Confused.com (4 Viewers)

CCFCDan87

New Member
Do I think it's good? Well, we'll have to wait and see, it's not ideal, put it that way, I might not be able to go now but, I'll give you something to consider:

Stay at the RICOH, go into admin, get the -10 or -15 points all but confirm another season in L1 losing out on millions on revenue, possibility of liquidation, still no rent agreement, OR...

Move to whatever ground, cheaper rent and possibly get 100% revenues, still the playoff dream is intact, we could get promoted, we get millions, we'll lose probably short of 100k in lower attendances, but, ST holders get counted whether or not they go, and because that's the large majority of our gate, CCFC aren't losing too much.

I think this shows that SISU have at least a mid-term plans for CCFC, and it could pave the way for more productive rent talks now ACL are guaranteed jack shit.

So you think we won't go into admin. This will make the problem 100 times worse in the long run. The FA and football league will come down on us like a ton of bricks of they think SISU are trying to play the system
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Debt written off, that extra 20% revenue. Didn't SISU want someone to look at ACL's finances?

Doesn't seem to unreadable does it?

The extra 20% can't be handed over because it's not ACL's to give away and it relates to their share of the profits. ACL offered, in addition to handing over their slice of the profit, to cross-invoice all of the matchday revenue for CCFC's FFP calculations.

The debt wouldn't have to be paid all at once and more to the point the club racked up that bill voluntarily in violation of the contract-why shouldn't we have to pay the piper?
 

torchomatic

Well-Known Member
The Board of Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) is aware of the statement made this evening by Coventry City Football Club (Holdings) that is has placed a non-operating subsidiary of its business into administration. The statement is unclear. We are revewing this action with our legal advisers and will make a public statement in due course."


You could have saved yourself a bit of typing and just written 'Oh bollocks'.
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
Do I think it's good? Well, we'll have to wait and see, it's not ideal, put it that way, I might not be able to go now but, I'll give you something to consider:

Stay at the RICOH, go into admin, get the -10 or -15 points all but confirm another season in L1 losing out on millions on revenue, possibility of liquidation, still no rent agreement, OR...

Move to whatever ground, cheaper rent and possibly get 100% revenues, still the playoff dream is intact, we could get promoted, we get millions, we'll lose probably short of 100k in lower attendances, but, ST holders get counted whether or not they go, and because that's the large majority of our gate, CCFC aren't losing too much.

I think this shows that SISU have at least a mid-term plans for CCFC, and it could pave the way for more productive rent talks now ACL are guaranteed jack shit.[/QUOTE

They can't keep my £36 if I ask for it back.
 

Noggin

New Member
Think the ramifications he refers to are that a sports club can build up a load of debt, transfer it to a subsidiary, let it go bust and then carry on as normal.

yes if this is whats happened and it appears as though it is surely everyone whatever side your on thinks that this is unnacceptable
 

Chipfat

Well-Known Member
Some think its business and fair,,,i think its tells us more about who we are dealing with and the fact they work with no thought or moral obligation to the fans or the city.
 

rob9872

Well-Known Member
No different to the past few owners or the prospective new ones. Unless they're a fan like you and I then it always has been and always will be business. Most of them are ruthless and they need to be to survive,
 

Chipfat

Well-Known Member
I agree Rob, but taking the club out of the city is one step most owners would not do, sell or admin not this long running battle which nobody will come out with much credit from.
 

mattylad

Member
the truth is no one knows who the legal precident sits with bcos such a case has never gone to court in the UK. SISU clearly always had this option and you have to believe they have FL buy in already in place. As I said on another post don't forget SISU are up to date on all bills except the Ricoh rent and can show the FL that they have paid staff and players despite having it's bank acc frozen. ACL could now have a real expensive battle on its hands. Maybe time for both sides to agree to that binding arbitration
 
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Sky Blues

Active Member
the truth is no one knows who the legal precident sits with bcos such a case has never gone to court in the UK. SISU clearly always had this option and you have to believe they have FL buy in already in place. As I said on another post don't forget SISU are up to date on all bills except the Ricoh rent and can show the fl that they have paid staff and players despite having it's bank acc frozen.

Yep, I think we could be about to break new ground in law. This mess could play out for a good while yet if this text on exiting a property lease is correct:

If a tenant gives up possession of their premises and hands back their keys to the landlord they may be able to prove that the landlord has agreed this as surrender of the lease. While surrender requires the agreement of both parties, if the landlord acts in a way to suggest agreement, such as re-letting the premises, the tenant will be released from their future liabilities under the lease.

