Trust statement regarding the AHC (19 Viewers)

[SkyBlueZack]

You are unbelieveable Italia! He can give the commitment that they can help young footballers progress their careers and in turn go some way to securing the football clubs future. That a football team should be at the heart of it's community. That as a sports foundation they should be promoting all sports and doing their best to provide platforms for all people. Closing down an already existing facility which has had recent success is not the way to do it. Get your head out of Eastwoods arse!

 

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[italiahorse]

You are unbelieveable Italia! He can give the commitment that they can help young footballers progress their careers and in turn go some way to securing the football clubs future. That a football team should be at the heart of it's community. That as a sports foundation they should be promoting all sports and doing their best to provide platforms for all people. Closing down an already existing facility which has had recent success is not the way to do it. Get your head out of Eastwoods arse!

Agree with the principle, but for a long term future it has to be run cost effectively.
If one of the main occupiers of the site can't give long term commitment then it will effect the plans.
After all Sisu have a history of pulling out of facilities to force an issue.

 

[Nick]

Agree with the principle, but for a long term future it has to be run cost effectively.
If one of the main occupiers of the site can't give long term commitment then it will effect the plans.
After all Sisu have a history of pulling out of facilities to force an issue.

It is the club saying they want to commit long term isn't it???

 

[SkyBlueZack]

How much do you think it costs to have the academy there? More than it would to have a swimming pool? An Olympic sized one? Would it be more expensive to have a whole Rugby training base there? Wasps wanted a sponsor for the training ground so they didn't have to pay for it? Does that mean the centre will be renamed? Or is it Higgs sponsoring it?

 

[SkyBlueZack]

It is the club saying they want to commit long term isn't it???

Yeah but SISU will pull us out when they want and suits them. They have previous for it. Contracts stand for nothing with them. Fisher said he wants an out of town stadium with academy on same site.

 

[Grendel]

Agree with the principle, but for a long term future it has to be run cost effectively.
If one of the main occupiers of the site can't give long term commitment then it will effect the plans.
After all Sisu have a history of pulling out of facilities to force an issue.

That's odd. It's always been a one year rolling contract hasn't it which both parties agreed to? Why is there a beef for something that wasn't needed before?

Worms turning on this issue isn't it?

Also if wasps use the site can you tell me what they are paying?

Also regarding the Acadamy if it was a long term deal what benefit does the centre get? As a charity I suspect it received nothing.

I suspect this is a desperate tactic and now you are on your own I would start to get desperate if I were you.

 

[italiahorse]

As a matter of interest where was it said the the indoor would be used for the swimming pool ?

 

[SkyBlueZack]

This appears to be the only thing all fans agree on but Italia. It is a bit odd. Fans are calling for all sides to sort the mess out yet Italia is still blaming SISU

 

[chiefdave]

Was just looking for some figures and saw this from back in March in the CT

Secret talks over a 50-metre pool at the Allard Way site have been going on for months led by Coventry council leader Ann Lucas

I don't really get why they're closing the current pool unless I'm missing something. Its reported that running costs are £2K a day. That's £730K a year. Sounds a lot but its a big old place. So to 'save money' they are closing it and building a new £36m facility in the city centre, but that does't have the pool so they also need that at £14m plus (interesting the council say £6m needs to be raised, who is paying the rest?).

So that's a minimum of £50m not including ongoing running costs. Enough to keep the current centre open for 68.5 years.

 

[italiahorse]

That's odd. It's always been a one year rolling contract hasn't it which both parties agreed to? Why is there a beef for something that wasn't needed before?

Worms turning on this issue isn't it?

Also if wasps use the site can you tell me what they are paying?

Also regarding the Acadamy if it was a long term deal what benefit does the centre get? As a charity I suspect it received nothing.

I suspect this is a desperate tactic and now you are on your own I would start to get desperate if I were you.

