So that's it then.... (4 Viewers)

[Cobi Jones's Dreads]

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/co...to-cash-in-on-keiren-westwood-92746-28064412/

Coventry finally resign themselves to cashing in on Westood, that's fair enough but i've got a couple of points.

1) This time last month we were in and around the play-offs and a club statement read along the lines of "We would rather he went on a free at the end of this season and left for nothing than sell him in January for half is value and make a genuine push for the play offs"

Exactly what we HAVEN'T done, so why lie to the fans? The same thing happend with Dann and Fox and i think that infuriates the fans more than actually loosing their best players when you are promised so much in the name of PR.

2) Also if Birmingham is his last game or he does leave before that, where is our cover? We must have someone in line surely, if not it's going to be along hard season and a Charlton style last game if we have Danny Ireland in goal with our defence at the moment!

 

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[hamil99]

I get the feeling AB's been promised a lot of different things wen he came to the club just like Coleman.. and just like Coleman he's got diddly squat...that's why Coleman was disheartened in his second season and I get the feeling so will AB.. it was AB who came out and said he wud keep westwood no matter wat, but it was the board who have came out today saying they were listening to offers.. pulling the rug out from under ABs feet, I think so....

 

[Nathccfc]

what frustrates me is that we leave it so late to offer new contracts!! we could well be losing Gunnarsson soon aswell if we dont get our act together, it just seems that its becoming a norm for us to scout the lower leagues find some gems and then let the bigger clubs pinch them off us! you can only take so much, first Dann and Fox and now maybe Westy and Gunnarsson.!! The best thing to do then, is the hold out for the highest bidder and pray that we have someone else lined up, maybe Joe Lewis/Joe Murphy.. But im sure we might and hopefully can find someone just as good as Westy!

 

[Nick]

We must have somebody lined up. If they are stupid enough to sell him and leave us with just Danny Ireland than somebody needs sacking!

It is a shame he will be going but if he doesn't want to play for us then he doesn't want to play for us, may as well get money for him now than nothing at the end of the season!

 

[malta900]

kind of accepted that Westwood is going to be leaving, i really do hope that we have a keeper lined up if Westy goes.
Ranson did save our club from administration but since then he has never seemed to focus on improving the squad in my opinion.
And i agree with Nathccfc, we always seem to offer contracts to players to late. With the way we always seem to sell our best players the Premership is a long way off for us i think.
Hope he goes to a better team then wigan though.

 

[IrishSkyBlue]

were screwed im honestly thinkng how we going to stay up the way the club is doing this to the fans, westwoods saves kept us in the leagues and pushed us for promotion this year now were gettig rid of him, this club is going backwards not fowards we cant hold onto these gems we find in the lower leagues no wonder the attendance has dropd in the stadium the chairman and board ned to cop on and try get somebody in with money who will spend.

 

[SkyBlueMania]

If we let Gunnarsson and Westy slip away the club would be in all sorts of trouble:

1) we lose our two best players in my opinion
2) we lose even more of our dwindling fan base
3) I'm pretty sure Boothroyd would feel betrayed if the club makes no effort to keep the two of them, it's basically a two fingers up at him, 'you're not going to get us promoted even if you do have these players' sort of thing.

 

[Pigeon]

Its going to be a really big loss as he's such a big character among players and fans and is a lot better than most goalies in the championship and a few in the prem. Its rubbish that he's leaving to go to a club like Wigan rather than someone bigger. I just don't understand what's happening at the club, were not letting players go and then they do, there's going to be no loan players but no hint at a permanent player from the money we free up...it's not going to look good if were relying on the likes on Turner and King to defend and score all on their own.

 

[InterSkyBlues]

So much for building for the future.............

 

[SkyBlueKay]

Apparently, and I can't remember where I read it, we're likely to bring in one of those keepers we had on loan before, for the rest of the season! Iain Turner & Colin Doyle is it?

I had such high hopes for this season, and I don't just mean doing well. I was looking forward to keeping our squad and building on it. Not sure why I felt like that, why would it be any different than before?

 

[BenInTurin]

If we get a few million out of it then it's a good deal considering we're losing him for nothing in the summer. Don't think we're relegation fodder, but it could be the difference between play offs. You never know, maybe we should give ireland his chance now.

 

[MatthewWallis]

Apparently, and I can't remember where I read it, we're likely to bring in one of those keepers we had on loan before, for the rest of the season! Iain Turner & Colin Doyle is it?

I had such high hopes for this season, and I don't just mean doing well. I was looking forward to keeping our squad and building on it. Not sure why I felt like that, why would it be any different than before?

yeah i heard we are getting Iain Turner, if he is our number 1 for the rest of the season then im gonna be so angry, and we kiss goodbye to hopes of finishing above 16th

 

[Disorganised1]

And they wonder why the fan base is dropping

 

[Skyblueloz]

Surely most realistic City fans should have realised back in the summer that Westwood would leave sooner rather than later, as it was obvious he wasnt going to sign a new contract. Therefore surely to get any money for him is better than nothing particularly the fees being suggested. Us fans have got to realise that all Coventry is now is a selling club and a stepping stone for players to hopefully move on to bigger and better things. I feel that Ranson is doing the right thing by purchasing young players from the lower leagues or from abroad relatively cheaply, and hope to sell them on in a couple of years for a bigger fee. Promotion from this league i think can happen one of two ways, you have a sugar daddy which Ranson is not and never said he would be or just plain luck, i.e Blackpool last year.

