italiahorse
Well-Known Member
If it is financially beneficial and saves the club from going out of business then its a great idea.
In that respect it won't happen.
Nuneaton MP to raise CCFC home next season in Parliament (13 Viewers)
- Thread starter Captain Dart
- Start date
If it is financially beneficial and saves the club from going out of business then its a great idea.
In that respect it won't happen.
italiahorse
Well-Known Member
Wasps gain from CCFC being here both financially (slight) and politically. Even with this minimal deal.
They will just tread water with us until change of ownership.
Nick
Administrator
Guess it will be quiet again for a bit now.....
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
Wakey wakey..
Sky Blues fans speak out ahead of Parliamentary debate
Monday, February 19th, 2018 4:00pm By Paul Bradbury @CallMeUnclePaul
Coventry City fans are speaking out ahead of a Parliamentary debate on the club's future.
Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton and Sky Blues fan, has arranged a debate in Westminster Hall this week, regarding where the club will play homes games in future.
A deal was recently struck that means the League Two side will stay at the Ricoh next season. Stadium owners Wasps say they won't do a longer-term deal unless City's owners end their legal challenges relating to the arena.
Several supporters groups, including the Jimmy Hill Way and Sky Blue Trust, have issued a joint statement outlining points they want raised in Wednesday's debate. It says:
"Supporters of Coventry City Football Club (“CCFC”) were pleased and relieved to learn on 9th February 2018 that arrangements for CCFC to play at the Ricoh Arena had been extended until May 2019. However, undiminished concern remains about the long-term future accommodation of home fixtures for seasons after 2018/19.
"In announcing the deal for one further year, Mr Nick Eastwood, CEO of Wasps Rugby Club (“Wasps”) who own the Ricoh Arena on a long leasehold basis, also made it clear that there would be no discussions regarding a longer term agreement while obstacles remain in the form of legal proceedings involving Wasps and CCFC.
"Supporters are anxious that there is no repeat of the situation suffered in 2013 when CCFC stopped playing at the Ricoh and home fixtures were played at Northampton for 12 months, in front of very low attendances. There is no apparent viable alternative to the Ricoh within the Coventry Area for CCFC to fulfil its home fixtures. On Saturday 10th February, CCFC played Accrington Stanley in front of a reported attendance of 28,343 spectators which demonstrates that CCFC requires continued access to a stadium with considerable capacity and adequate facilities.
"We are therefore calling on the following parties to find an immediate solution to enable CCFC to continue playing at the Ricoh on a long-term basis:
"CCFC – which is operated by Otium Entertainment Group Limited and its parent company Sky Blues Sports & Leisure Limited;
Sisu Capital Limited and its associated company Arvo Master Fund, owners of CCFC;
Wasps;
Coventry City Council;
The English Football League (EFL).
"Apart from the EFL, these parties are due to participate in a mediation process as instructed by the Court of Appeal, intended to settle a long-running legal dispute concerning the sale of the Ricoh Arena by Coventry City Council to Wasps. This mediation is scheduled to be concluded by the end of March 2018. It therefore appears that the outcome of this process will determine whether CCFC will have an opportunity to play at the Ricoh Arena for seasons commencing August 2019 and beyond.
"As the authority responsible for regulation of such matters, we request that the EFL give immediate assurances to supporters of CCFC that our club will not again be removed from the city whose name it bears, whatever the outcome of the mediation and any continuing legal proceedings involving Wasps and CCFC.
"We are grateful to Mr Marcus Jones, MP and other parliamentary colleagues for debating this issue on 21st February. We hope that their interest and concern will assist in bringing about a swift resolution to this deeply troubling matter for CCFC supporters.
"It would be appreciated if Mr Jones would please raise the following matters for consideration and comment by either the Chair of the Select Committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport or the Sports Minister, as appropriate:
1. If the issue of where Coventry City are to play home games is not resolved within the mediation process, that the EFL and the parties to the dispute - CCFC, Sisu Capital, Wasps and Coventry City Council – may be required urgently to explain the current position to the Select Committee and indicate when and by what means the home ground issue may be resolved.
2. Further, that an account may be obtained from the EFL of the way they have handled the matter of the home ground in accordance with their regulations. In particular, asking them to state, in what, if any, circumstances they might favourably consider a request to approve a home ground outside the City of Coventry in the light of their regulation 13.7 (see footnote).
