H.E. Tahnoon: "It is an adventure I want to last for many years."

His Excellency Tahnoon Nimer, wrote his first column as director and majority shareholder of Charlton Athletic in last Saturday's Valley Review.

Read what he had to say, in full, in the column below...

It is with true pleasure that I write these notes following the successful takeover of Charlton Athletic by East Street Investments. Even now, more than a week later, those words are just as exciting to me.

When I was first approached with this opportunity, I treated it like any other potential business investment. Myself and my team did our research, we looked at the business angles and prepared both a short and long-term strategy.

But what became clear very quickly was that, while the business model may be similar to other investments I have made over the years, the emotions are so very different.

With any football club, you realise that you are never talking about cold, hard facts or the bottom line of a transaction, you are dealing with the very heart and soul of a community. And with Charlton, it became very obvious what that means.

I do not claim to be an expert on English football history but I have read everything I can about the club. The first to have fan representation on the board. The fight to get back to The Valley driven by supporters who sacrificed so much and the leading role the club has played in so many different areas of local life.

As owners, we have to embrace that feeling. The times I spoke to Matt Southall after he had been to matches and met with fans helped me believe we can make a difference to Charlton Athletic with a sensible business plan and a determination to strengthen the whole football club.

I am more excited by this latest venture than I have been about anything else for a long time. Sport stirs passion and football stirs those passions more than any other sport in the world. To play just a small part in that is inspiring.

More than anything, I am anxious to experience the atmosphere at The Valley for myself. As some of you may have seen from my social media, I travel a lot and find myself in many different countries on business.

But at the earliest opportunity, I will be in London to watch a game and to hopefully meet as many of you as possible.

This is an adventure for me and for East Street Investments. It is an adventure I want to last for many years.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you very soon.

His Excellency Tahnoon Nimer


The matchday programme for the visit of West Bromwich Albion was a takeover special and the best-selling of the season, so far. Supporters who missed out on picking up their copy can purchase online by clicking here.

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