What is Norman Smurthwaite's angle? (9 Viewers)

[Captain Dart]

He has been very vocal in the Coventry Telegraph in the last week. Does he want to buy the club when SISU go? The most recent article is frightening and alludes to SISU selling Ryton, I think that is the bad news Fisher hinted at.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/coventry-city-owners-sisu-sell-11973299
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/coventry-citys-future-lies-ricoh-11973780
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/sisu-tiring-coventry-city-says-11984513

 

---

[Nick]

I think it's more that a conversation is being dragged over as many articles as possible.

He is a member on here I think, PM him

 

[hill83]

5 things we learned

 

[Nick]

Norman Smurthwaite has had a makeover, you will never guess how he looks now!!!*

*He has a different top on.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

I don't think there's any angle. It was a candid chat with another L1 chairman.

 

[hill83]

It's been a good read

 

[hill83]

to be fair

 

[Moff]

Smurthwaites angle is that the Telegraph need a City news story, they cant speak to the club, so choose to speak to a CCFC fan from another club. Can they drag it out until our next game?

Smurthwaites favourite 5 CCFC V Port Vale Games
Smurthwaites favourite 5 CCFC V Port Vale Goals
Smurthwaites favourite 5 CCFC V Port Vale passes
Smurthwaites favourite 5 CCFC V Port Vale line ups
Smurthwaites favourite 5 CCFC V Port Vale fan in the crowd pictures etc etc etc

 

[hill83]

how many parts can they drag it

 

[hill83]

out into though?

 

[Moff]

out into though?

Their five favourite?

 

[SkyBlueRuffian]

He has discussed in detail to how SISU could sell the club, for how much and how the deal could be structured. Which includes attracting a certain number of bums on seats, getting promoted to the championship and using the bonuses received as a final payment to SISU as part of the sale.

Smurthwaiye is looking to sell Port Vale which he says are in a better position to what they were in 4 years ago.

It could be wishful thinking but it strikes me that he may be fishing for a deal with SISU?

 

[oldskyblue58]

Am I the only one that thinks an owner of another club should concentrate on his club not be passing comments on a competitor in this manner.

Selling Ryton gives ARVO money yes but leaves a professional club with nowhere to train. Ryton will be sold and ARVO will benefit in my opinion

In my opinion you would have to be daft to buy the shares of SBS&L or Otium, or to agree to taking on any of the debt accumulated. You only need the "assets" and the cash flow to cover the "football debts". Doesn't add up to much. Last time all the assets were bought it added up to £1.5m including Ryton and the rights to a rates refund

 

[clint van damme]

He has discussed in detail to how SISU could sell the club, for how much and how the deal could be structured. Which includes attracting a certain number of bums on seats, getting promoted to the championship and using the bonuses received as a final payment to SISU as part of the sale.

Smurthwaiye is looking to sell Port Vale which he says are in a better position to what they were in 4 years ago.

It could be wishful thinking but it strikes me that he may be fishing for a deal with SISU?

had crossed my mind. Especially with him putting a value on the club.

 

[robbiethemole]

maybe Norm will be getting a solicitors letter from SISU accusing him of interfering with their plans, and demanding compensation for loss of income by demoralising City fans even further.

 

[rupert_bear]

There is apparently a consortium of local business men waiting to move in once sisu give the nod, Smurfthwaite is a local business man, city fan and experienced football club owner, why not ?

 

[clint van damme]

There is apparently a consortium of local business men waiting to move in once sisu give the nod, Smurfthwaite is a local business man, city fan and experienced football club owner, why not ?

wouldn't he have to sell Vale first though?

 

[Esoterica]

had crossed my mind. Especially with him putting a value on the club.

I'd have expected him to value it even lower than he did if that was the case!

 

[Otis]

What's his angle?

Somewhere around 270° I believe.

 

[Deleted member 2477]

Have sisu explained what their plans are for ccfc re a training ground if and when they sell ryton or is it another example of sisu being found out and refusing to talk to the fans as they take us for a ride

 

[Frankley]

Selling Ryton gives ARVO money yes but leaves a professional club with nowhere to train.

