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Danish saviour draws a line in the sand under Charlton Athletic’s troubles

Luke Roberts
September 26th, 2020


This article is more than 4 years old.

Enter sandman. That was how Charlton Athletic announced the news that their fans had been waiting for. Danish businessman Thomas Sandgaard yesterday announced a successful takeover of the London club, putting an end to a string of ownership issues for the club.

It marks the start of yet another Danish chapter in the club’s history, as its former players include Claus Jensen, Dennis Rommedahl and, rather bizarrely, Allan Simonsen, who was signed from Barcelona in 1982, just five years after he was named European Footballer of the Year, when Charlton were in the second tier of English football.

“Just getting started” 
In an open letter posted on Twitter, the new owner thanked fans for their passion, perseverance and patience, promising big things to come.

The club had been in turmoil since three individuals from former owners East Street Investments failed the league’s directors’ and owners’ test.

After the first two games of the season, the club currently sit 11th in the third tier of English football, having been relegated last season. It now feels a long time since their stint in the Premier League from 2000 to 2007, and fans will be keen to turn the tide.

The news has been greeted with near universal support from Charlton fans.

Expensive hobbies
Sandgaard made his money as the founder and CEO of Zynex Inc, a multi-million dollar manufacturer of medical equipment based in the United States.

The equipment primarily helps people with addiction issues, so it is fitting that he has bought a club with the nickname ‘The Addicks’.

Now 62, he has turned his sights to new hobbies. Alongside his new football project, the Dane is a huge rock fan and he even plays guitar in a band.

Crucially, if Charlton ever find themselves in need of goals, the new owner has signalled that his preferred position is up front.

 


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”