Charlton Executive Chairman, Matt Southall, issued ‎ the following statement on the club’s website just before midnight on Monday:

I want to let Charlton fans know and understand what is happening before rumours and speculation run completely out of control.

On Monday, Tahnoon Nimer sent an incredibly damaging letter on behalf of Panorama Magic General Contracting LLC to members of the club’s Senior Management Team. In the letter, he made allegations about me and my conduct, which my lawyers immediately rebutted. 

It has been brought to my attention that he has repeated and, indeed, expanded upon the malicious falsehoods made in the initial letter. As a consequence, I will now be meeting with my lawyers to discuss an action for defamation. However, my immediate priority is to protect the club and its staff from these damaging statements. 

Also contained in that letter were claims he had appointed a Chief Executive Officer, an action that I am advised by the club’s lawyers would be outside the parameters of Panorama’s influence. Even more worryingly, the letter also threatened members of the senior management team with legal action if they did not comply with his demands. This is completely unacceptable and detrimental to the morale of such a loyal and dedicated staff and the smooth running of the football club.

One of the claims in the letter was that ‘disadvantageous contracts’ had been authorised by me. I can only conclude that the majority shareholder disagreed with my decision to give Lee Bowyer a new contract on the terms agreed as that is the only major contract signed in my time as Executive Chairman.

For the avoidance of doubt, both Jonathan Heller and I have passed the EFL’s Owners and Directors Test. However, the majority shareholder has yet to satisfy the EFL in respect of the source of his funds, despite numerous requests made by the EFL and a number of deadlines that have been ignored by him. 

This failure obviously limited our ability to deal in the transfer window although I liaised closely with the EFL and made sure they were aware of every deal we were planning so that they could be sanctioned appropriately. I continue to be in close contact with the EFL who are also aware of the dispute between me and the majority shareholder.

It is a crucial time of the season and it would seem appropriate that all the stakeholders direct their efforts in support of the team and the club. Therefore, it is disappointing that the majority shareholder should act in such a manner and be attempting to purchase Dinamo Bucharest to the point where he posted a picture of himself in Romania during Saturday’s fixture. 

The Board and the Senior Management Team are determined that Charlton Athletic be run in a sensible, responsible and sustainable manner but this is being made very difficult by the majority shareholder’s actions and his failure to provide either the necessary satisfaction to the EFL or the funds that he has consistently promised to invest. To date, not a single penny of the promised funds has been provided. 

The Board will continue to make decisions in the best interests of club, its fans, its players and its staff with the full support of the dedicated and loyal senior management team 

We look forward to a successful conclusion to the season.

– Matt Southall

The statement is a response to a post on one of Tahnoon Nimer’s social media accounts.

Nimer claimed he had discovered the club’s resources had been used in a “wrong and immoral manner”. Nimer has withdrawn his backing of the club and wished Charlton fans “all the best”.

There were a number of stories circulating over the weekend concerning the club.

Nimer is trying to buy Dinamo Bucharest, and his accusation of misuse of money may be linked to the rumours of the purchase of a number of Land Rovers. 

Certainly there was a new one in a prominent position in the front row of the West Stand car park on Saturday.

The takeover seemed to drag on interminably, Southall’s statement explains why. What is diffucult to understand is how the EFL sanctioned the deal.

Administration looks inevitable. Dependant on timescales and what happens during the last nine games of the season, the Addicks may kick-off next season in League One with a 12 point deduction.

Charlton’s beleaguered fans – as well as the club’s loyal staff – deserve better than this. Over the years, they have had to suffer more than their fair share of heartache.

Just when they thought the club had a bright and exciting future, it’s very existence could again be in doubt.

Hopefully, the situation can be resolved, but right now things are in a real mess. 

Just how bad the situation is should become clearer over the next few hours and days.