Very good Guardian article (5 Viewers)

[MalcSB]

And this bit was just laughable; 'Coventry city council’s approach has been upheld as proper and professional.'
.

True, you can act within the law and still not be proper and professional.

 

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[MalcSB]

Completely agree. However I can assure you there are plenty of conservative leaning voters in Coventry who are 100% behind the council's stance regarding SISU. It seems to me it's just fashionable these days to blame parties other than SISU.

It’s not fashionable, it’s evidence based.

 

[MalcSB]

I dislike both the Guardian and Cov Council, but still thought it's a good article.

I'm amazed at the number of people prepared prepared to muddy the waters on who is responsible for the current mess - I'd go for 85% Sisu, 5% each for Wasps, CCC and probably Bryan Richardson et al. too - or something like that. Sisu are so obviously the stand-out baddies of the piece as they're the ones who initiated all the legal cases - none of them for the benefit of the club but only to enrich Sisu.

I'm trying to work out what's going to happen now. I'd love to think Sisu will just wander off into the distance after selling to some new and benevolent owners, but I'm reminded of the last half hour of a Harry Potter film where the beast appears to die, only to re-emerge in some new and terrible form. I wonder about the damage a hedge fund under the control of a possibly menopausal female CEO could still do re winding up the club completely - which wouldn't really be a good business decision. I also wonder about the tenability of Sepalla's position as CEO which must surely be under scrutiny after the apparent failure of the legal route - which would depend on how much of the company she actually owns herself.

PUSB.

Menopausal? That’s a bit below the belt!

 

[Nick]

Think it’s also in Gilbert’s book (I know it’s had its knockers but parts are still an interesting read, as much for the timing of the various events)

From memory SISU also tried to buy the bank debt for a knock down (distressed) price around that time so I don’t think they would’ve delivered a similar deal as Wasps. Who knows though.

The thing is wasps picked the ground up for a great price at least partly due to SISUs bullshit tactics (I honestly think CCC were just sick of the whole situation and part panicking with being left with a white elephant). If SISU had ever come to the table with a sensible proposal then it would be very difficult to side against them. Unfortunately they chose not to and instead all we’ve had is refusal to pay (exorbitant I agree) rent which led to administration, being dragged down to Northampton and a load of ‘hindsight’ court actions, all of which have been unsuccessful to date.

I agree with the earlier poster who said everyone should take a share in the blame, I just see SISUs as being the major share.

Your reply has nothing to do with my point in reply to yours.

You have taken bits from different things and tried to make a point with it.

 

[MalcSB]

I dislike both the Guardian and Cov Council, but still thought it's a good article.

I'm amazed at the number of people prepared prepared to muddy the waters on who is responsible for the current mess - I'd go for 85% Sisu, 5% each for Wasps, CCC and probably Bryan Richardson et al. too - or something like that. Sisu are so obviously the stand-out baddies of the piece as they're the ones who initiated all the legal cases - none of them for the benefit of the club but only to enrich Sisu.

I'm trying to work out what's going to happen now. I'd love to think Sisu will just wander off into the distance after selling to some new and benevolent owners, but I'm reminded of the last half hour of a Harry Potter film where the beast appears to die, only to re-emerge in some new and terrible form. I wonder about the damage a hedge fund under the control of a possibly menopausal female CEO could still do re winding up the club completely - which wouldn't really be a good business decision. I also wonder about the tenability of Sepalla's position as CEO which must surely be under scrutiny after the apparent failure of the legal route - which would depend on how much of the company she actually owns herself.

PUSB.

Don’t forget, ACL initiated High Court proceedings against Northampton in an attempt to block a long term ground share. Whilst under Council and Higgs ownership, so they werent averse to using legals themselves when it suited. So Sisu didn’t initiate all the legal cases.

 

[olderskyblue]

Bloody hell. Seems some people are more concerned with making sure the council get blamed rather than the article raising the plight of our club once again.

 

[Esoterica]

Think it’s also in Gilbert’s book (I know it’s had its knockers but parts are still an interesting read, as much for the timing of the various events)

I'd always avoided that book but now I know there's knockers in I might have a look.

 

[Nick]

Bloody hell. Seems some people are more concerned with making sure the council get blamed rather than the article raising the plight of our club once again.

If people hadnt been so obsessed with "raising the plight" for years then people might be a bit more informed.

