Ann Lucas (2 Viewers)

[Deleted member 5849]

I think for me having heard loads of stuff over this I’m left thinking why as a fan in a position of influence you would be a part of a decision that has such a catastrophic impact on the club you love

I've often thought the way the club, and Boothroyd in particular, treated her over signing King must have had an effect in how much she loved the club.

 

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[Deleted member 5849]

Spite towards Joy Seppalla and SISU... the council were willing to let the club cease to exist rather than deal with/work with SISU.

I'd say it's more divest themselves of a financial risk when SISU are being uber litigious, and therefore allow the council to move forward without being tied up in distractions, and set-offs.

 

[RegTheDonk]

I think for me having heard loads of stuff over this I’m left thinking why as a fan in a position of influence you would be a part of a decision that has such a catastrophic impact on the club you love

She literally took LOVE CLUB / HATE SISU to a new level.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I think she genuinely thought that she was raising the profile of Coventry. But she just didn’t have the acumen to make that decision. But like the over promoted people at work who might be good administrators…they and she are often out their depth. I hold no malice…. In Anne’s simple world she was making the right decision… but feck me she backed the wrong horse.

That over everything annoyed me today. Hearing her justify the decision all these years later by saying it was unanimous wound me up. Tell me why it was the right decision or say I never meant it to hurt the club or cov rugby and can see it did or say we couldn’t deal with the owner at the time but no it was the right decision because all councillors voted for it.

Gosh when did everyone get it wrong? Let me think

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I'd say it's more divest themselves of a financial risk when SISU are being uber litigious, and therefore allow the council to move forward without being tied up in distractions, and set-offs.

I’d lean that way too but own up to the fact that it put the whole operation at risk

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I’d lean that way too but own up to the fact that it put the whole operation at risk

Yup. I guess it's default politician-speak to deny weakness however, whatever colour your rosette.

 

[chiefdave]

Hearing her justify the decision all these years later by saying it was unanimous wound me up.

Doubt we'll ever find out but would love to know what happened at that meeting. Going into it the local media were reporting it would be a very tight vote and struggle to get through. There was then a meeting, with the bosses at Wasps there, where no public were allowed and no minutes or notes of any sort kept and all of a sudden its unanimous.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Doubt we'll ever find out but would love to know what happened at that meeting. Going into it the local media were reporting it would be a very tight vote and struggle to get through. There was then a meeting, with the bosses at Wasps there, where no public were allowed and no minutes or notes of any sort kept and all of a sudden its unanimous.

FWIW, it's also surprised me that there's been *no* leak from *anybody*. You'd think there'd be a disgruntled councillor somewhere, or an ambitious one who thinks there's merit in going against the grain, wouldn't you?

 

[Sick Boy]

She literally took LOVE CLUB / HATE SISU to a new level.

Just had a flashback to the “Love Thorn/Hate SISU” stuff that got posted on here by his disciples -

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

FWIW, it's also surprised me that there's been *no* leak from *anybody*. You'd think there'd be a disgruntled councillor somewhere, or an ambitious one who thinks there's merit in going against the grain, wouldn't you?

Oh yeah don’t get me wrong I’m sure having spoken to George and Martin reeves and the deputy guy the decision was best for the city as a whole. We could argue the merits of that and not agree but at least we could argue
I was gobsmacked by George and Martin saying to our faces that having a successful professional football club wasn’t important. They changed their tune when We said that doesn’t make any sense given the good will and celebration on winning league 2 play off. They then talked about it making a £25m or so difference in a budget of £400m but it’s still a lot of money.

The other side of course is should I be more bothered about the proper funding and resource time in children's services or supporting the football club and even with my broadest prejudiced sky blue glasses I would prefer time and money to be spent on children's services rather than the football club

I know it’s not black and white and one or other

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I was gobsmacked by George and Martin saying to our faces that having a successful professional football club wasn’t important. They changed their tune when We said that doesn’t make any sense given the good will and celebration on winning league 2 play off. They then talked about it making a £25m or so difference in a budget of £400m but it’s still a lot of money.

It's not even money tbh, it's profile of city, positivity, improves wellbeing. Hard to quantify, but will attract tourists, students etc just because they've heard of where we are.

As you say aswell, presentation of funding as an either/or is a fatal trap people try and set to do away with the wishy-washy stuff, that's still important for, well, life in the everyday.

 

[Grendel]

It's not even money tbh, it's profile of city, positivity, improves wellbeing. Hard to quantify, but will attract tourists, students etc just because they've heard of where we are.

