Club Statement regarding EFL vote and stadium situation (13 Viewers)

[jordan210]

NEWS: Club Statement regarding EFL vote and stadium situation

Coventry City can confirm that the planned English Football League EGM and vote regarding the Club’s place in the EFL has now been cancelled.

This is because the Club has met the EFL’s criteria regarding ensuring a venue for matches next season and the ability to fulfil fixtures, by now having a groundshare venue and agreement in place.

This groundshare is in place to make sure the Club has somewhere to play in the scenario of a deal to play at the Ricoh Arena not being agreed.

We can confirm that talks with the aim to achieve a deal to play at the Ricoh Arena are continuing between Coventry City Football Club, its owners SISU and Wasps Holdings Limited.

Our focus and desire is to agree a deal at the Ricoh Arena - this is everyone's preferred option, and the right option for Coventry City. While the backup of a groundshare exists to ensure the future of the Football Club continues, another groundshare is not something anyone wants to happen.

Details of the agreed groundshare and of our ongoing discussions with Wasps Holdings Limited remain confidential, due to mutually signed confidentiality agreements.

We understand the frustration that fans are feeling, and have expressed to us, at not knowing where their Club will be playing next season, not being able to plan for next season and supporting Mark Robins and the team, and the time that this is taking.

We will provide a further update to supporters as soon as we are able to.

 

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[ccfcway]

The good news they are communicating. Clearly shows they want to be at the Ricoh as well

 

[higgs]

The longer this goes on the more damage it is doing I hope they sign a long term deal because this uncertainty with not being to sell season tickets is damaging. Fuckn pull d finger out u wasps pricks

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[CCFC72]

Got to be positive that talks are still on and we are publicly saying we want to use the Ricoh. Just a shame it’s taking so long but hope we get the best result. Wasps want us as long as we play ball.

 

[djr8369]

Well there’s still a slim hope then. Chaos for season tickets though.


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[OffenhamSkyBlue]

Good news that the threat of expulsion has been lifted. Now all we need is survival - and to know when STs are on sale!

 

[skybluepm2]

I was angry when I first read this but it’s certainly positive that the vote has been cancelled, talks appear to be ongoing and the groundshare agreement is in place.. as a backup option, as much as we don’t want this to happen. The Ricoh isn’t dead in the water yet thankfully.

Let’s hope common sense prevails in the next few days and we can turn our attention back to winning league one next season!

 

[Mr Panda]

I don't read too much into these statements anymore until you hear some kind of noise coming from Wasps.

Continuing talks surely signal a softening in Wasps stance on the EC complaint...but again there's no point getting hopes up until we hear something from them. No news from them would be good news though.

 

[SBAndy]

I know they’re bound in certain aspects of this, but I wish they’d state a date when the groundshare will become live and they will cease negotiations on the Ricoh, selfishly because I’m fed up of the uncertainty. If they put a cap on it by saying “by 1st June we will provide you with confirmation of where we are playing” that’d ease a lot of the tension I’d expect.

 

[Garryb80]

I know they’re bound in certain aspects of this, but I wish they’d state a date when the groundshare will become live and they will cease negotiations on the Ricoh, selfishly because I’m fed up of the uncertainty. If they put a cap on it by saying “by 1st June we will provide you with confirmation of where we are playing” that’d ease a lot of the tension I’d expect.

But what if they get to mid june and Wasps decide we can play there?

 

[lord_garrincha]

I suppose if the owners are confident of agreeing a deal with that lot, then they can assume around 6k x whatever the charge is for the min budget and put that capital in short term... hence the three lads coming in.

Obviously this changes greatly if they groundshare... but the vibes and players in suggest it's the Ricoh (I hope!).

The only interesting aspect of 'getting their business done early' is how they look at potential targets with the 'Wilson cash'... Reading the gossip that Spurs are interested is not a good sign, seeing that Levy ALWAYS plays his cards at the last minute. Hopefully Everton come in early with a stupid desperate bid and takes care of that.

 

[chiefdave]

But what if they get to mid june and Wasps decide we can play there?

Exactly. What if its like the last time and we play a couple of games in Brum and then get an offer to come back. Would people really prefer we put an artificial deadline in place and stay there all season?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Yep good news talks ongoing

 

[Cranfield Sky Blue]

I suppose if the owners are confident of agreeing a deal with that lot, then they can assume around 6k x whatever the charge is for the min budget and put that capital in short term... hence the three lads coming in.

Obviously this changes greatly if they groundshare... but the vibes and players in suggest it's the Ricoh (I hope!).

The only interesting aspect of 'getting their business done early' is how they look at potential targets with the 'Wilson cash'... Reading the gossip that Spurs are interested is not a good sign, seeing that Levy ALWAYS plays his cards at the last minute. Hopefully Everton come in early with a stupid desperate bid and takes care of that.

I get your point about Levy but doesn’t our transfer window last a bit longer this year? Sure I read it somewhere?

PUSB

 

[lord_garrincha]

I get your point about Levy but doesn’t our transfer window last a bit longer this year? Sure I read it somewhere?

PUSB

It does, but a last min low ball from Levy may mean no transfer at all!

 

[Longford]

From what I’ve heard from peeps in the club. Wasps moved their position end of last week. Until then it had been full steam St. Andrews. That is now the backstop. Ricoh is now in pole position and announcements about new deal expected early next week.


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[CCFC54321]

From what I’ve heard from peeps in the club. Wasps moved their position end of last week. Until then it had been full steam St. Andrews. That is now the backstop. Ricoh is now in pole position and announcements about new deal expected early next week.


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Probably because the head of finance for Wasps has mentioned into someone’s ear they can’t afford to throw CCFC out...

