Is Silence Golden ? (16 Viewers)

[rupert_bear]

Not heard a peep this week about possible takeover or takeovers even. We had two murmurings last week, Gary Hoffman and the Australians. I ask this because today, well that's yesterday now (Wednesday) I was told and it's come from a friends friend so not getting too excited but he has been on the ball before, that positive talks have taken place, now whether that's face to face, phone or email, whether it's Mr Hoffman and his local group or these Aussies or a mixture of the two, I was told don't rule that out, I don't know. Just that the on going silence from Sepalla's lot, I include toxic Tim in that is unusual. This friends friend has said the low season ticket uptake has shaken them, don't know what they expected to be honest, whether that makes them see sense and get out of here not sure but I live in hope. So could the Silence be Golden ?

Anyway, anybody else heard owt, give us something to chew over rather than thread after thread about this Gilbert fella, frigging boring, don't know why you don't start a section just dedicated to him Nick !

 

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[Regis87]

Keeping my fingers crossed and am hoping as you are that the silence is a good thing .
Anyway back to Gilbert - I thought his book was a good read but he is coming across as a bit childish and unprofessional with all his bickering and needs to wind his neck in .

 

[rupert_bear]

He is a bit but he has a fair few on here likewise, they all need to get a f**king life !!

 

[ajsccfc]

I also find the best thing to do when you've had enough of people talking about Simon Gilbert is make a thread about something else but use it to mention Simon Gilbert

 

[oldskyblue58]

My personal opinion is I wouldn't get your hopes up. The gap between bid value and seller expectation would seem to be huge. Any third party with no passion for CCFC will not want to pay the premium expected.

In the past the silence has been because (a) there are things instigated by SISU they want out of the public view or (b) simply letting the clamour die down so from their side of things I am not reading much positive in terms of selling up in to it

If TF is silent does that mean he is away from the club for most of the time. SISU simply are not interested in CCFC. So begs the question who is making the decisions or providing direction at CCFC day to day

 

[SkyBlueRuffian]

Hoffman prefers to do business privately and only spoke up when that idiot Les Reid leaked the story.
So if anything I'm hoping talks are ongoing and we as a club can move forwards.

 

[oldskyblue58]

That's the point though isn't it, Seppala is not just private she is positively secretive ....... how long did it take to get a picture of the woman? ............... if she went public so quickly and strongly in rejecting the approach then the hope of a successful GH deal at the figures quoted have to be pretty slim to nil in my opinion

 

[Esoterica]

My top 5 'Mr Simon Gilbert' anagrams:

Lobster Rimming
Mom Bristle Ring
Giblet Rims Norm
Goblin Trimmers
Grim Mobster Nil

 

[Houdi]

Heard the depressing news this morning that Wasps are expecting a near sell out for their game this weekend. A lot of fans on here clung to the notion that when they got here the fans were only going because of the novelty factor, or because they gave out free tickets. Well unfortunately the novelty factor doesn't seem to have worn off. People accuse the CT of covering them a lot, but even the' Les Reid' Observer gives them big coverage. Even local TV sport cover them a lot,the only time apart from Wembley we seem to get a mention is with our ongoing protest against SISU.
The brutal reality is that Wasps can probably claim to be the number 1 sporting team in our City. We are fast becoming like the town of Northampton,where the Rugby team play at the top level,in a relatively big stadium, with biggish crowds, and the football team play at the lower levels in a virtual non league ground with small crowds.
The worry is that the gap between us and Wasps is only going to get bigger. In time younger people will just assume they are a Coventry team and not a franchise, and there seems little prospect of their team struggling.
I imagine this weekend they will take more non ticket revenue that they get from the rent we pay. SISU are talking of us building a 12,000 seater ground at the Butts, even if you swallow this fantasy what does this say about our future. That is why we so desperately need new owners, before we end up in non league and total obscurity.

 

[bradwellskyblues]

i agree with you but imagine ccfc were playing in a top of the table premier league match i doubt you would be talking about a near sell out.
this is probably the biggest rugby match played in the area ever and i expect has pulled people in from all over the region.

 

[skybluetony176]

Where TF is concerned silence is most definitely golden. Unless he saying goodbye.