As you say aswell, presentation of funding as an either/or is a fatal trap people try and set to do away with the wishy-washy stuff, that's still important for, well, life in the everyday.

the council unfortunately have never really valued the football club as an asset to the community - pretty much any other council wouldn’t have taken the strategy they have going back the last 20 plus years - successive council leaders have let the club down going back to Highfield Road years

 

[AOM]

Thanks for helping with the research for my quick interview on the radio

When was the interview Pete? CWR I assume?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

When was the interview Pete? CWR I assume?

8:15am this morning - was probably a bit too balanced but was very clear it was Ann that divides the fan base then and now and for a fan to do what she did it’s hard to square that with her commitment professionalism and integrity

 

[Nick]

It's ok maton will be the new mayor.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Oh yeah don’t get me wrong I’m sure having spoken to George and Martin reeves and the deputy guy the decision was best for the city as a whole. We could argue the merits of that and not agree but at least we could argue
I was gobsmacked by George and Martin saying to our faces that having a successful professional football club wasn’t important. They changed their tune when We said that doesn’t make any sense given the good will and celebration on winning league 2 play off. They then talked about it making a £25m or so difference in a budget of £400m but it’s still a lot of money.

The other side of course is should I be more bothered about the proper funding and resource time in children's services or supporting the football club and even with my broadest prejudiced sky blue glasses I would prefer time and money to be spent on children's services rather than the football club

I know it’s not black and white and one or other

Of course they should get the best for the ratepayers of the city, childrens services etc. should be top of the list.

I'm sure the deal she offered WASPS took this into consideration

 

[Ian1779]

It's ok maton will be the new mayor.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any shitter.

 

[AOM]

8:15am this morning - was probably a bit too balanced but was very clear it was Ann that divides the fan base then and now and for a fan to do what she did it’s hard to square that with her commitment professionalism and integrity

Thanks, was just interested in listening to the discussion

 

[clint van damme]

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any shitter.

A wankers wanker.

 

[Flying Fokker]

Good Lord no, sorry Pete. This was Coventry City Council at their worst and no one involved is ever going to get any forgiveness from me, especially given that there's never been even a hint of an apology.

I'm sure that won't bother Ms Lucas even slightly in fairness.

I think the whole sorry episode will never be forgiven. SISU laid down the challenge. They were the only show in town weren’t they? Then some numpties in the council decided they would win at all costs…They were fed up to the back teeth with SISU and what they perceived as stressing ACL out. The Council rode on the back of City’s successes over the years, yet they stabbed us in the back when we needed their support the most. WASPS tenancy at the stadium is testimony to a complete failure of all parties. Stuff SISU, stuff WASPS,stuff Anne and the Council for the mistakes they made. None of them come out of this unscathed.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I think the whole sorry episode will never be forgiven. SISU laid down the challenge. They were the only show in town weren’t they? Then some numpties in the council decided they would win at all costs…They were fed up to the back teeth with SISU and what they perceived as stressing ACL out. The Council rode on the back of City’s successes over the years, yet they stabbed us in the back when we needed their support the most. WASPS tenancy at the stadium is testimony to a complete failure of all parties. Stuff SISU, stuff WASPS,stuff Anne and the Council for the mistakes they made. None of them come out of this unscathed.

Yeah

 

[Otis]

It's ok maton will be the new mayor.

Oooh, Maton!

 

[torchomatic]

Now she’s stood down can we forgive and forget?

Nope, she can fuck off. And then fuck off again.

 

[rob9872]

Has she ever admitted she got it wrong or showed any contrition or apologised to our fan base?

I've not seen anything, but without that it will of course be much harder for people to forgive even if they can't forget.

 

[AOM]

8:15am this morning - was probably a bit too balanced but was very clear it was Ann that divides the fan base then and now and for a fan to do what she did it’s hard to square that with her commitment professionalism and integrity

I thought you came across very well Pete!

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I thought you came across very well Pete!

Bless you

 

[duffer]

Oh yeah don’t get me wrong I’m sure having spoken to George and Martin reeves and the deputy guy the decision was best for the city as a whole. We could argue the merits of that and not agree but at least we could argue
I was gobsmacked by George and Martin saying to our faces that having a successful professional football club wasn’t important. They changed their tune when We said that doesn’t make any sense given the good will and celebration on winning league 2 play off. They then talked about it making a £25m or so difference in a budget of £400m but it’s still a lot of money.

The other side of course is should I be more bothered about the proper funding and resource time in children's services or supporting the football club and even with my broadest prejudiced sky blue glasses I would prefer time and money to be spent on children's services rather than the football club

I know it’s not black and white and one or other

For me Pete, it was pretty black and white. The council lied to everyone in the city about doing a deal with Wasps - that's CCFC, CRFC, and the public. Flat out lied. Said one thing, did another.

Then they unanimously voted the deal through on three undertakings (red-lines, in modern parlance):

1) It wouldn't hurt CCFC.