 

[shepardo01]

From what I’ve heard from peeps in the club. Wasps moved their position end of last week. Until then it had been full steam St. Andrews. That is now the backstop. Ricoh is now in pole position and announcements about new deal expected early next week.


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Sky statement says "Deal with W**ps not close"
Would LOVE you to be right.
I similarly spoke to somebody who works for club on Thursday. He said "no idea" where they would be but strongly looking like St Andrew's..
Hope your source was higher up than mine!

 

[jordan210]

Good old sky. Making stuff up

 

[Lord_Nampil]

Reading the statement it does come across that all parties want the club at the Ricoh problem wasps have is the EC investigation. If they didn’t want us there the talks would have ended I am guessing it’s not a case of wanting us there but a need! Something had to be done to please all!!

 

[jordan210]

So sky deleted the first tweet by the looks of things and now

 

[oldskyblue58]

Does still talking mean talking in same room or even by solicitors or does it really mean neither side want to say there is nothing to say and no prospect of agreement

Got a feeling it is the latter and this is drip feeding the reality in to the public domain to manage the PR. I hope I am wrong but the parties seem too far apart on the legals to me

 

[oucho]

Even at this stage I wouldn't bet against us being at the Ricoh again next season. This smacks to me of CCFC lining up an alternative to increase bargaining power in the rent negotiations with Wasps.

 

[Grendel]

Does still talking mean talking in same room or even by solicitors or does it really mean neither side want to say there is nothing to say and no prospect of agreement

Got a feeling it is the latter and this is drip feeding the reality in to the public domain to manage the PR. I hope I am wrong but the parties seem too far apart on the legals to me

I think you are correct. I can’t see what leverage with wasps we have to influence a change. Our stance can’t change and I’s be surprised if there’s has

 

[Ashdown]

Even at this stage I wouldn't bet against us being at the Ricoh again next season. This smacks to me of CCFC lining up an alternative to increase bargaining power in the rent negotiations with Wasps.

Yeah I think so too but I don't think they will budge now thanks to this EC business............ So it's the salubrious area of Small Heath for our 'Home' fans !?

 

[Grendel]

Even at this stage I wouldn't bet against us being at the Ricoh again next season. This smacks to me of CCFC lining up an alternative to increase bargaining power in the rent negotiations with Wasps.

We had to show to the EFL we can fulfill fixtures next year so that’s why this is being announced

 

[Grendel]

Real choppy waters ahead now for ccfc I think

 

[stupot07]

This is very positive. Contingency in place, hopefully a deal at the ricoh will be reached, but most of all our club continues to survive.

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[Samo]

Reading the statement it does come across that all parties want the club at the Ricoh problem wasps have is the EC investigation. If they didn’t want us there the talks would have ended I am guessing it’s not a case of wanting us there but a need! Something had to be done to please all!!

Surely though, the EC investigation is largely irrelevant to the here and now. If it cannot be withdrawn then it will run its course and if Wasps believe that no wrongdoing took place then they have nothing to worry about. They would surely be shooting themselves in the foot to say no to a deal they probably need to happen just because the EC investigation is in the background.

 

[SBAndy]

Exactly. What if its like the last time and we play a couple of games in Brum and then get an offer to come back. Would people really prefer we put an artificial deadline in place and stay there all season?

You can’t just ‘hang on’ ad infinitum. Proper planning has to take place, whether that be on behalf of the club or the fans. You touch on last time, but we were in a full groundshare agreement and ended that early to come back to the Ricoh. Why wouldn’t there be potential break clauses in from our end? This communication of ongoing dialogue isn’t actually serving any sort of purpose, it’s just winding us all up further and further. Announce the groundshare and if we can come back then do that deal like we did last time.

I’m of the same thought process as OSB on this, I think this is some sort of PR management. Only thing is, I don’t think it’s necessarily good.

 

[Nick]

From what I’ve heard from peeps in the club. Wasps moved their position end of last week. Until then it had been full steam St. Andrews. That is now the backstop. Ricoh is now in pole position and announcements about new deal expected early next week.


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So wasps playing games like they have previously by doing it. Everybody was too busy worked up at sisu after Gilbert did a job.

 

[oucho]

We had to show to the EFL we can fulfill fixtures next year so that’s why this is being announced

As Stu says, it's in place as contingency - the "bargaining power" aspect clearly isn't the only reason this has been lined up, but the effect is the same as the club will be using this as a lever in the negotiations.

 

[Grendel]

As Stu says, it's in place as contingency - the "bargaining power" aspect clearly isn't the only reason this has been lined up, but the effect is the same as the club will be using this as a lever in the negotiations.

No it’s a requirement as there is and cannot be a change in the clubs stance - why is it a lever? It’s a one year deal against a legal backdrop of a decade

 

[oldskyblue58]

The other problem I have with what is unfolding is that in everything that Sisu have ever done it has been cold and calculated, it may have been portrayed as last minute but that is by choice to allow minimum reaction time. Why would this be any different?

Sisu have orchestrated this merry dance, have been reasonably certain of what reactions would be and when. I cannot help thinking that ground share is exactly where they expect us to be.

It doesn't matter what trouble that causes for Ccfc because this is getting to the end game for their investors. It has always been about their investors not the investment tool that is Ccfc.

A one year deal when an EC investigation could take longer let alone the ECJ court case etc suggests Ccfc will be gone much longer. Nothing very possibly will have changed this time next year. Which means wasps nor Sisu will have changed position by that time in all probability

 

[tisza]

Wasn't a provision of the last groundshare that a more permanent solution had to be in the offing?
And whichever way you cut reduced income from lower crowds etc. still going to impact next season's budget.