Charlton Athletic exploring investment opportunities - The Guardian's Matt Hughes breaks story of Oakwell Sports Advisory being tasked with key role

National paper claims to have seen sales pitch sent to interested parties

The Guardian have released a story this evening claiming that Charlton Athletic are “up for sale” and that the south London club have employed the services of Oakwell Sports Advisory to find a buyer.

Matt Hughes, the paper’s global sports business correspondent, says that they have seen the sales deck sent to interested investors.

The Guardian’s piece adds that OSA have described the Addicks as “the last remaining football club upside opportunity in London”.

Hughes’ story says OSA has “little recent history of completing football transactions” but explains that they did help Bournemouth owner Bill Foley acquire Exeter Chiefs, who play in the top flight of English rugby, in the summer.

OSA’s website describes the company as a “driven team of sports-obsessed advisors with an entrepreneurial spirit. From global governing bodies to disruptive sportstech companies, we help steer our clients through their greatest opportunities and challenges. We originate pioneering investment opportunities which drive the world of sport forward.

“We provide full transaction origination and management services as well as strategic and financing advice to key stakeholders across the sports ecosystem.

“Our clients include international federations, national governing bodies, professional sports leagues, teams and franchises, service providers, as well as the full spectrum of equity and debt financing partners e.g. private equity funds, credit funds, global media companies, sports agencies, sovereign wealth funds and HNWIs (High-Net-Worth Individuals).”

Talk of Charlton’s current owners Global Football Partners exploring investment opportunities is not new.

The Athletic’s Matt Slater reported in December that the club’s US-based owners had asked merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners to find a new partner. We spoke to Slater at the time - the piece can be found here.

South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition has reached out to the club this evening to ask for comment on The Guardian’s article.

Early indications from the club have been that nothing has changed since Slater’s story about them seeking investment, except that it is now a different company doing it.

Charlton have since managed to consolidate their place in the Championship, avoiding an instant return to League One, with their women’s side promoted to the WSL, returning to the top flight for the first time since 2007, although staying there is likely to be costly.

There is also an insistence that it would be counter-intuitive for GFP not to progress the club when looking for investment, that the focus remains on driving it forward, that their spend this summer is in line with long-term planning and will see an increase in wages spent on players.

This website spoke exclusively to chairman Gavin Carter in March and asked him about The Athletic’s article.

“There is interest in investing in Charlton,” said Carter. “I said at the time there wasn’t any pressing need to do this. But looking at your capital structure and raising capital is sensible, particularly when you’ve got the strategy we have got. That process is ongoing.

“Finding the right partner is more important than the money, to be honest with you. If we had to have the money then we could have brought money into the football club. That is not the case. It is finding the right partners to build the right capital structure. That takes time.”

Carter was also asked whether GFP would be open to parting with a bigger stake.

Carter, a lifelong Charlton fan, said: “The ownership have been fantastic with us and backed our vision for the club. Our vision is to build a sustainable football club and they have been really pleased with the progress that has been made over the last few years.

“If we can find the right person to support our growth within the current structure then that is something we will consider. As a fan of the club, I’ve seen good owners, bad owners and very bad owners. It is important to me that the right people run the club and anyone we do look to bring in would need to buy into that.”

Gabriel Brener, one of GFP’s major investors, hugs Lloyd Jones after presenting the Player of the Year award in April/Picture: Paul Edwards

GFP bought the football club in July 2023. The Valley and their Sparrows Lane training ground are owned by Roland Duchatelet.

It was announced in October that the leases for both sites had been extended until 2040. The previous terms had been due to expire in January 2035.

Charlton have signed three players for transfer fees in the summer transfer window. They are believed to have paid an initial £1million for Millenic Alli, who arrived from Luton Town. Media reports in Scotland suggested Dundee received £500,000 for Billy Koumetio with Ivan Mesik joining from Heracles Almelo for an undisclosed sum.

Karlan Grant and Danny McNamara, also added to Nathan Jones’ squad, were free agents. Grant had been offered new terms by West Brom but opted for a return to SE7 while McNamara was released by Millwall at the end of last season.

Charlton spent more heavily on fees in the previous summer trading period with Charlie Kelman, Rob Apter, Harvey Knibbs and Isaac Olaofe all seven-figure transfers as they looked to strengthen their squad following League One play-off glory.

Joe Rankin-Costello transferred from Blackburn Rovers and there was further investment to bring in Collins Sichenje from Vojvodina in January, again believed to be in excess of £1million.

The Addicks have sold two players in July - academy product Karoy Anderson and Alex Mitchell to Blackpool and Plymouth respectively.

Charlton finished 19th in the Championship last season after five successive seasons in England’s third tier. They kick off their new league campaign at home against Derby County on August 15.

Main picture: Keith Gillard

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