But landlords are unlikely to accept the keys as surrender, in which case, the continuing liability of an *insolvent tenant under their lease will depend on the nature of the *insolvency.

Tenants hoping to rescue their business may enter into a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which is a contractual arrangement with creditors supervised by a licensed insolvency practitioner. In this way tenants may avoid liquidation through the use of cost-effective arrangements with creditors (including landlords) regarding the payment of rents and debts. However, a CVA must be approved by 75% in value of creditors, and the procedure for implementing a CVA is cumbersome.

The CVA will set out a plan for the payment of any arrears, future rents and dilapidations liability in relation to the tenant’s leasehold property. If the tenant no longer requires the premises, the CVA can also set out a relevant method for determination of the lease.

The landlord’s ability to take legal action to recover any rents or the property will depend on the terms of the CVA.


Source: http://www.microscope.co.uk/feature/In-depth-How-to-exit-a-property-lease
 

Delboycov

Active Member
There is nothing confusing about it. While the pair of you are playing who's got the biggest cock, our club is going down the tubes.

Totally agree with that...it doesn't matter whether you're pro SISU, Pro ACL, Anti SISU Anti ACL ...Save The Feckin Whale! We're all Pro CCFC and between the lot of them they are destroying a once proud club bit by bit. FFS just sort it out!
 

AEHGrandson

New Member
So Sad

Hi,

It has taken a lot for me to write a post on here as I don't normally do anything public like this and so please bear with me as I finally do so. As my username implies my grandfather was Alan Higgs, who as some of you will know was a self made Coventry businessman who during his lifetime made a fortune. He decided to leave all his money to a charity that he wanted set up to help benefit the people of the city, not to my Dad or his sister. This is the Alan Edward Higgs Charity and is responsible for amongst other things the Alan Higgs Centre in Allard Way and (as I think we all know) owns 50% of ACL. My late dad was Sir Derek Higgs who like his father was self made and also had a love for the City of Coventry and the Football Club & for his sins was a Director. He became a director because he was passionate about the club and devoted a hell of a lot of his free time to this endeavour, sometimes to the despair of his family. He invested in CCFC only because he cared about the Club and as far as I'm aware having looked through his papers (despite what some people think) he didn't make any money from it, writing off a sizeable sum when the club was sold.

He died suddenly from a heart attack in 2008 and I strongly suspect that the combined stress from the club sale the previous December (and something at work) contributed to this. He told me at the first match after the club had been sold, that it was the first time in many years that he had really been able to enjoy watching a game. He explained that for the first time in a long time he didn't have to worry about the gate figures or how well the shop did, or any of the financials. You could see the difference just by looking at how much more relaxed he was and it actually made me glad that he was finally really enjoying himself at the Ricoh on a match day.

One of the reasons that he was so keen on the Ricoh Arena was because it was helping to regenerate this run down area of Coventry. He was concerned that had it not gone ahead we would have been homeless and as a result had a clause put into the sale contract. This would have allowed us to buy back Highfield Road for the same amount as we received for it plus some small interest had the deal to build the Ricoh fallen through. He also proposed a sensible - but rejected - league related rent structure for the Club at the Ricoh which PWKH (who I'm proud to say is my uncle) mentioned in another thread. Therefore had he been alive today he would have been appalled to see what is currently going on between SISU and ACL. In actual fact I suspect that he wouldn't have ever allowed it to get to this stage and would have done something by now, he didn't get where he was by being a shrinking violet.

I genuinely don't know all the facts about this because I deliberately haven't asked anyone in the know for information. I know I could have done but I wanted to stay out of it, so figured I would learn what I needed to know reading the CET and posts on here - some of which are very entertaining. Therefore I only know what you all know and it is so sad to see this playing (pun not intended) out like this. I was asked by dad if I wanted to be a trustee of the Charity and I said no, which I think surprised him. My reasoning was that should there ever be a point where the charity (or ACL for that matter) were at odds with CCFC I didn't want to have to make a choice between the two.

What saddens me the most (and why I decided to post) is the fact that whilst the Arena rent stuff has started to flare up, the team aren't playing that badly and we're in the top half of the table. This was something towards the start of the season I wouldn't have credited us with achieving and all credit to the players and coaching staff, please don't stop.

I keep hoping that the famous line about cooler heads prevailing in the Cuban Missile Crisis will apply here and each time I read something about the club on the web it seems less likely. Ignoring who is right and who is wrong for a moment in the rent dispute - If SISU have any respect for the hard work on the pitch the players have been putting in then they should do everything possible to avoid the club or any subsidiaries going into administration and getting us docked 10 points. These people work for you (indirectly or not) and the fans who come and watch the matches, don't kick them in the teeth by undoing all their hard work.