 

[Esoterica]

Heard the depressing news this morning that Wasps are expecting a near sell out for their game this weekend. A lot of fans on here clung to the notion that when they got here the fans were only going because of the novelty factor, or because they gave out free tickets. Well unfortunately the novelty factor doesn't seem to have worn off. People accuse the CT of covering them a lot, but even the' Les Reid' Observer gives them big coverage. Even local TV sport cover them a lot,the only time apart from Wembley we seem to get a mention is with our ongoing protest against SISU.
The brutal reality is that Wasps can probably claim to be the number 1 sporting team in our City. We are fast becoming like the town of Northampton,where the Rugby team play at the top level,in a relatively big stadium, with biggish crowds, and the football team play at the lower levels in a virtual non league ground with small crowds.
The worry is that the gap between us and Wasps is only going to get bigger. In time younger people will just assume they are a Coventry team and not a franchise, and there seems little prospect of their team struggling.
I imagine this weekend they will take more non ticket revenue that they get from the rent we pay. SISU are talking of us building a 12,000 seater ground at the Butts, even if you swallow this fantasy what does this say about our future. That is why we so desperately need new owners, before we end up in non league and total obscurity.

It's a sell out because it's their final league match of the season with them top vs 3rd place Saracens, just 2 points behind. In the context of domestic Rugby Union it's a huge game with the winner guaranteed a home semi final in the play offs - so don't think this is the norm yet especially as rugby pulls in a wider audience of casuals than footy does.
Last week I spoke to the deputy head of one of Coventry's schools and he said they they are still giving away hundreds of tickets per school each week and essentially have access to as many tickets as they can give away each game, Wasps also come into the school and run regular training sessions with the kids. It's turned what was a state inner city school who played a bit of footy into a school with a passion for rugby union who are now beating the likes of Bablake/Henrys at various age groups. Wasps have had to do all this because of their invasion into our community and their desperation to lay roots here but it was sickening for me to listen to as a Cov fan in comparison to what CCFC have been doing at the same time, which appear to have been very much token gestures. There's an awful lot of repair in the community that will be needed when and if we get new owners.

 

[shmmeee]

i agree with you but imagine ccfc were playing in a top of the table premier league match i doubt you would be talking about a near sell out.
this is probably the biggest rugby match played in the area ever and i expect has pulled people in from all over the region.

Am I misreading this? You don't think we'd sell out for a top of the table Prem game?

 

[bradwellskyblues]

there is no doubt wasps have been very clever in their PR but it would not matter a jot if we had a well run run successful football team,rugby will always play second string to football

 

[bradwellskyblues]

yes of course we would sell out a top of the table premier league clash with at least the same locked out

 

[covcity4life]

It's a sell out because it's their final league match of the season with them top vs 3rd place Saracens, just 2 points behind. In the context of domestic Rugby Union it's a huge game with the winner guaranteed a home semi final in the play offs - so don't think this is the norm yet especially as rugby pulls in a wider audience of casuals than footy does.
Last week I spoke to the deputy head of one of Coventry's schools and he said they they are still giving away hundreds of tickets per school each week and essentially have access to as many tickets as they can give away each game, Wasps also come into the school and run regular training sessions with the kids. It's turned what was a state inner city school who played a bit of footy into a school with a passion for rugby union who are now beating the likes of Bablake/Henrys at various age groups. Wasps have had to do all this because of their invasion into our community and their desperation to lay roots here but it was sickening for me to listen to as a Cov fan in comparison to what CCFC have been doing at the same time, which appear to have been very much token gestures. There's an awful lot of repair in the community that will be needed when and if we get new owners.

this is true. wasps are very good at marketing and ccfc are not despite what nick will say.

my nephews all have been taken in by wasps, other than free tickets 3 years ago i am not sure ccfc have done anything at his school.

 

[SkyBlueZack]

It's a sell out because it's their final league match of the season with them top vs 3rd place Saracens, just 2 points behind. In the context of domestic Rugby Union it's a huge game with the winner guaranteed a home semi final in the play offs - so don't think this is the norm yet especially as rugby pulls in a wider audience of casuals than footy does.
Last week I spoke to the deputy head of one of Coventry's schools and he said they they are still giving away hundreds of tickets per school each week and essentially have access to as many tickets as they can give away each game, Wasps also come into the school and run regular training sessions with the kids. It's turned what was a state inner city school who played a bit of footy into a school with a passion for rugby union who are now beating the likes of Bablake/Henrys at various age groups. Wasps have had to do all this because of their invasion into our community and their desperation to lay roots here but it was sickening for me to listen to as a Cov fan in comparison to what CCFC have been doing at the same time, which appear to have been very much token gestures. There's an awful lot of repair in the community that will be needed when and if we get new owners.

Home - Sky Blues in the Community

JSB area at home games. JSB training camps. JSB xmas party.

Drives me insane people stating Wasps do more etc. Simply not true.

 

[covcity4life]

Home - Sky Blues in the Community

JSB area at home games. JSB training camps. JSB xmas party.

Drives me insane people stating Wasps do more etc. Simply not true.

and if kids aint jsb??

look at the reaction of kids when checkatrade build up when players visited,thats sort of thing that needs to be done much more.

my nephew played for rugby team in a tournament in cov, here wasps had set up with free flags,inflatables, a tackling machine for kids and adults to try,a kicking competition and catching competion. their mascot was there too.

same nephew played in a football tournament in cov and i did not see any presence from ccfc at all.

these are the areas i would like ccfc to improve. they are not reaching potential fans of the future like wasps are.

