CHARLTON ATHLETIC’S takeover by an Abu Dhabi-based consortium has been completed.
East Street Investments have ended Roland Duchatelet’s six-year run at the helm.
Charlton have confirmed their takeover by an Abu Dhabi-based consortiumCredit: PA:Empics Sport
And they will now look spend on new players during this month’s transfer window.
Charlton announced their new owners in late November in a statement which crashed their club website.
Manager Lee Bowyer was given immediate backing by the consortium.
And he will be hoping to bring in some of his top targets this month, having won just one game since Charlton’s original announcement.
There is a new director in His Excellency Tahnoon Nimer, who is the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Business Development – the private office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.
He is the majority shareholder in East Street Investments and will sit on the new board.
Joining him as another director is Jonathan Heller, while Matt Southall is Charlton’s new chairman.
Outgoing owner Duchatelet confirmed: “It was vital for the long-term health of Charlton Athletic that this was completed at the very start of the January transfer window.
“It allows the new owners to commit resources to the football side in order to bring in new players who will help secure the club’s position in the Championship.
“This is a hugely exciting time for everybody involved with Charlton Athletic and I believe the club is in safe hands with His Excellency Tahnoon Nimer, Matt Southall and Jonathan Heller.”
New chairman Southall added: “I have been fortunate to meet many of the dedicated staff who have served the club so loyally and diligently and whose love of Charlton Athletic shines through.
“Their enthusiasm is part of the reason why we are so confident of building something special now the takeover is complete.
“Since our last statement on November 29th, it has been my privilege to attend every game and see for myself why this football club means so much to so many people.
“I have met hundreds of fans, attended some of the club’s community schemes and spoken with people for whom Charlton Athletic means everything.
“Without exception, they’ve reminded me of what Charlton stands for both as a football club and as part of the wider community.
“Rest assured, we will never lose sight of that and will do everything in our power to protect that legacy and the long-term future of the club.
“This is a great opportunity for ESI and we are thankful to Roland Duchatelet and his team for giving us the chance to build on such strong foundations.
“Now, for us, the hard work begins. We already have plans in place to support Lee and his staff over the next month.
“But most importantly is strengthening our links with both the fans and the Charlton community so they may understand our short and long-term plans for the club and how we intend to build on the amazing support and goodwill already shown to ESI.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