 

[Cobi Jones's Dreads]

Promotion from this league i think can happen one of two ways, you have a sugar daddy which Ranson is not and never said he would be or just plain luck, i.e Blackpool last year.

Sadly we've not got either!

 

[skybluewill]

It's unfortunate that he will be leaving but he havnt got the results in the last month or so. Football is a results game and at the moment it looks like we will be in the bottom half of the table. We don't have the money to offer players massive contracts so it's inevitable that the better players in the team leave eventually which has happen in the last couple of years. It is annoying but it happens to all championship teams

 

[Dan Griffin]

Give the number 1 to Danny Ireland rather than bringing in a loan keeper if anything tbh, rather develop Ireland more now and have a shite rest of season than have a loanee and still have a shite season, buy a proper keeper in the summer and try sell Ireland for a bit of dosh or keep if hes doing well!

 

[Taziano]

Christ, all doom and gloom now !!! SACK THE BOARD !!!!!

Makes AB's "work in progress" drone sound a little rich though eh ?

 

[SkyBluesAndy]

We just have to accept that Westwood wants to leave and is going to leave whether it's now or at the end of May. I think the play-off's are too far away for us now so I say cash in and scout for a new keeper (Joe Murphy?)

This is just what the club has to do to balance the books at the moment, I don't want us spending big and getting into financial trouble. Let's just keep things ticking over and make profits on players where we can until finances improve. It's boring I know but we don't want to be the next Pompey.

 

[valiant15]

Why does everyone think joe murphy will come here? Do you think scunny are just going to roll over like we do and say you can have him? Ranson wont spend any of the westy money its so fuckin obvious!

The same shite season after season with sisu and their constant bullshit.Another end of season dross beckons,no westwood,no goals,no money,no fuckin hope! And these dicks wonder why the crowds are 15000 and below every home game. Open your eyes ray,the fans are leaving in their 1000s!

 

[SkyBluesAndy]

Why does everyone think joe murphy will come here? Do you think scunny are just going to roll over like we do and say you can have him? Ranson wont spend any of the westy money its so fuckin obvious!

The same shite season after season with sisu and their constant bullshit.Another end of season dross beckons,no westwood,no goals,no money,no fuckin hope! And these dicks wonder why the crowds are 15000 and below every home game. Open your eyes ray,the fans are leaving in their 1000s!

Ahh so you're the happy, easily satisfied optimistic sort are you?

 

[Jimthor]

I could go down the "once a selling club, always a selling club" route with this, as obviously it's really disappointing to lose one of our best players. But from a realistic perspective, this might be what's best. If we get a couple million for him at least we can afford to bring someone in that'll act as a decent replacement. We all know there's nothing in the kitty, so if we lost him for diddly squit we'd be looking significantly weaker in the GK position come next season.
I'll be wishing him the fondest of luck in the Premier League and will keep a keen eye on how he does. Great player who's done a great job for us. Lot of respect for him.

 

[InterSkyBlues]

As a fan base we have to be realistic - we are a business first and foremost and the number one priority has to be to earn enough money to be around next season ad infinitum. Until Sheikh Summitorother comes to give us some billions we will remain in this position and I would rather be in the black than in insolvency. If we need to sell Westwood then so be it. Lets instead focus on loans from Premiership clubs and a youth policy of bringing in the best that we can.

Whatever happens I will be here next season to support on my team, irrespective of who's playing - sure I would rather it was in the Premiership but it ain't so I will have to put up with seeing whatever the Championship has to offer - this season has been good to date and long may it continue.

 

[zigojacko]

It's a complete joke! Westwood has saved us from being hammered in so many games this season! I'm disgraced at Coventry if they let him go without a fight, it's not as if we'll see any new money signing with the money made from the sale is it!

I can't understand why our best players want to leave, if we honestly kept hold of them, we would be back in the top flight by now. Instead, they opt to leave and most have had to make do with sitting on the bench at their new club - wheres the logic in that! Look what happened to Chris Kirkland, he was a good keeper while he was with us.

 

[zigojacko]

As a fan base we have to be realistic - we are a business first and foremost and the number one priority has to be to earn enough money to be around next season

You have to wonder where any money this club earns is going though... We were promised money signings in the summer pre-season... Everyone we got were cast offs/rejects and freebies!

I'm not convinced any money the club makes is going to be re-invested into the team to be quite honest.

 

[Coventry La La La]

It's a complete joke! Westwood has saved us from being hammered in so many games this season! I'm disgraced at Coventry if they let him go without a fight, it's not as if we'll see any new money signing with the money made from the sale is it!