3. After the previous debate into the Coventry City situation held on 11th October 2016, the Sports Minister initiated an informal mediation process. May this debate be informed what, if any, progress was made in the course of those discussions?
4. Future cases of crisis in the management of football clubs, such as those at Blackpool and Coventry, might be better addressed were the EFL to appoint an independent investigator for each such current case, to look into the circumstances, take evidence from all interested parties, including supporters’ organisations, and make recommendations."
Sky Blues fans speak out ahead of Parliamentary debate
Monday, February 19th, 2018 4:00pm By Paul Bradbury @CallMeUnclePaul
Coventry City fans are speaking out ahead of a Parliamentary debate on the club's future.
Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton and Sky Blues fan, has arranged a debate in Westminster Hall this week, regarding where the club will play homes games in future.
A deal was recently struck that means the League Two side will stay at the Ricoh next season. Stadium owners Wasps say they won't do a longer-term deal unless City's owners end their legal challenges relating to the arena.
Several supporters groups, including the Jimmy Hill Way and Sky Blue Trust, have issued a joint statement outlining points they want raised in Wednesday's debate. It says:
"Supporters of Coventry City Football Club (“CCFC”) were pleased and relieved to learn on 9th February 2018 that arrangements for CCFC to play at the Ricoh Arena had been extended until May 2019. However, undiminished concern remains about the long-term future accommodation of home fixtures for seasons after 2018/19.
"In announcing the deal for one further year, Mr Nick Eastwood, CEO of Wasps Rugby Club (“Wasps”) who own the Ricoh Arena on a long leasehold basis, also made it clear that there would be no discussions regarding a longer term agreement while obstacles remain in the form of legal proceedings involving Wasps and CCFC.
"Supporters are anxious that there is no repeat of the situation suffered in 2013 when CCFC stopped playing at the Ricoh and home fixtures were played at Northampton for 12 months, in front of very low attendances. There is no apparent viable alternative to the Ricoh within the Coventry Area for CCFC to fulfil its home fixtures. On Saturday 10th February, CCFC played Accrington Stanley in front of a reported attendance of 28,343 spectators which demonstrates that CCFC requires continued access to a stadium with considerable capacity and adequate facilities.
"We are therefore calling on the following parties to find an immediate solution to enable CCFC to continue playing at the Ricoh on a long-term basis:
"CCFC – which is operated by Otium Entertainment Group Limited and its parent company Sky Blues Sports & Leisure Limited;
Sisu Capital Limited and its associated company Arvo Master Fund, owners of CCFC;
Wasps;
Coventry City Council;
The English Football League (EFL).
"Apart from the EFL, these parties are due to participate in a mediation process as instructed by the Court of Appeal, intended to settle a long-running legal dispute concerning the sale of the Ricoh Arena by Coventry City Council to Wasps. This mediation is scheduled to be concluded by the end of March 2018. It therefore appears that the outcome of this process will determine whether CCFC will have an opportunity to play at the Ricoh Arena for seasons commencing August 2019 and beyond.
"As the authority responsible for regulation of such matters, we request that the EFL give immediate assurances to supporters of CCFC that our club will not again be removed from the city whose name it bears, whatever the outcome of the mediation and any continuing legal proceedings involving Wasps and CCFC.
"We are grateful to Mr Marcus Jones, MP and other parliamentary colleagues for debating this issue on 21st February. We hope that their interest and concern will assist in bringing about a swift resolution to this deeply troubling matter for CCFC supporters.
"It would be appreciated if Mr Jones would please raise the following matters for consideration and comment by either the Chair of the Select Committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport or the Sports Minister, as appropriate:
1. If the issue of where Coventry City are to play home games is not resolved within the mediation process, that the EFL and the parties to the dispute - CCFC, Sisu Capital, Wasps and Coventry City Council – may be required urgently to explain the current position to the Select Committee and indicate when and by what means the home ground issue may be resolved.
2. Further, that an account may be obtained from the EFL of the way they have handled the matter of the home ground in accordance with their regulations. In particular, asking them to state, in what, if any, circumstances they might favourably consider a request to approve a home ground outside the City of Coventry in the light of their regulation 13.7 (see footnote).
3. After the previous debate into the Coventry City situation held on 11th October 2016, the Sports Minister initiated an informal mediation process. May this debate be informed what, if any, progress was made in the course of those discussions?