I'm in my late thirties now and I've supported the Sky Blues since I was six (wasn't allowed by mum to go to a match before that). I'm pleased to say that I have been present at some memorable moments in the Clubs history. I was at Wembley for both the 87 Cup final, the Charity Shield, the last match at Highfield Road and the first match at the Ricoh, beating MUFC in the Cup at Old Trafford, as well as many last match relegation escapes. I've also been to some of the smallest grounds in my time and would dearly like to forget going to to watch us lose badly at Southend, Rochdale, etc. I've laughed, cried, and been told off for supporting too loudly ;) in the directors box (which didn't stop me). I spent many hours on trains going to matches both home and away but always did so with a Sky Blue heart. I've met fans on the train who have always been great to talk to, some of whom I've told who I was and others I haven't (sorry if that was you). Yes I probably wasted weeks of my life in time spent travelling from London to far flung grounds just to watch 90 mins of not always pretty football. But as I woke up in the afternoon on a Sunday having got in late the previous evening (normally thanks to a rail replacement bus service etc.) I always thought it was worth it.

I hope I will have a team to support for many years to come and this is all resolved without the need for administration. Oh and that I never ever have to go back to watch us play at Spotland ever again.​
 
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Delboycov

Active Member
Hi,

It has taken a lot for me to write a post on here as I don't normally do anything public like this and so please bear with me as I finally do so. As my username implies my grandfather was Alan Higgs, who as some of you will know was a self made Coventry businessman who during his lifetime made a fortune. He decided to leave all his money to a charity that he wanted set up to help benefit the people of the city, not to my Dad or his sister. This is the Alan Edward Higgs Charity and is responsible for amongst other things the Alan Higgs Centre in Allard Way and (as I think we all know) owns 50% of ACL. My late dad was Sir Derek Higgs who like his father was self made and also had a love for the City of Coventry and the Football Club & for his sins was a Director. He became a director because he was passionate about the club and devoted a hell of a lot of his free time to this endeavour, sometimes to the despair of his family. He invested in CCFC only because he cared about the Club and as far as I'm aware having looked through his papers (despite what some people think) he didn't make any money from it, writing off a sizeable sum when the club was sold.

He died suddenly from a heart attack in 2008 and I strongly suspect that the combined stress from the club sale the previous December (and something at work) contributed to this. He told me at the first match after the club had been sold, that it was the first time in many years that he had really been able to enjoy watching a game. He explained that for the first time in a long time he didn't have to worry about the gate figures or how well the shop did, or any of the financials. You could see the difference just by looking at how much more relaxed he was and it actually made me glad that he was finally really enjoying himself at the Ricoh on a match day.

One of the reasons that he was so keen on the Ricoh Arena was because it was helping to regenerate this run down area of Coventry. He was concerned that had it not gone ahead we would have been homeless and as a result had a clause put into the sale contract. This would have allowed us to buy back Highfield Road for the same amount as we received for it plus some small interest had the deal to build the Ricoh fallen through. He also proposed a sensible - but rejected - league related rent structure for the Club at the Ricoh which PWKH (who I'm proud to say is my uncle) mentioned in another thread. Therefore had he been alive today he would have been appalled to see what is currently going on between SISU and ACL. In actual fact I suspect that he wouldn't have ever allowed it to get to this stage and would have done something by now, he didn't get where he was by being a shrinking violet.

I genuinely don't know all the facts about this because I deliberately haven't asked anyone in the know for information. I know I could have done but I wanted to stay out of it, so figured I would learn what I needed to know reading the CET and posts on here - some of which are very entertaining. Therefore I only know what you all know and it is so sad to see this playing (pun not intended) out like this. I was asked by dad if I wanted to be a trustee of the Charity and I said no, which I think surprised him. My reasoning was that should there ever be a point where the charity (or ACL for that matter) were at odds with CCFC I didn't want to have to make a choice between the two.

What saddens me the most (and why I decided to post) is the fact that whilst the Arena rent stuff has started to flare up, the team aren't playing that badly and we're in the top half of the table. This was something towards the start of the season I wouldn't have credited us with achieving and all credit to the players and coaching staff, please don't stop.

