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Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) that is spending £1 billion to resurrect the Millennium Done which can be seen from Charlton's home at The Valley has emerged as a possible bidder for the Premiership club. AEG has expressed an interest in buying a Premiership club as it expands into Europe. Chief executive Tim Leweike is a part-time Londoner who 'has a lot of respect for Charlton'. AEG is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Corporation which owns the London Arena. It is a major sports investor in the United States with three MSL soccer franchises: Los Angles Galaxy, Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids. Philip Anschutz made his money in oil and then in laying fibre optic cables along railroads he owns. His net worth is $5.1 billion compared with $3 billion with Roman Abramovich. The principal shareholder in Charlton at present is Richard Murray, along with the Murray family trusts. The club has plans to expand the present stadium capacity from just over 27,000 to 40,000 which could be funded by an outside cash injection. Whether this interest will lead to an offer, though, remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic plc recorded an operating loss of £500,000 and a net loss of £1.7m in the six months to 31 December 2004. Turnover at £19.5m was eight per cent down on the comparable period in 2003. This was largely due to an anticipated fall in broadcasting revenues. Of somewhat greater concern was the increase in personnel costs which now represent 73 per cent of turnover. This is well above the recommended level of 50 per cent. Charlton chairman Richard Murray expressed concerns that an over exposure of football on television would almost certainly lead to a decline in match attendances. The Premiership shares his concern about the number of matches shown, but argues that its hands are tied by European competition law.
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