 

[bradwellskyblues]

zack you are correct there are very good and committed people working at ccfc doing really good things ,the problem is it all gets lost in the mire of the ownership issues

 

[Nick]

a

look at the reaction of kids when checkatrade build up when players visited,thats sort of thing that needs to be done much more.

It's done a hell of a lot, but people aren't bothered about it.

 

[SkyBlueZack]

JSB camps are open to all. SBiTC do things for adults too. Walking football, girls football. Read the website and start appreciating the hard work these people put in. They do education courses too. Wasps and their initiatives are all about them and their wants. SBiTC is for the benefit of the community, regardless of sport or if they are CCFC fans. Bradwell SkyBlue is right, look past the owners.

 

[SkyBlueZack]

It astounds me that people have a pop at the community work the club do but get a semi about what Wasps do. Why do we have fans intent on hammering the club at any opportunity? Fuck the owners and everyone else involved in the mess. SBiTC is a brilliant organisation. Let's give them the credit they deserve and show our appreciation. Not criticise them as they are not throwing free tickets around and have an inflatable tackling machine.

 

[SkyBlueZack]

Sky Blues in the Community is committed to providing opportunities to a wide range of communities within Coventry and Warwickshire.

The term ‘Inclusion’ covers a wide spectrum, but for Sky Blues in the Community it is about providing opportunities for members of our community to take part in sport or personal development opportunities who may not normally get the chance.

Our inclusion objective is; ‘Deliver innovative programmes to promote inclusion amongst disadvantaged and excluded communities’

To date we have worked with a number of groups under our inclusion banner including (but not exclusive to):

• Children and adults with physical or learning disabilities
• Children and adults with Down’s syndrome
• Looked-after children
• Young offenders
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Young people involved in anti-social behaviour
• Adults aged 55+

 

[Captain Dart]

there is no doubt wasps have been very clever in their PR but it would not matter a jot if we had a well run run successful football team,rugby will always play second string to football

True, but we don't any more thanks to SISU.

 

[covcity4life]

It astounds me that people have a pop at the community work the club do but get a semi about what Wasps do. Why do we have fans intent on hammering the club at any opportunity? Fuck the owners and everyone else involved in the mess. SBiTC is a brilliant organisation. Let's give them the credit they deserve and show our appreciation. Not criticise them as they are not throwing free tickets around and have an inflatable tackling machine.

that better not be aimed at me as i am no wasps fan. just can see what they do works and is making an impact on the new generation.

i have been on Sbitc course and other than a free cov city water bottle you could be mistaken for having no clue it was run by ccfc tbh. also the people that ran it stopped caring after a month and it fell apart.

i hear they do good stuff of course but i wonder why i only hear kids yapping about wasps these days? is it simply because cov are in lower leagues?

 

[SkyBlueZack]

Football clubs and football stadiums can be a fantastic and attractive way to engage people of all ages in learning activities, whether through promoting coach education courses, or using football as the medium to promote numeracy and literacy skills. Our education objective is to ‘Provide inspirational learning and personal development opportunities to raise aspirations, attainment and achievement’.

To us, education is a broad term. With all programmes and activities that we deliver, we consider how we help people to fulfil their potential. This may be through achieving formal education qualifications, or taking mentoring and leadership roles amongst their peers.

We have a range of programmes and schemes of work that promote educational attainment in primary, secondary and further education establishments – but we also look to promote attainment amongst those who access our community-based activities.

We work with partner organisations who are specialists in their areas of work, to provide information and guidance, advocacy and support relevant to a particular target group we may be working with. We also actively seek to identify ‘exit routes’ into further education, training or development opportunities for people who take part in our schemes.

Currently our education offer consists of:

• PPA (Planning, preparation and assessment) curriculum cover
• PE lessons
• Lunchtime clubs
• After school clubs
• Numeracy and literacy skills
• Schools respect workshop
• Fit 4 Life healthy schools project
• Secondary schools ‘Leadership Academy’
• Alternative education mentoring scheme
• Sports coaching and leadership qualifications
• Employability skills (for young people and adults)
• BTEC Sports Academy (in partnership with Henley College)

As with all of our work, we are always keen to hear from schools or partners who are interested in working with us.

We have a number of schemes of work that are ‘off the shelf’, but we can also design and deliver bespoke programmes to suit the needs of your organisation and target group.

 

[Nick]

There's plenty, but people see it as linked to SISU so aren't bothered.