I have not got a clue what you are rambling on about. Half of that is asking for details on a supposition. You really are a tool.
I'm just trying to put over why the academy is at risk.
I'm not saying I don't want it i'm trying to be pragmatic on it.
Some of you are saying things should be given to us on a plate but things don't work that way.
I'm still hopeful that CCFC/SISU commit long term to enable the centre to plan for everybody.
Surely if SIU?CCFC put there money where there mouth is the swimming pool could be built outside where the netball courts are.
Not sure where Wasps fit in at the moment but I would assume they will be charged as everybody else.
I would guess that the Wasps training facility would be the other side of the sight.
A little bit of planning and it could work for everybody.

 

[chiefdave]

I'm just trying to put over why the academy is at risk.

The club say they want to stay long term. Isn't that the only thing that's important?

 

[Nick]

I have not got a clue what you are rambling on about. Half of that is asking for details on a supposition. You really are a tool.
I'm just trying to put over why the academy is at risk.
I'm not saying I don't want it i'm trying to be pragmatic on it.
Some of you are saying things should be given to us on a plate but things don't work that way.
I'm still hopeful that CCFC/SISU commit long term to enable the centre to plan for everybody.
Surely if SIU?CCFC put there money where there mouth is the swimming pool could be built outside where the netball courts are.
Not sure where Wasps fit in at the moment but I would assume they will be charged as everybody else.
I would guess that the Wasps training facility would be the other side of the sight.
A little bit of planning and it could work for everybody.

Money where their mouth is for what?

 

[Kingokings204]

Was just looking for some figures and saw this from back in March in the CT

I don't really get why they're closing the current pool unless I'm missing something. Its reported that running costs are £2K a day. That's £730K a year. Sounds a lot but its a big old place. So to 'save money' they are closing it and building a new £36m facility in the city centre, but that does't have the pool so they also need that at £14m plus (interesting the council say £6m needs to be raised, who is paying the rest?).

So that's a minimum of £50m not including ongoing running costs. Enough to keep the current centre open for 68.5 years.

Haven't they said it was losing 2k a day. Every swimming pool looses money. It's well known fact which is a big reason for budget gyms like pure gym rising so fast. They don't build pools for their gyms because they cost a fortune and don't make any money. Sorry to bore everyone but worked in gyms all my life. Pure gym, simply gym and easy gym and JD gym all fast rising and cheap because of no pool and jacuzzis.

I think the one in town is old and run down I think we can all accept that. Plus where are all these students going to live?

 

[italiahorse]

This appears to be the only thing all fans agree on but Italia. It is a bit odd. Fans are calling for all sides to sort the mess out yet Italia is still blaming SISU

No I'm saying that CCFC need to commit long term to start the process off for everybody.
The centre are saying that CCFC are looking elsewhere, I quote from last week
The last sentence is crucial, but indicates no clear intention by the club.

Paul Breed, chief executive of the Coventry Sport Foundation, said: “Coventry City’s current legal agreement for its Academy to be based at the Higgs Centre expires in June 2017.

“It is no secret that Coventry City have been looking to base all their playing operations at a purpose-built complex in the Coventry area and therefore move away from the Higgs Centre and had told us in meetings they would therefore be unable to commit to a long term future, which is completely understandable.

“Obviously we have to bear that ambition in mind when making our own plans for the centre.

“Recently the club has informed us their intentions might change, and we are exploring options.”

 

[Nick]

No I'm saying that CCFC need to commit long term to start the process off for everybody.
The centre are saying that CCFC are looking elsewhere, I quote from last week
The last sentence is crucial, but indicates no clear intention by the club.

Paul Breed, chief executive of the Coventry Sport Foundation, said: “Coventry City’s current legal agreement for its Academy to be based at the Higgs Centre expires in June 2017.

“It is no secret that Coventry City have been looking to base all their playing operations at a purpose-built complex in the Coventry area and therefore move away from the Higgs Centre and had told us in meetings they would therefore be unable to commit to a long term future, which is completely understandable.

“Obviously we have to bear that ambition in mind when making our own plans for the centre.

“Recently the club has informed us their intentions might change, and we are exploring options.”

Strange how they didn't mention anything about the pool or wasps? Don't you think that article was just about pr?

Do you really think the club are looking elsewhere? Where on earth else can it go?

