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Charlton set to become first Australian owned club

Charlton Athletic is set to become the first Australian owned club in Britain. A takeover is imminent according to fanzine Voice of the Valley, and an Australian consortium that has been interested in the club for some time look like the most likely buyers. As revealed in the fanzine, this involves businessman Andrew Muir, former owner of the Good Guys retail chain who has considerable funds at his disposal.

Ramsgate fan Rick Everitt who edits the fanzine reveals, 'Voice of The Valley has been told by multiple independent and well-placed sources that due diligence on a potential sale has been taking place – and today that a deal could even go through before the end of the next week.'

VOTV understands that the deal would now include the acquisition of Charlton Athletic Holdings Limited, the entity that owns The Valley and Sparrows Lane, as well the football club itself. Suggestions to the contrary were a source of concern to some fans following the initial report.

Details remain sketchy and the timeline changeable, but the deal has been brokered by the Everton director Keith Harris.

There had been rumours of interest from China. My view is that a Chinese takeover is unlikely at this time as the Communist Party Congress is still in session in Beijing and there will be no green light for new takeovers until its business is completed.

Attendances at the club have slumped under unpopular Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet, but there is an opportunity for them to revive, particularly as the club is now in the play off places in League One. Fans have campaigned vigorously against Duchatelet, including staging a number of protests in Belgium. On one occasion, Duchatelet was eating lunch in a restaurant in his home town when Charlton paraded past the window carrying a big 'Roland Out' banner.

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