Its a pr piece isn't it?

Raising plights is something people bang on about to get all excited.

I wonder if the trust will be saying stop the blame game and is not about the past?

 

[covmark]

Bloody hell. Seems some people are more concerned with making sure the council get blamed rather than the article raising the plight of our club once again.

Our plight has been raised a hundred times.

It's done us the world of good....

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[CCFCSteve]

Your reply has nothing to do with my point in reply to yours.

You have taken bits from different things and tried to make a point with it.

I was making the point that I didn’t think sisu wouldve done the same deal Wasps for the whole stadium

To be fair, I was referring back to our previous opportunity/‘attempt’ to buy the 50% share (pre wasps) when I was talking about Gilbert’s book. My mistake

 

[CanadianCCFC]

If by ‘very good’, you mean ‘incredibly one-side revisionist bullshit that could have been written by George Duggins and Anne Lucas’ then you’re right, it’s very good.

I need not read further into the thread, this sums it up.

 

[Nick]

I was making the point that I didn’t think sisu wouldve done the same deal Wasps for the whole stadium

To be fair, I was referring back to our previous opportunity/‘attempt’ to buy the 50% share (pre wasps) when I was talking about Gilbert’s book. My mistake

Yeah but even that offer that people laughed at wasn't far off what wasps paid was it?

 

[CCFCSteve]

Yeah but even that offer that people laughed at wasn't far off what wasps paid was it?

Looking back no, it wasn’t. Different circumstances though. Wasn’t that before administration, Northampton, SISU saying they were going to build their own ground etc etc ?

 

[peace ndlovu]

Bloody hell. Seems some people are more concerned with making sure the council get blamed rather than the article raising the plight of our club once again.

Thankfully, some people are more concerned with making sure the council get their fair share of the blame rather than an accepting as fact an article riddled with lazy journalism that does precisely nothing to genuinely help the plight of our club.
To put my comment into context, the Guardian is the national newspaper I read most. It’s not perfect but it’s better than most of the shite available. I also believe it was a dark day for us when SISU took over in 2007.

But nothing they have done can compare with the council’s decision to sell our ground to a franchise rugby club.

 

[Nick]

Looking back no, it wasn’t. Different circumstances though. Wasn’t that before administration, Northampton, SISU saying they were going to build their own ground etc etc ?

Make your mind up?

 

[Nick]

Something for that gap toothed gypo to hide behind.

Says it all really.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Why would Wasps see us as competitors when we don't even play the same sport?

There's an 'entertainment' quota who just want to go, pretend they can see themselves on the telly, and just enjoy a load of people facing off against one another.

If we were in the top flight, we'd have a damned site more of them, and take more of them from Wasps.

There's a hardcore of people who support clubs till they die, but there's some who just want a good day out. If we're not about to offer that, they'll go to the alternative (Wasps) and vice versa, if Wasps aren't about.

 

[MalcSB]

I was making the point that I didn’t think sisu wouldve done the same deal Wasps for the whole stadium

To be fair, I was referring back to our previous opportunity/‘attempt’ to buy the 50% share (pre wasps) when I was talking about Gilbert’s book. My mistake

Never got the opportunity of the same deal though, did they?

 

[olderskyblue]

If people hadnt been so obsessed with "raising the plight" for years then people might be a bit more informed.

Its a pr piece isn't it?

Raising plights is something people bang on about to get all excited.

I wonder if the trust will be saying stop the blame game and is not about the past?

People have been informed , but some forget. The council talking to wasps was old news, discussed on here at the time, yet so many seemed to be surprised by it all these years later. Weird isn’t it?

I blame lots of people for the mess we’re in, but suspect that we will only start to properly recover when SISU leave, so, to me, they are the logical target.

Raising our plight? Not worth the effort then ? It’s possible we could still be playing in Northampton if no one “ got excited” about that. Just another throw away line you use same as your dig at the trust when they weren’t even mentioned.

You and peace can blame the council all you like, so best of luck with how that helps us. At least you’ll get a like from Torch...

 

[Nick]

People have been informed , but some forget. The council talking to wasps was old news, discussed on here at the time, yet so many seemed to be surprised by it all these years later. Weird isn’t it?

I blame lots of people for the mess we’re in, but suspect that we will only start to properly recover when SISU leave, so, to me, they are the logical target.