I was wondering about training grounds at the level we now find ourselves at.

I know that when they were in the top flight Wimbledon used to train in a local park and Brighton used to train at Sussex University. I recall that in Keith Houchen's book ('A tenner and a box of kippers') he says neither Hartlepool (4th tier) or Leyton Orient (3rd tier) had training grounds when he played there.

Does anyone know how many League 1 clubs own their own training ground?

 

[Frankley]

There is apparently a consortium of local business men waiting to move in once sisu give the nod, Smurfthwaite is a local business man, city fan and experienced football club owner, why not ?

Be careful what you wish for:

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port...ted-rob-page/story-29395908-detail/story.html

 

[rupert_bear]

Probably not many and there may be plenty of alternatives about 2 universities and the Allard Way site which could be developed, sisu been told they can't sell until they identify another site let's see how adamant Rugby council will be on that one.

 

[Deleted member 2477]

If thats the case it just shows that sisu have no ambition or plans to get this club out of the lower leagues. What quality of player will we attract with a training ground at the local park
No doubt there will be more white elephant crap spouted about building a new one.

This just confirms for me sisu are asset stripping the club to the bone, minimal outlay to keep us ticking over until theyve exhausted all legal battles and asset stripped then walking away leaving us in the shit. They have no intention or ambition to get us out this league and im sure league 2 would suit them even more

 

[Nick]

If thats the case it just shows that sisu have no ambition or plans to get this club out of the lower leagues. What quality of player will we attract with a training ground at the local park
No doubt there will be more white elephant crap spouted about building a new one.

This just confirms for me sisu are asset stripping the club to the bone, minimal outlay to keep us ticking over until theyve exhausted all legal battles and asset stripped then walking away leaving us in the shit. They have no intention or ambition to get us out this league and im sure league 2 would suit them even more

It is all well and good having your opinion, but you just keep posting the same things over and over on every thread.

 

[Frankley]

What quality of player will we attract with a training ground at the local park

I don't think anyone is suggesting the cub is going to train at the local park, I just wondered how many third tier clubs actually owned their own training ground.

Anyway, let's not forget Wimbledon attracted a whole string of quality players when they were training at the local park. Dave Beasant, Terry Phelan, Vinne Jones, Dennis Wise, Terry Gibson, Laurie Cunningham and John Fashanu were all 'park trainers'.

 

[Skybluefaz]

Smurfs comments meet the current narrative of the telegraph don't they so I guess they'll milk him for all he's worth.

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

It is all well and good having your opinion, but you just keep posting the same things over and over on every thread.

Nick. Does the truth hurt you or what?

 

[MusicDating]

To be honest, once any poster starts ranting about the same old thing again and again, I just scroll past their post.

 

[Deleted member 2477]

The same things nick like you defending our owners every time someone speaks the truth or dares to criticise them

 

[Nick]

Nick. Does the truth hurt you or what?

Not particularly, but when it is in every thread over and over again whether it is related to the rant or not it just gets a bit aimless and loses the meaning doesn't it?

 

[MusicDating]

Sounds like the Smurf and SISU would get on well!...

"In October 2013 Smurthwaite controversially banned local newspaper The Sentinel from all press events"

And a load of other stuff on his wiki entry - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Smurthwaite

 

[Nick]

The same things nick like you defending our owners every time someone speaks the truth or dares to criticise them

Yawn. Is it defending them just to point out you are doing the same rants over and over again in threads that aren't even related?

 

[shmmeee]

Their five favourite?

You forgot the photo gallery of the interview, the fans reaction on Twitter to the interview, Booby Gould/John Sillets reaction to the fan reaction, fans reaction to Goulds reaction to their reaction and Andy Turner's video diary about the reaction to the reaction to the reaction.

 

[Nick]

You forgot the photo gallery of the interview, the fans reaction on Twitter to the interview, Booby Gould/John Sillets reaction to the fan reaction, fans reaction to Goulds reaction to their reaction and Andy Turner's video diary about the reaction to the reaction to the reaction.

Got to love the selfie stick in the garden video