That article was just for people like ccfcway who will keep bringing up links from 3 years ago when Fisher was on about it.

Exploring options is worlds apart from pretty much a done deal, hence they didn't mention it.

The club said directly they are trying, but it's a done deal with wasps and the pool. The same as what other sources have said.

People on here saying months ago about the seven Trent land, no mention of it.

 

[italiahorse]

Money where their mouth is for what?

I assume they pay for the use of the facilities.
They need to do it for longer than a 12 month rolling deal.

 

[Nick]

I assume they pay for the use of the facilities.
They need to do it for longer than a 12 month rolling deal.

What was the contract before?

 

[italiahorse]

Strange how they didn't mention anything about the pool or wasps? Don't you think that article was just about pr?

Do you really think the club are looking elsewhere? Where on earth else can it go?

That article was just for people like ccfcway who will keep bringing up links from 3 years ago when Fisher was on about it.

Exploring options is worlds apart from pretty much a done deal, hence they didn't mention it.

There not my words there Paul Breeds. It was last week.
Are Wasps really involved yet ? Is the pool really inside ?
What actually does the club want ?
Why will they only give a 'airy fairy' statement, it does not help the situation.

 

[Calista]

A massively important issue that has to be resolved asap. Completely agree with the Trust’s statement, and the questions raised by ChiefDave at post #28 and Grendel at #30. Quite apart from the Ricoh fiasco, if CCFC’s Academy is under threat the motives and actions of all parties have to be clearly brought into the open now.

I’m totally sick of all this cloak-and-dagger crap tbh, and I can’t even bring myself to read most of the stuff on the forum lately. The naïve part of me keeps thinking that the only sensible outcome in the long run is for two top sports clubs to make joint use of world-class facilities in the city – stadium complex, hotel, events, training facilities, swimming pools, you name it. Both are up to their eyeballs in debt, directly or indirectly, and IMO neither club is big enough on its own to make it all work (although CCFC might have been if we had played our cards right).

But the long run could be 10 years away for all I know, and in the meantime we have to keep putting up with all this shite.

 

[italiahorse]

What was the contract before?

Inadequate for planning a long term investment ?

 

[stupot07]

There not my words there Paul Breeds. It was last week.
Are Wasps really involved yet ? Is the pool really inside ?
What actually does the club want ?
Why will they only give a 'airy fairy' statement, it does not help the situation.

That's PR by Paul Breed, the wasps and the swimming pool are pretty much a done deals. They know the hatred for sisu and the club so its easy to lay the "door is open" line and will then lay the blame at the club when the inevitable happens. They'll get off relatively lightly while everyone blames the club.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Nick]

Inadequate for planning a long term investment ?

But only an issue now?

 

[skybluetony176]

I think the first step for the trust is to make some noise, put on a show and make sure everyone in the city knows about this wether they follow the sky blue's or not.

Something like another March would be a good start but bigger. Thinking of something like a rolling road block of CCFC fans in cars flying scarves, flags etc. starting at the Ricoh, going via the council house ending at the Higgs centre. Bring the City to a standstill one Saturday morning. That will be hard to ignore and should get plenty of media attention. Needs to be neutral from the point of view that any media coverage is used to show our support of the academy and the importance to the club and the City as a whole.

How about another sky blue ribbon protest centred on the area around the Higgs centre. Let's claim it as ours, a community asset important to the local football club and crucial to local kids not being poached by Leicester, Villa etc. Let the City retain its kid's and the local community benefit from it.

Just a couple of idea's, might be stupid ideas but they are ideas nonetheless.

 

[chiefdave]

Haven't they said it was losing 2k a day. Every swimming pool looses money.

In 2014, councillors voted unanimously to close that site down citing running costs of £2,000 a day.

So from what you are saying, on top of the millions being spent being being enough to keep the current centre open for nearly 70 years there's no way either of the two new pools will break even so even more money has to be factored in.

 

[chiefdave]

I think the one in town is old and run down I think we can all accept that. Plus where are all these students going to live?

