New Charlton Athletic chief executive Ben Mansford has called for “positive energy” as the side head into two big home games at The Valley.
The Addicks are winless in 10 Championship matches and face Bolton Wanderers in SE7 tomorrow followed by Sheffield United on Saturday.
Mansford (above) was appointed last week and the former Blackpool, Leeds United and Barnsley chief executive, who most recently spent three years with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, was asked about coming in during a testing run of results.
“I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to watch a lot of the games and I was at Burnley and at Watford,” he told Charlton TV. “It is fine margins in some of those games. At Burnley we had those half-chances and looked strong from set-pieces. We could’ve come away with a win.
“I just think it is a time for a bit of calmness and lots of good, positive energy from everyone – to be supportive.
“There haven’t been so many bumps in the road since this management team has come together with everyone at Sparrows [Lane].
“For me there is never a good or a bad time (to join a club). It is just a really good opportunity for me to come and get involved in a really aspirational football club.
“It is a case, for me, of just supporting Nathan. Jim [Rodwell] is there with him, and for everyone to stick together when these times happen.
“I’ve been given a lot of autonomy and positivity by Gavin – as well as everybody at GFP, Gabriel [Brener} and Josh [Friedman], to come on now and really make a difference. That is really important.
“We know some of the challenges. I’ve picked them up from the fans and the fans’ advisors during my onboarding process. We all want the best matchday experience, best fans’ engagement and best beer. I come in with my eyes as wide open as they can be. That needs to drive on, to replicate what has been achieved in the last two-and-a-half years with Nathan.”
Scott Minto, Steve Brown, Alan Curbishley, Gavin Carter and Ben Mansford on Charlton TV
Carter was asked by host Scott Minto how he had navigated through a difficult couple of months. Charlton have not won since the end of August.
“As a fan, I need to make sure I control emotions because ultimately as chair of the board you have to keep level,” he said. “You have to keep looking at the plan, on a long-term basis.
“Football has a tremendous recency bias. Curbs has told me not to ride the highs too high or the lows too low. The weekend was a great example. Last year we went to Middlesbrough and had 20 per cent possession – we came out with a 1-0 win. This year, if you just looked at the stats and not the key stat, which is obviously goals, then you would have said if we won one of those games it would be the one at the weekend.
“You have got to make sure you don’t get carried away in any situation. It is about keeping your eye on the five-year plan – we’re not a million miles away from where we want to be on a points basis. The momentum, more recently, has clearly been against us. But this is a brutal league.
“It was a great point at Burnley. I felt it was a good performance against a team that is currently struggling but is a Premiership squad still. They got back here at 6am on Wednesday and then had the early kick off at Watford where Watford were desperate for the win. We were playing away and it was a disappointing performance.
“Saturday was encouraging and we’ve now got two home games. Momentum changes quickly in sport.
“Expectations have grown – but rightly grown. We performed well last year and the plan is to kick on. We have to make sure we do kick on. We need to be patient, keep a view on the long term and we need to grow into those expectations – on all sides of the football club.
“The next two games are exciting and a great opportunity. Everybody can see the league is more competitive than last year.
“We want to progress each year. It takes time for new players to bed in. We have seen that before. We have got to do more on the recruitment side and make sure we are bringing in the right levels of investment.
“For the women it is a massive step up. Yesterday we watched the third favourites for the Champions League here, in Chelsea. It is tough, there is no hiding from that.
“There is lots to do, to make sure you stay on track. But it is a five-year plan and we are in year two. We need to make sure we keep progressing as a football club.”
