendly
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
