There is a hum of optimism among fans with prospective owners ESI hoping to complete a takeover before Christmas
The last time Charlton Athletic played Huddersfield Town and Hull City in the same week, they ended up reimbursing supporters’ travel costs following a 5-0 shellacking only to get hit for six five days later. That 11-0 aggregate defeat almost four years ago followed a nine-match winless streak, including a meek surrender to Colchester United, then bottom of League One, in the FA Cup third round. Charlton were drowning in the Championship at a time when the arrival of new, and usually obscure, out-of-work managers marked the changing of the seasons. In the midst of the despised Roland Duchâtelet’s reign, those were some of the darkest days in the club’s history.
That reign is almost over. East Street Investments (ESI) will complete a takeover worth more than £50m, ending Duchâtelet’s parsimonious five-year tenure as owner, providing they satisfy the EFL’s owners’ and directors’ test. The league is yet to arrange personal interviews with the relevant individuals but both parties are relaxed that the process is advancing within the accepted timeframe of four weeks. ESI is hopeful the deal will be concluded before Christmas.
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