I keep hoping that the famous line about cooler heads prevailing in the Cuban Missile Crisis will apply here and each time I read something about the club on the web it seems less likely. Ignoring who is right and who is wrong for a moment in the rent dispute - If SISU have any respect for the hard work on the pitch the players have been putting in then they should do everything possible to avoid the club or any subsidiaries going into administration and getting us docked 10 points. These people work for you (indirectly or not) and the fans who come and watch the matches, don't kick them in the teeth by undoing all their hard work.

I'm in my late thirties now and I've supported the Sky Blues since I was six (wasn't allowed by mum to go to a match before that). I'm pleased to say that I have been present at some memorable moments in the Clubs history. I was at Wembley for both the 87 Cup final, the Charity Shield, the last match at Highfield Road and the first match at the Ricoh, beating MUFC in the Cup at Old Trafford, as well as many last match relegation escapes. I've also been to some of the smallest grounds in my time and would dearly like to forget going to to watch us lose badly at Southend, Rochdale, etc. I've laughed, cried, and been told off for supporting too loudly ;) in the directors box (which didn't stop me). I spent many hours on trains going to matches both home and away but always did so with a Sky Blue heart. I've met fans on the train who have always been great to talk to, some of whom I've told who I was and others I haven't (sorry if that was you). Yes I probably wasted weeks of my life in time spent travelling from London to far flung grounds just to watch 90 mins of not always pretty football. But as I woke up in the afternoon on a Sunday having got in late the previous evening (normally thanks to a rail replacement bus service etc.) I always thought it was worth it.


I hope I will have a team to support for many years to come and this is all resolved without the need for administration. Oh and that I never ever have to go back to watch us play at Spotland ever again.​

Fantastic first post AEH and very admirable that despite the family connections you've remained absolutely impartial in what you've said and that does you a lot of credit as I'm sure this must have been a difficult post to write under the circumstances and with loyalties stretched. For me it does reinforce what I probably already knew and that is that in one corner of this bitter, pathetic battle there are some that have sky blue blood running through their veins, just like all of us...and in the other there is SISU..... And RIP to your dad and grandad.....
 
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Nonleagueherewecome

Well-Known Member
There is nothing confusing about it. While the pair of you are playing who's got the biggest cock, our club is going down the tubes.

That's it, shout it at the only party involved who has the gumption to actually talk to the fans...:facepalm:
 

Sky Blues

Active Member
Hi,

It has taken a lot for me to write a post on here as I don't normally do anything public like this and so please bear with me as I finally do so. As my username implies my grandfather was Alan Higgs, who as some of you will know was a self made Coventry businessman who during his lifetime made a fortune. He decided to leave all his money to a charity that he wanted set up to help benefit the people of the city, not to my Dad or his sister. This is the Alan Edward Higgs Charity and is responsible for amongst other things the Alan Higgs Centre in Allard Way and (as I think we all know) owns 50% of ACL. My late dad was Sir Derek Higgs who like his father was self made and also had a love for the City of Coventry and the Football Club & for his sins was a Director. He became a director because he was passionate about the club and devoted a hell of a lot of his free time to this endeavour, sometimes to the despair of his family. He invested in CCFC only because he cared about the Club and as far as I'm aware having looked through his papers (despite what some people think) he didn't make any money from it, writing off a sizeable sum when the club was sold.

He died suddenly from a heart attack in 2008 and I strongly suspect that the combined stress from the club sale the previous December (and something at work) contributed to this. He told me at the first match after the club had been sold, that it was the first time in many years that he had really been able to enjoy watching a game. He explained that for the first time in a long time he didn't have to worry about the gate figures or how well the shop did, or any of the financials. You could see the difference just by looking at how much more relaxed he was and it actually made me glad that he was finally really enjoying himself at the Ricoh on a match day.

One of the reasons that he was so keen on the Ricoh Arena was because it was helping to regenerate this run down area of Coventry. He was concerned that had it not gone ahead we would have been homeless and as a result had a clause put into the sale contract. This would have allowed us to buy back Highfield Road for the same amount as we received for it plus some small interest had the deal to build the Ricoh fallen through. He also proposed a sensible - but rejected - league related rent structure for the Club at the Ricoh which PWKH (who I'm proud to say is my uncle) mentioned in another thread. Therefore had he been alive today he would have been appalled to see what is currently going on between SISU and ACL. In actual fact I suspect that he wouldn't have ever allowed it to get to this stage and would have done something by now, he didn't get where he was by being a shrinking violet.