4. Future cases of crisis in the management of football clubs, such as those at Blackpool and Coventry, might be better addressed were the EFL to appoint an independent investigator for each such current case, to look into the circumstances, take evidence from all interested parties, including supporters’ organisations, and make recommendations."
Nick
Administrator
Surely they realise the EFL can't assure it as they can't make Wasps give us a deal?
What's the actual aim of it?
Funny really Jimmy Hill way go on about boycotting home games, away days only, can force admin so the fans get it then start kicking up uproar about where we play in 2 seasons time.
Which other supporters groups of the several were there?
What's the actual aim of it?
Funny really Jimmy Hill way go on about boycotting home games, away days only, can force admin so the fans get it then start kicking up uproar about where we play in 2 seasons time.
Which other supporters groups of the several were there?
italiahorse
Well-Known Member
Pointless talking to anybody while Sisu are in charge.
Nobody trusts them so nobody will deal with them.
Waste of parliamentary time.
Nobody trusts them so nobody will deal with them.
Waste of parliamentary time.
stevefloyd
Well-Known Member
Corrected for you
Parliamentary time is a waste of time
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
Thats the bit a lot of people miss. Its all well and good saying we want the club to stay in Cov, everyone does, but what can the FL do to make sure that happens. If Wasps won't agree a deal and the Butts is a non-starter where are we supposed to play?
If the FL did make any statement saying they won't let the club play outside of Cov then Wasps can charge us anything they like and the club have to accept. The best thing they could do would be to request Wasps offer the same one year deal until the legal process is exhausted.
rupert_bear
Well-Known Member
To play in Coventry other than the Ricoh a ground has to be built, so a question to ccc has to be is there a suitable site.
italiahorse
Well-Known Member
Surely it's up to Sisu to find a site.
CCC can't object other than on planning grounds and that can be appealed.
They need to get into the long term draft plans that councils develop from time to time.
Nuneaton and Bedworth plan is releasing land behind the old Leekes, Coventry must be doing similar, I've seen land at Walsgrave triangle proposed.
The problem is they will need to buy at premium prices if land is available as they are competing directly with housing and industry. (Guess £300K-£500K an acre)
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
do you not think points 2-4 are valid ?
Nick
Administrator
They can't force a deal at the Ricoh, so it means they can't really do much. They can't make assurances they will never allow a move, as it then opens up a whole world of shit.
It's all well and good fans giving it the efl do something, what exactly do they want to be done?
We have been over this in this thread already.
Just because a couple of fans groups and a few made up ones are demanding mps to talk about things, it's going to do absolutely nothing.
christonabike
Well-Known Member
It’s just a pile of shyte and the new 1 year deal never to be repeated means we build a ground, we sell every fooker worth anything and go bump or we get a new owner willing to do a long term deal with Wasps or short term one and build elsewhere.
All the shyte as fans have had has just been prolonged 12 months sadly.
Unless Grundle has a bright idea.
All the shyte as fans have had has just been prolonged 12 months sadly.
Unless Grundle has a bright idea.
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
Well isn't doing absolutely nothing what you do. Don't see your problem?
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
Come on italia you aren't that naive. A supportive council compared to one that wants to make things as difficult as possible are very different propositions.
Its another situation where the council can easily call Fishers bluff. Go on the record saying they will support a new stadium and do everything they can to help. If and when sites are coming available the council can push for the club to take ownership under the guise of a regeneration project.
Nick
Administrator
What do you do, apart from your multiple accounts on a football forum where you have no interest in the football and want to push something constantly?
Never seem to get a reply. Strange that.
italiahorse
Well-Known Member
Its not up to the council.
Sisu need to show they are serious before the council waste any time proving Fisher wrong.
In fact I think they/we know already after many years of bullsh1t.
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
Come on Dave you are not that naive, you have to build a good relationship with anyone you want to work with, taking legal action against them is no way to do that.
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
Not talking about building a relationship I'm talking about the council putting pressure on SISU. Look at it this way, SISU go to the FL and say we have to move out of Coventry again we have no choice.
What supports that argument best? A council being shown to be uncooperative and working against the club - things like attempting to block the move to the Butts. Or a council that is saying we will do everything we can to support the clubs quest to build a new stadium.
One would mean the FL approving any move without questions, the other would need explanation from SISU.