 

[SkyBlueZack]

that better not be aimed at me as i am no wasps fan. just can see what they do works and is making an impact on the new generation.

i have been on Sbitc course and other than a free cov city water bottle you could be mistaken for having no clue it was run by ccfc tbh. also the people that ran it stopped caring after a month and it fell apart.

i hear they do good stuff of course but i wonder why i only hear kids yapping about wasps these days? is it simply because cov are in lower leagues?

Yeah, it was aimed at you. You were waxing lyrical about an inflatable tackling machine. Here's a thought, rather than saying Wasps do this and that, it works and blah blah. Why not positively promote what the club you support do? Say how they work really hard with the whole community, not just people they hope will come along and pay for a ticket. The idea about community work is to be beneficial to it, regardless of if you get a free gift or ticket. I was on the football session they run, people have been doing it for years. The walking football is that popular they had to put another session on.

If only you were as knowledgeable as you think you are.

 

[Nick]

If only you were as knowledgeable as you think you are.

People only act knowledgeable about things like this when they are saying nothing is done.

When there's a thread about something good it's silence.

+Sport Move and Learn Programme Reaches 5,000 Local Children
SBitC Launch New All-Girls Football Sessions

 

[SkyBlueZack]

The clubs marketing and PR is shit. Worse than that. The community work is brilliant. It annoys me that the coaches and volunteers don't get the credit they deserve, just the yeah but Wasps have inflatables.

 

[Nick]

The clubs marketing and PR is shit. Worse than that. The community work is brilliant. It annoys me that the coaches and volunteers don't get the credit they deserve, just the yeah but Wasps have inflatables.

Inflateable?

 

[covcity4life]

Yeah, it was aimed at you. You were waxing lyrical about an inflatable tackling machine. Here's a thought, rather than saying Wasps do this and that, it works and blah blah. Why not positively promote what the club you support do? Say how they work really hard with the whole community, not just people they hope will come along and pay for a ticket. The idea about community work is to be beneficial to it, regardless of if you get a free gift or ticket. I was on the football session they run, people have been doing it for years. The walking football is that popular they had to put another session on.

If only you were as knowledgeable as you think you are.

People only act knowledgeable about things like this when they are saying nothing is done.

When there's a thread about something good it's silence.

+Sport Move and Learn Programme Reaches 5,000 Local Children
SBitC Launch New All-Girls Football Sessions

i just pointed out to both of you why i wrote what i did

i have seen wasps presence first hand at school events, i have not seen ccfc do same(you say they do thts great,but i can only post my own experience? yes or no?

you talka botu sbitc-my personal experience is that it wasnt well organised or well branded. do you want me to lie to make ccfc look better?

you both sound like zealots. what are we back at school? playsation vs n64?

p.s n64 4 life

 

[Esoterica]

Home - Sky Blues in the Community

JSB area at home games. JSB training camps. JSB xmas party.

Drives me insane people stating Wasps do more etc. Simply not true.

2 of 3 examples where you have to be a JSB member. 2 of them where the kids have to physically go to the Ricoh. The holidays camps, as I understood, are summer camps where again you need the families to sign up and take the kids. It's true community work SBitC do which will come with some passive marketing for CCFC, Wasps are aggressively marketing themselves and rugby - we'll come to you and get in your faces. Selfish, but currently effective. Wasps have been doing the aggressive side well since they landed, Cov did it too for a few weeks before the cup final.
Please don't take my words as criticism of the people who work for SBitC nor the amazing work that they do (many of whom I guess, if not all, are volunteers) but my impression is that they are as much community schemes as they are CCFC schemes and we were really discussing the popularity of Wasps vs CCFC fo which I stand by my statement, that there's an awful lot of repair in the community that will be needed when and if we get new owners.

 

[oldskyblue58]

SBITC do indeed do fine work and no it doesn't get enough coverage. Wasps are a threat to that but SBITC are about the only bright light in the CCFC world and should be applauded

Last published accounts for SBITC showed that CCFC itself provided some website space and match program space, 5000 vouchers that could be exchanged for tickets during the year plus Staff kit valued at £5000 in 2015 nothing in 2014. It also cost the charity £1345 to purchase tickets off CCFC in 2015

Whilst I understand CCFC finances are tight, and I think people would prefer CCFC cash spent on the team, there is no actual cash contribution by CCFC to SBITC in 2015 or 2014 or 2013. The donations & grants are listed (- seems even CCC contributed over £32k to SBITC projects in 2015 and 11k in 2014). If there is an issue for me it is the lack of real contribution to it by CCFC which leaves open the accusation the club itself doesn't take seriously enough the importance of what SBITC does in the community

Strangely the registered office of SBITC is still the Ricoh

 

[covcity4life]

best thing SBITC did was put me on their flyers. i looked like fat ronaldo though.