I genuinely don't know all the facts about this because I deliberately haven't asked anyone in the know for information. I know I could have done but I wanted to stay out of it, so figured I would learn what I needed to know reading the CET and posts on here - some of which are very entertaining. Therefore I only know what you all know and it is so sad to see this playing (pun not intended) out like this. I was asked by dad if I wanted to be a trustee of the Charity and I said no, which I think surprised him. My reasoning was that should there ever be a point where the charity (or ACL for that matter) were at odds with CCFC I didn't want to have to make a choice between the two.

What saddens me the most (and why I decided to post) is the fact that whilst the Arena rent stuff has started to flare up, the team aren't playing that badly and we're in the top half of the table. This was something towards the start of the season I wouldn't have credited us with achieving and all credit to the players and coaching staff, please don't stop.

I keep hoping that the famous line about cooler heads prevailing in the Cuban Missile Crisis will apply here and each time I read something about the club on the web it seems less likely. Ignoring who is right and who is wrong for a moment in the rent dispute - If SISU have any respect for the hard work on the pitch the players have been putting in then they should do everything possible to avoid the club or any subsidiaries going into administration and getting us docked 10 points. These people work for you (indirectly or not) and the fans who come and watch the matches, don't kick them in the teeth by undoing all their hard work.

I'm in my late thirties now and I've supported the Sky Blues since I was six (wasn't allowed by mum to go to a match before that). I'm pleased to say that I have been present at some memorable moments in the Clubs history. I was at Wembley for both the 87 Cup final, the Charity Shield, the last match at Highfield Road and the first match at the Ricoh, beating MUFC in the Cup at Old Trafford, as well as many last match relegation escapes. I've also been to some of the smallest grounds in my time and would dearly like to forget going to to watch us lose badly at Southend, Rochdale, etc. I've laughed, cried, and been told off for supporting too loudly ;) in the directors box (which didn't stop me). I spent many hours on trains going to matches both home and away but always did so with a Sky Blue heart. I've met fans on the train who have always been great to talk to, some of whom I've told who I was and others I haven't (sorry if that was you). Yes I probably wasted weeks of my life in time spent travelling from London to far flung grounds just to watch 90 mins of not always pretty football. But as I woke up in the afternoon on a Sunday having got in late the previous evening (normally thanks to a rail replacement bus service etc.) I always thought it was worth it.

I hope I will have a team to support for many years to come and this is all resolved without the need for administration. Oh and that I never ever have to go back to watch us play at Spotland ever again.​

It is sad your first post was prompted by such difficult times, but :welcome:
 

Black6Osprey

New Member
That's it, shout it at the only party involved who has the gumption to actually talk to the fans...:facepalm:

Don't talk crap.

SISU mention liquidation so ACL go to put is admin, then SISU do it first and on and on we go.

I don't give a shit that the guy come on on here and tells us his side. ultimately they are both killing my club and they share the blame.

You can argue all day that one side is more to blame but it's exactly that stance by both parties which has led us to the verge of melt down.
 

covmark

Well-Known Member
Don't talk crap.

SISU mention liquidation so ACL go to put is admin, then SISU do it first and on and on we go.

I don't give a shit that the guy come on on here and tells us his side. ultimately they are both killing my club and they share the blame.

You can argue all day that one side is more to blame but it's exactly that stance by both parties which has led us to the verge of melt down.
Couldn't have put it better myself
 

rob9872

Well-Known Member
A heartwarming but ultimately meaningless post (welcome btw, not a pop at you and thanks for sahring some of the background). The part I have issue with is:

"If SISU have any respect for the hard work on the pitch the players have been putting in then they should do everything possible to avoid the club or any subsidiaries going into administration and getting us docked 10 points. These people work for you (indirectly or not) and the fans who come and watch the matches, don't kick them in the teeth by undoing all their hard work."

A subsidiary was only placed into admin last night because if they hadn't then it was already going to court today from ACL to ensure administration and receive the 10 point deduction (which as you state you don't support). By taking this action we have a chance to avoid that deduction (it remains to see whether it has worked) but lets not pretend that it was anyone other than ACL who have accelerated this action whatever side of the fence we all sit.
 

Nonleagueherewecome

Well-Known Member
Don't talk crap.

SISU mention liquidation so ACL go to put is admin, then SISU do it first and on and on we go.

I don't give a shit that the guy come on on here and tells us his side. ultimately they are both killing my club and they share the blame.

You can argue all day that one side is more to blame but it's exactly that stance by both parties which has led us to the verge of melt down.

Im' not talking crap, pal. He's acted with dignity and been polite in the face of abuse. Tim's been quiet lately, hasn't he? :jerkit:
 

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