Raising our plight? Not worth the effort then ? It’s possible we could still be playing in Northampton if no one “ got excited” about that. Just another throw away line you use same as your dig at the trust when they weren’t even mentioned.

You and peace can blame the council all you like, so best of luck with how that helps us. At least you’ll get a like from Torch...

Can you post a link to the discussions about the "old news" as I can't remember the stuff in those emails being discussed on here years ago.

"Raising the plight" is a throwaway line, the same people who go on about that are either silent or give it the "stop the blame game" when it turns out other people have been cunts along with sisu.

That's the weird bit.

 

[MalcSB]

People have been informed , but some forget. The council talking to wasps was old news, discussed on here at the time, yet so many seemed to be surprised by it all these years later. Weird isn’t it?

I blame lots of people for the mess we’re in, but suspect that we will only start to properly recover when SISU leave, so, to me, they are the logical target.

Raising our plight? Not worth the effort then ? It’s possible we could still be playing in Northampton if no one “ got excited” about that. Just another throw away line you use same as your dig at the trust when they weren’t even mentioned.

You and peace can blame the council all you like, so best of luck with how that helps us. At least you’ll get a like from Torch...

I don’t remember anything about the council, via acl, talking to wasps. I thought it was a shock to everyone when Coventry city cuntcil sold their share. Once that happened, Higgs were only ever going to sell to wasps who needed the entire entity as collateral for their bond issue.

 

[stupot07]

People have been informed , but some forget. The council talking to wasps was old news, discussed on here at the time, yet so many seemed to be surprised by it all these years later. Weird isn’t it?

I blame lots of people for the mess we’re in, but suspect that we will only start to properly recover when SISU leave, so, to me, they are the logical target.

Raising our plight? Not worth the effort then ? It’s possible we could still be playing in Northampton if no one “ got excited” about that. Just another throw away line you use same as your dig at the trust when they weren’t even mentioned.

You and peace can blame the council all you like, so best of luck with how that helps us. At least you’ll get a like from Torch...

We need the mirror holding up to all those involved, to that pressure can be applied to all sides.

We can just ignore the role that the council and others had and continue to have on our current plight if you want, and let's just focus on sisu, lets see how that helps us...


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[CCFCSteve]

Make your mind up?

Haha, you been drinking ?!

 

[RoboCCFC90]

I blame lots of people for the mess we’re in, but suspect that we will only start to properly recover when SISU leave, so, to me, they are the logical target

Here in lies one of the massive problems, naivety.

Let’s say for a moment that SISU sell the Club to Hoffman and his “consortium”. Do you trust Hoffman or any of his known partners, of which is Joe Elliot and potentially Dale Evans? This doesn’t even take into account the situation at the Ricoh.

While SISU have been frustrating as owners, the reality is new owners aren’t going to make a difference, especially when the new owner could potentially be the same individual that brought SISU into the Club in the first place.

It is my opinion that Hoffman and co brought the Club they would settle for a long term tenancy agreement at the Ricoh, which is not adequate for our Club, it needs to have a % in the Arena or a stadium of its own to fight in the upper echelons of the Football League, which is where everyone connected to CCFC wants them to be.


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[Nick]

Haha, you been drinking ?!

You are the one who keeps swapping and changing. You said they wouldn't have paid anywhere near by offering 2m for 50% in the short lease.

 

[stupot07]

Here in lies one of the massive problems, naivety.

Let’s say for a moment that SISU sell the Club to Hoffman and his “consortium”. Do you trust Hoffman or any of his known partners, of which is Joe Elliot and potentially Dale Evans? This doesn’t even take into account the situation at the Ricoh.

While SISU have been frustrating as owners, the reality is new owners aren’t going to make a difference, especially when the new owner could potentially be the same individual that brought SISU into the Club in the first place.

It is my opinion that Hoffman and co brought the Club they would settle for a long term tenancy agreement at the Ricoh, which is not adequate for our Club, it needs to have a % in the Arena or a stadium of its own to fight in the upper echelons of the Football League, which is where everyone connected to CCFC wants them to be.


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And no decent owner with cash to throw st the club would even give us a second glance with the stadium situation. The final nail in our coffin was the day ACL was sold to wasps.

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[stupot07]

You are the one who keeps swapping and changing. You said they wouldn't have paid anywhere near by offering 2m for 50% in the short lease.