I can't understand why our best players want to leave, if we honestly kept hold of them, we would be back in the top flight by now. Instead, they opt to leave and most have had to make do with sitting on the bench at their new club - wheres the logic in that! Look what happened to Chris Kirkland, he was a good keeper while he was with us.

:wave::welcome:Zigo

Unfortunatly Westwood doesn't want to sign and would rather move onto a much bigger club that can offer him a big money contract at the end of the day he either goes now for money or for free in 19 games time (end of season)

 

[n1xon]

the problem is the club loses money every year! (4m a year i think i read) unfortunately when we get a good offer for a player we have to let them go so the club can stay afloat.

 

[Jay88]

evry1s right ... we shud b putting up more of a fight. But Westwood is one of the best goalies in the championship and been consistently good this season. Definitely deserves a shot in the Premiership but I can't really see him starting in any of the Prem teams. Would be a number 2. Wigan would be an awful move for him as its likely they'll be in the championship next season anyway!

 

[Skyblueloz]

Westwood has made a decision to leave whether it be now or in the summer. Premiership clubs know that Westwood is not signing a contract and therefore are going to offer what we would deem peanuts for our best player. Coventry cannot put up more of a fight, as there is nothing left to fight on this issue, as it is now for money or the summer for nothing.

On another note, i see we have loaned out Michael Quirke to Nuneaton, which would suggest that if Westwood goes this window, we have a replacement lined up.

 

[Nick]

Westwood has made a decision to leave whether it be now or in the summer. Premiership clubs know that Westwood is not signing a contract and therefore are going to offer what we would deem peanuts for our best player. Coventry cannot put up more of a fight, as there is nothing left to fight on this issue, as it is now for money or the summer for nothing.

On another note, i see we have loaned out Michael Quirke to Nuneaton, which would suggest that if Westwood goes this window, we have a replacement lined up.

Exactly. Everybody seems to be blaming the club but it is hardly their fault? He doesn't want to play for us and wants to be in the Premier League to increase his Ireland chances and his bank account.

Not much that can be done to keep him, the club are doing the right thing in selling him now if he wants to go and making a couple of million!

 

[valiant15]

So basically the club are saying he can go now cos we havent got a chance of the top 6? Boothroyd is basically saying that our season is over.

Skybluesandy-im just sick of the constant lies that come out of the club,for example,we got fed bullshit about dann and fox not going,they get the season ticket money in then they sell them.Sisu have either got to bite the bullet and spend some proper money or find some kind of outside investment.

Were being run like a league 1 club,you wonder why the players want to jump ship? Look at the crap we sign every summer.

 

[KarmicChris]

Yeah I want us to build a sqaud and all that too, but lets be realistic he is constantly rated one of the best 'keepers outside of the Premier League and even better than some.

We haven't even finished in the top half of the Championship for a couple of seasons. From what i've heard £2million is the going rate for him, for a 'keeper with 6 months left on his contract that is bloody good money. Best player we've got by some distance I reckon and course I don't wanna see him go, but I think keeping him in the summer was a shockso if we make it with him untill summer 2011 it's a miracle I think

 

[Skyblueloz]

Sisu have either got to bite the bullet and spend some proper money or find some kind of outside investment.

Where is this money going to come from? SISU and Ranson have always said they are not 'sugardaddies', yes investment has been mentioned on a number of occassions, but if they feel that there is nobody out there that represents value for money then why spend it? Coventry City unfortunatly are not a fashionable side, we've been stuck in the championship for 10 years and never really troubled the top 6. Even if City did go out and spend big, there is no gurantee it will pay dividends, and could make the situation a lot worse.

As for outside investment, i doubt anyone would see Coventry City as a viable business proposition right now. Ranson is trying to stablise the club financially so that it does become sound financial investment, but as seen over the last 10 years or so, football is anything but financially stable, just look at Leeds and Portsmouth, so until the day we can convince some Saudi Prince to buy the club this is what is going to happen.

 

[NuneatonSkyBlue]

We haven't even finished in the top half of the Championship for a couple of seasons. From what i've heard £2million is the going rate for him, for a 'keeper with 6 months left on his contract that is bloody good money.

It makes you wonder what clubs would of paid for him if he still had a full contract. Craig Gordon was brought for £9million and that was a record fee at the time for a keeper, £2million is suposed to be a reduced price for a keeper when he only has 6 months left on his contract.

 

[valiant15]

Loz,i understand where your coming from,but where do other clubs find there money? Only a small few actually make money.

So this is it then,finishing 17th every season? Whats the point in renewing? People say we can find a few gems in the summer and build the team around them,but it never happens cos we sell them.We will never go anywhere until we stop flogging our best players and start adding quality to what weve got.We cant do that cos weve got no cash.Whats the answer then?

The longer this goes on,ie finishing down the bottom and flogging our assets,the worse the support will get.As you can see by the gates,the coventry public(apart from us)are not interested in coventry city.unless they show some signs of improvment asap.