2) It wouldn't hurt CRFC.

3) Wasps would build a training ground etc. in the city, creating jobs and income.

Notably, and it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention, they then sold the ground on the cheap without making any attempt to make sure those promises would be kept. All three were subsequently broken - CCFC ended up in Northampton (edit: Birmingham, duh.), Wasps make no attempt to stop their fixtures clashing with CRFC, and after directly threatening CCFC's academy, Wasps have eventually moved their entire operation to Henley-in-Arden (also screwing the locals there, as an aside).

Putting aside the ethics of encouraging another team to move 100 miles from their support, in itself the whole thing was an act of simply astonishing incompetence and mendacity, and quite possibly, malice.

And before anyone shouts 'SISU apologist', just don't, OK. SISU have always been in it for themselves - but elected representatives and council officers should and must be held to a higher standard.

 

[duffer]

Oooh, Maton!

View attachment 24737

Excellent, Otis. It took me a minute to get there, but that's quality.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

For me Pete, it was pretty black and white. The council lied to everyone in the city about doing a deal with Wasps - that's CCFC, CRFC, and the public. Flat out lied. Said one thing, did another.

Then they unanimously voted the deal through on three undertakings (red-lines, in modern parlance):

1) It wouldn't hurt CCFC.

2) It wouldn't hurt CRFC.

3) Wasps would build a training ground etc. in the city, creating jobs and income.

Notably, and it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention, they then sold the ground on the cheap without making any attempt to make sure those promises would be kept. All three were subsequently broken - CCFC ended up in Northampton, Wasps make no attempt to stop their fixtures clashing with CRFC, and after directly threatening CCFC's academy, Wasps have eventually moved their entire operation to Henley-in-Arden (also screwing the locals there, as an aside).

Putting aside the ethics of encouraging another team to move 100 miles from their support, in itself the whole thing was an act of simply astonishing incompetence and mendacity, and quite possibly, malice.

And before anyone shouts 'SISU apologist', just don't, OK. SISU have always been in it for themselves - but elected representatives and council officers should and must be held to a higher standard.

Well we ended up in Birmingham rather than Northampton but yes the whole episode reflected well on nobody. As I said, if you were in council offices at the time they openly took the piss out of the football club while delivering buckets of free Wasps tickets to whoever was closest.

 

[duffer]

Well we ended up in Birmingham rather than Northampton but yes the whole episode reflected well on nobody. As I said, if you were in council offices at the time they openly took the piss out of the football club while delivering buckets of free Wasps tickets to whoever was closest.

Northampton first though, wasn't it mate? Or is that just in my version of the multiverse?

Anyhow, whilst I'm venting, can I just add one more person to the no-fly list. That dickhead Administrator behind the "Golden Share" farce. When it's my shift on the pearly gates he's not getting in either.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Northampton first though, wasn't it mate? Or is that just in my version of the multiverse?

Anyhow, whilst I'm venting, can I just add one more person to the no-fly list. That dickhead Administrator behind the "Golden Share" farce. When it's my shift on the pearly gates he's not getting in either.

Northampton first, but the promises in question were made when we returned from there. The most bizarre episode even above the balloon tying was Duggins’ comparisons to Mussolini in the council chambers.

What an odd chap

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

We

Northampton first though, wasn't it mate? Or is that just in my version of the multiverse?

Anyhow, whilst I'm venting, can I just add one more person to the no-fly list. That dickhead Administrator behind the "Golden Share" farce. When it's my shift on the pearly gates he's not getting in either.

We were in Northampton before Wasps were on the scene, once word got out that they were buying the stadium the football club came back

 

[duffer]

We

We were in Northampton before Wasps were on the scene, once word got out that they were buying the stadium the football club came back

Thank you, yes, I stand corrected.

Though in fairness, when the club came back the Wasps deal was being done in secret, whilst in public the council were saying that they wanted to rebuild trust with the club before talking about selling the Arena. See also above re: lying liars lying etc.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

We came back from Northampton on a hint and a whiff of sorting the situation with the ground only to find that the council had been in bed with wasps and used us as a sweetener to get wasps on board. It was rotten and just digging it back up really is starting to boil my piss again.

 

[Ian1779]

We came back from Northampton on a hint and a whiff of sorting the situation with the ground only to find that the council had been in bed with wasps and used us as a sweetener to get wasps on board. It was rotten and just digging it back up really is starting to boil my piss again.

There may have been the odd person in the know of other things, but the vast majority of the fan base was deceived in thinking the return to the Ricoh from Northampton was the beginning of new dawn and relationship between the club owner and council that could have over time led to the club becoming owners (or in part) of the Ricoh.