Door still ajar for threatened women's team
Charlton confirmed on Tuesday that the club had instigated the immediate closure of the women's set-up - but revealed a last-ditch rescue package was also being discussed with a potential sponsor.
Responding to vociferous criticism at the decision, which was reported in the media over the weekend, Addicks chief executive Peter Varney said relegation from the Premiership and consequent budget cuts had left the club with no other option.
But he also maintained there was still a chink of light for the future of the women's set-up, as discussions continued regarding a dramatic 11th-hour reprieve.
"We have started discussions with a potential sponsor, and that's the reason no formal announcement has been made until now,” said Varney.
The planned closure encompasses the female first team which, having been founded in 2000, was a member of the women's Premier League National Division and lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 2005, plus the girl's academy and centre of excellence.
And following a series of reports in the media since Saturday, many fans have contacted the club to express their disappointment in the decision and desire to see it overturned.
Chief among supporters' complaints has been a lack of communication by the club but, as Varney explained, Charlton have been forced to follow a legally established process - while continuing to attempt to find a way of saving the female set-up.
"I know people have been frustrated that the club has not issued any kind of statement until now, but we are not always governed by what we want to do,” he said.
"We have to follow a stepped, agreed consultation process, and having told staff about our plans our job is then to manage the consequences. If staff then choose to go directly to the media having been asked not to do so, there is very little we can do to manage the situation.
"One of the questions I keep getting asked is why the players weren't told the news first, but my primary responsibility is to the staff at threat of losing their jobs.
"Over the past month we have been consulting and trying to find a way to avoid the closure. If we had found a successful resolution, the women' set-up would have continued to operate, so there would be no need to involve the team or players.”
He added: "As a result of our relegation to the Football League we have had to implement a significant level of cuts across all areas of the football club.
"Against a background of reduced budgets and a dramatic decrease in TV income, I must stress this just does not affect the women's set-up, so there is no question of them being singled out.
"The process affects every department of the club. No section has been untouched. Staff have been made redundant in other areas, and others have had to agree to salary reductions, and that has to be managed as well.
"It has been a difficult time for all of us at the club but we now have a budget that reflects the significant loss of revenue through relegation.”
In 2006/07, when the Addicks finished third in the top flight and were runners-up to quadruple winners Arsenal in the FA Cup final, the budget for the women's set-up was £306,000.
"After very careful consideration we decided we could no longer operate to that level,” said Varney.
"No sponsorship or television revenues are received from the Football Association and none appear likely in the immediate future, and therefore the ability to attract sponsorship for the women's section is very limited as any potential sponsor has limited exposure.
"What a sponsor wants is exposure on television and, apart from the FA Cup final, women's football has no great exposure and can therefore create no brand awareness. This is a problem by no means unique to Charlton.
"In addition very few Charlton supporters watch the first-team matches in particular, and therefore gate revenues are minimal.”
Peter added: "We examined the potential for continuing to operate to a lower cost base, but the minimum the whole operation could be run on was £100,000 and there was no certainty surrounding this figure.
"We also looked at absorbing aspects of the women's section into the Charlton Athletic Community Trust, but this proved impossible to achieve.”
On the subject of the club's community work, fans have complained that the decision damages the club's hard-earned fine reputation as an important part of its surrounding area.
But Peter said: "I understand this point but would argue that we still see tens of thousands of children on our community programme throughout the South East, both boys and girls.
"Because this is funded differently this community work remains untouched by these cuts, but when you have been relegated and you have such a drop in income, tough decisions have to be taken.
"Ultimately, the club's main priority now is to do everything within our power to enhance our opportunity to regain our Premiership status. Everything else has to be scrutinised to the last penny.”
Charlton plc vice chairman Robert Whitehand, who chaired the women's football section, said: "It is sad that we are to lose the women's section and I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to build it up for their efforts in recent years, in particular women's and girls' football general manager Deb Browne, team manager Keith Boanas and of course the players.
"I would urge the FA to again look at the level of funding for the women's game in this country, or I envisage more clubs having to take the same drastic action as we have.”
Charlton were formed in 2000 when Croydon, who had won the league title and lifted the FA Cup the previous season, came under the umbrella of the Addicks.
Among the trophies won by the women's set-up were the Premier League Cup in 2004 and 2006, and the FA Cup in 2005, when an Eniola Aluko goal gave the Addicks a 1-0 victory over Everton at West Ham United's Upton Park.
One of the stars of the female football world, England international Aluko has recently been joined in the national team on a regular basis by Charlton skipper Casey Stoney and Josanne Fletcher ahead of the World Cup in China in September, with several other players representing their country at youth level.
The club will make a further statement on the women's set-up as the discussions with a potential sponsor and saviour continue.
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