£6.5m for ACL and a 250 year lease. That's the equivalent of 4.5 years of our original rental deal.

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[olderskyblue]

Can you post a link to the discussions about the "old news" as I can't remember the stuff in those emails being discussed on here years ago.

"Raising the plight" is a throwaway line, the same people who go on about that are either silent or give it the "stop the blame game" when it turns out other people have been cunts along with sisu.

That's the weird bit.

We didn’t need an email to know that CCC were c**** when they started to talk to wasps about buying the Ricoh, so why all the surprise now?

You’re the master of this site nick, I’m sure you’ll find discussions about wasps meeting up here if you look. Same as when they were talking to Cov Rugby. We all knew didn’t we?

If someone writes an article blaming CCC for our plight, I won’t bother saying “they didn’t mention SISU” which is my point about this thread.

For me, anything that raises our plight, is worthwhile.

 

[olderskyblue]

Here in lies one of the massive problems, naivety.

Let’s say for a moment that SISU sell the Club to Hoffman and his “consortium”. Do you trust Hoffman or any of his known partners, of which is Joe Elliot and potentially Dale Evans? This doesn’t even take into account the situation at the Ricoh.

While SISU have been frustrating as owners, the reality is new owners aren’t going to make a difference, especially when the new owner could potentially be the same individual that brought SISU into the Club in the first place.

It is my opinion that Hoffman and co brought the Club they would settle for a long term tenancy agreement at the Ricoh, which is not adequate for our Club, it needs to have a % in the Arena or a stadium of its own to fight in the upper echelons of the Football League, which is where everyone connected to CCFC wants them to be.


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You want SISU to stay? And you also must believe they will build a stadium? Now that is naive.

And who will own this dream stadium? CCFC?

 

[RoboCCFC90]

You want SISU to stay? And you also must believe they will build a stadium? Now that is naive.

And who will own this dream stadium? CCFC?

Sometimes it’s better the devil you know, as opposed to the devil you don’t. If your question is do I believe that SISU will build a new stadium, then the answer is no, but by the same token a long term tenancy agreement with Wasps is not suitable for CCFC.

If we are to stay at the Ricoh long term it needs to be a joint venture with Wasps or a full purchase of the Arena, the latter I do not believe Wasps will entertain.

Going back to what I said before, CCFC needs to access as much revenues in terms of a joint venture of the Ricoh or revenues from its own purpose built stadium to bring in the revenues needed to give this club a chance of making the next step in its natural progression.


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[olderskyblue]

Sometimes it’s better the devil you know, as opposed to the devil you don’t. If your question is do I believe that SISU will build a new stadium, then the answer is no, but by the same token a long term tenancy agreement with Wasps is not suitable for CCFC.

If we are to stay at the Ricoh long term it needs to be a joint venture with Wasps or a full purchase of the Arena, the latter I do not believe Wasps will entertain.

Going back to what I said before, CCFC needs to access as much revenues in terms of a joint venture of the Ricoh or revenues from its own purpose built stadium to bring in the revenues needed to give this club a chance of making the next step in its natural progression.


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I wonder how much we lost in Profit (not revenues) for not having access to everything (and not having any costs). OSB58 should know that I guess.

 

[Nick]

We didn’t need an email to know that CCC were c**** when they started to talk to wasps about buying the Ricoh, so why all the surprise now?

You’re the master of this site nick, I’m sure you’ll find discussions about wasps meeting up here if you look. Same as when they were talking to Cov Rugby. We all knew didn’t we?

If someone writes an article blaming CCC for our plight, I won’t bother saying “they didn’t mention SISU” which is my point about this thread.

For me, anything that raises our plight, is worthwhile.

Did we all know what came out in those emails? Feel free to post a link as I don't think we did.

They should all be blamed.

 

[chiefdave]

Something for that gap toothed gypo to hide behind.

Says it all really.

Vast majority of responses to the article have said it is very one sided yet Gilbert, Linnell and Maton are praising it. Speaks volumes about the role local media have played in this.

 

[Skybluefaz]

Vast majority of responses to the article have said it is very one sided yet Gilbert, Linnell and Maton are praising it. Speaks volumes about the role local media have played in this.

Yes Twaton, it should not.

 

[torchomatic]

You want SISU to stay? And you also must believe they will build a stadium? Now that is naive.

And who will own this dream stadium? CCFC?

Who will own the Ricoh if we stay there.