Charlton Athletic midfielder Darren Pratley has hailed the impact owner Thomas Sandgaard has had since completing his takeover of the SE7 outfit last September – with the club days away from administration at the time.
“Thomas Sandgaard saved the club. He has come in; he has steadied the ship, and he is genuine,” says Pratley. “I know he has done a lot – he has bought the women’s team, he does a lot with the Upbeats in and around the place, and he is giving the fans something to cheer about. It’s just a shame at the moment that the fans are not there so that he can see how much they appreciate him.”
New Developments
And while supporters are unable to be in attendance this season, the Danish-American businessman has revamped Charlton TV with a new look Valley Pass Live streaming service broadcasted from a purpose-built studio at The Valley.
“I am sure the fans would rather be at the games than watching on Valley Pass, but I think they have done some good improvements with that. I know they have got [Alan] Curbishley on there sometimes and Scott Minto as well, so it is a bit like a Monday Night Football in the Premier League when you are watching that.”
As reported by the Daily Mail, the improved coverage has been extremely well-received by Addicks fans, with the club receiving the highest streaming numbers in the division – numbers that rank them among the top six Championship clubs.
“I think having the fans is a massive factor for everyone,” Pratley reveals. “I think if you ask any footballer if they can have their fans back, they would because it gives that buzz. There’s nothing better than playing in front of a crowd. People want to entertain, if they make a tackle or score a goal, they want to get cheered. We miss them as players.”
Home Discomfort
Charlton’s home form certainly indicates this.
The 3-0 loss against Blackpool condemned Lee Bowyer’s men to a fourth straight defeat in SE7, stretching their winless run at The Valley to eight games. Alarmingly, just 36.36% of the 44 points the Addicks have accumulated this season have come on home soil.
Irrespective of the side’s troubling form on the pitch, the club are in the safe hands of the ever-ambitious Sandgaard off the pitch – a sentence that will be music to the ears of Charlton fans who have endured a tumultuous time of late with owners.
