Former Liverpool forward and radio host Stan Collymore has applauded Charlton fans for forming vocal protests at the Valley today.

A significant number of supporters gathered before and after the Championship clash with Nottingham Forest to vent their frustration at owner Roland Duchatelet and how the club is being run.

Anti-Duchatelet chants were sung and banners were held reading: “We want our Charlton back”.

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Collymore, who played over 50 games for Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, said on his talkSPORT show: “I think it’s a disgrace what’s happened at your club and I applaud you for protesting against the current regime – I hope it happens at Aston Villa soon.

“The potential of the club is huge but what’s happening right now isn’t right.”

Several Charlton supporters contributed to Collymore’s show, with John from Exeter claiming that chief executive Katrien Meire was one of the main problems at the club.

The supporter, who attended today’s protests, claimed: “The chief executive is one of the main problems I think, Roland never attends game but Katrien has got to take a lot of responsibility.

“She seems to totally misunderstand Charlton supporters. When we call Charlton ‘our club’, we’re not saying we own the club, clearly we don’t.

“But she seems to think that the owners have entire rights to do what they like.

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“She has called them not supporters but customers at times and in a recent interview seemed to attack the fans.

“We have a great attachment to the club and I think it is an insult to be called a customer when I have a deep attachment, but she seemingly has no understanding of this.”

Collymore, who has asked Charlton fans to raise their concerns on his show several times this season, responded: “I complete agree with you and long may the protests at Charlton continue.

“It sounds similar to Bolton, Blackpool, Aston Villa. It sounds like money talk rather than engagement with the fans who are the life blood of every club.

“Do not think that you, as a supporter, do not have power, you do. It’s just about how you exercise it.”