Personally I'd rather have SISU under pressure rather than just be able to take the club anywhere they please to prove a point.
Gosford Green
Well-Known Member
I can not believe the subject of SISU building a stadium is starting to be discussed again.
They never had any intention, all that "in the Coventry area" and "a location will be announced in the Coventry area within 3 weeks" from back in 2013 broke all records on here if I remember.
It took a freedom of information request and a statement from BPA owners to finally end all doubt.
They never had any intention, all that "in the Coventry area" and "a location will be announced in the Coventry area within 3 weeks" from back in 2013 broke all records on here if I remember.
It took a freedom of information request and a statement from BPA owners to finally end all doubt.
Gosford Green
Well-Known Member
There is precedence here and it is worrying, Wimbledon under Winkleman had similar issues with their local council and went to Milton Keynes stating they had no choice, the league agreed if certain conditions were met including a name change. If CCFC leaves the city again it will be for good, with the possibility of an MK Dons type scenario.
There is no precedence for an independent FL led party looking into why and how the club has got like this and potential action being taken.
Nick
Administrator
It's simple, the EFL can't force a deal to be done at the Ricoh which is the only option at the minute.
The football league can't say stay at this ground else we will take the club off you and hand it to the fans like people seem to be wishing for.
I don't think Dave believes there is a secret plan to build a stadium for a second, he just means it would be really easy for the council to call their bluff.
The only realistic way is for there to be a rule to say every football club must own it's ground to prevent all this, but there's no way to then fix that for clubs who dont already.
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
I'd rather they f**k off.
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
Where would they go, outer London, South or East side of Birmingham?
It is currently against EFL regs to move more than 8 miles from the location which the club has been historically located, that puts the NEC & area near National Motorcycle Museum sites just out of range. :emoji_sweat:
How Far is it Between Coventry Cv1, Uk and B92 0ej
Gosford Green
Well-Known Member
I am not saying the club should be given to fans, maybe fans and other parties could present a business plan with statement of intents from necessary parties if the league decided on a particular course of action.
If an inquiry finds the reason for the clubs complete demise is down to the owners pursuing a particular line of action then like I keep saying the league could set a precedence.
Nick
Administrator
So what you mean is the fans and hoffman can go to the EFL with a case for them to own the club with statements from Wasps saying they would let them play there for ever? They aren't just going to hand it all over to them are they?
That really would set a precedence. It's pretty naive to even think that could / would happen.
ashbyjan
Well-Known Member
I wish people would grasp the reality that our owner does not give a flying fuck about the club, the supporters, the city etc. All she is after is some financial return on a bad investment - if the best way to achieve that is the closure of the club it wouldn't bother her one iota. If she could prove that the business was affected detrimentaly and this ultimately led to its demise by the actions of Wasps, the council, the EFL, etc then this would simply strengthen her hand in seeking compensation and dragging all parties through yet more years of court actions. Wasps certainly don't want or need it and with the current ongoing court action had to give the club the bare minimum so as to be seen as being cooperative. The EFL is basically financially poor and could not afford to spend huge sums of money on legals brought by SISU so will simply do what it does best and do nothing. Until SISU have exhausted every avenue open to them in trying to get money out of the other parties they will go no where, sell to no one. The club is simply a chew toy for the various parties to squabble about and the fans simply collateral damage - this action in Parliament is just more window dressing and does nothing to change the situation. The only one who can do that is our owner and to date she does not appear to be of a mind to do that and won't be until she is convinced there is no prospect of getting any more money back.
Nick
Administrator
Who isn't grasping that?
It's all well and good shouting for the EFL to fix it, but realistically what do you want them to do?
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
Chew toy.. notable turn of phrase, I'd like it if it wasn't so tragic.
And then what....?
italiahorse
Well-Known Member
.... and then give the new owners the "already agreed" deal.
Nick
Administrator
What's the already agreed deal?.... and then give the new owners the "already agreed" deal.
italiahorse
Well-Known Member
Follow their own rules on ownership and stadium sites?
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
You know they only do flexible regulations and rules.
Nick
Administrator
Like I said, what do you want them to actually do and how?
It seems to be a lot of hopes being pinned on Wasps not doing a long term deal but saying to the FL they will if Hoffman own CCFC and the FL saying "OK in that case we will give the club to hoffman and fans".