Not there, its a listed building and can't be knocked down! The elephant is going though which is a bit of a shame.

 

[Nick]

I think the first step for the trust is to make some noise, put on a show and make sure everyone in the city knows about this wether they follow the sky blue's or not.

Something like another March would be a good start but bigger. Thinking of something like a rolling road block of CCFC fans in cars flying scarves, flags etc. starting at the Ricoh, going via the council house ending at the Higgs centre. Bring the City to a standstill one Saturday morning. That will be hard to ignore and should get plenty of media attention. Needs to be neutral from the point of view that any media coverage is used to show our support of the academy and the importance to the club and the City as a whole.

How about another sky blue ribbon protest centred on the area around the Higgs centre. Let's claim it as ours, a community asset important to the local football club and crucial to local kids not being poached by Leicester, Villa etc. Let the City retain its kid's and the local community benefit from it.

Just a couple of idea's, might be stupid ideas but they are ideas nonetheless.

I agree, the other thing is letting people know what's actually going on without the pr spin from anybody.

If it is actually the club, hammer them. If it's higgs and wasps then go to town on them.

 

[chiefdave]

“It is no secret that Coventry City have been looking to base all their playing operations at a purpose-built complex in the Coventry area and therefore move away from the Higgs Centre and had told us in meetings they would therefore be unable to commit to a long term future, which is completely understandable.

We’ve consistently said to them we would like to remain there. They have not been very engaging with us.

I’ve not seen any evidence that the football club has ever indicated to the Coventry Sports Foundation that they would not want to stay there for the long term.

“It feels like they’ve decided we’re not part of their plans.”

 

[chiefdave]

If it is actually the club, hammer them. If it's higgs and wasps then go to town on them.

Exactly, get the questions asked and don't let anyone wriggle out of answering. Then we know exactly where we stand.
This is seems very similar to how the Wasps deal was done which worries me. By the time we'd found out about that it was all a done deal despite what was being claimed about it still being available to us.

 

[Nick]

Exactly, if the Coventry city public only have the telegraphs word the higgs are there with red carpet out for the club giving them a head rub as well.

The spin doesn't help

 

[chiefdave]

Will be interesting to see how much coverage the local media give the trust on this.

 

[Nick]

Exactly, get the questions asked and don't let anyone wriggle out of answering. Then we know exactly where we stand.
This is seems very similar to how the Wasps deal was done which worries me. By the time we'd found out about that it was all a done deal despite what was being claimed about it still being available to us.

The higgs statement was very much like that one from acl saying come and buy our shares knowing full well it wouldn't happen.

Take a look at that land that wasps have reportedly bought by the higgs, it took nagging and stuff for the telegraph to look into it. Both sides said no comment, it got left.

If that was the club, the foi department would be in over time.

 

[Nick]

Will be interesting to see how much coverage the local media give the trust on this.

All sides should give then lots, it's straight down the line wanting to sort it. It isn't an anti sisu rant etc

It's something everybody can get behind

 

[fernandopartridge]

You are unbelieveable Italia! He can give the commitment that they can help young footballers progress their careers and in turn go some way to securing the football clubs future. That a football team should be at the heart of it's community. That as a sports foundation they should be promoting all sports and doing their best to provide platforms for all people. Closing down an already existing facility which has had recent success is not the way to do it. Get your head out of Eastwoods arse!

Italia is a mixed up beduff simpleton.

 

[chiefdave]

All sides should give then lots, it's straight down the line wanting to sort it. It isn't an anti sisu rant etc

It's something everybody can get behind

And they are straightforward questions for someone like Simon to get asked, would probably get a quicker response than the Trust. He's clearly in contact with a lot of those involved so just get on the phone and ask the questions. Most of the things that need answering are simple yes or no questions.

 

[Nick]

And they are straightforward questions for someone like Simon to get asked, would probably get a quicker response than the Trust. He's clearly in contact with a lot of those involved so just get on the phone and ask the questions. Most of the things that need answering are simple yes or no questions.

If wasps and the pool happen, is it physically possible for ccfc to be there?

I think that one would sort a lot.