New stadium land deal to be announced next month (5 Viewers)

[Noggin]

Im convinced more than ever CCFC will be back for 14/15 season, Northampton was a last minute move to fulfil fixtures and a year to get best rental deal possible. Never about buying the freehold ricoh. They know full well its never been for sale.

Then why havn't they moved back already when offered rent free for the rest of this season and next?

 

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[chiefdave]

On his Twitter feed, that's still being actively used - up until one minute ago, he titles himself thus:

'UK Columnist of Year,Regional Press Awards 2013. Midlands Journalist of Yr 2012&13 Reporter of Yr 12&13.Coventry Telegraph politics.Guardian contributor'

That stated, his last 'political blog' was dated April 12th (according to the link he's put up), and the one before that was January 30th. So, any slumber from December 18th until now is bit a blink of the eye compared to gaps between his political wisdom being forthcoming; so who knows?

His last contribtion to the Guardian was 13 Nov 2012 and he's still got that on there so I don't think we can read too much into the CT still being listed!

 

[italiahorse]

Then why havn't they moved back already when offered rent free for the rest of this season and next?

They need to make ACL/CCC/Higgs believe that they don't need to come back so they can get stadium/rental on the cheap.

I believe they have been out maneuvered and now it's pride stopping them coming back hence these ludicrous statements about a new stadium.
Even with the reduced rental deals they can't be seen to fail.

Their plan is in the death throes so I just hope they can get over it and not get spiteful.

 

[MusicDating]

I think it's long been a game of who's going to run out of money first. The PR stuff just provides a sideshow.

Looks like the JR will finally resolve things one way or the other.

 

[Kingokings204]

Then why havn't they moved back already when offered rent free for the rest of this season and next?

No point at all. will cost them x amount to break northamptons contract where as its free in the summer and a big JR review soon. simples

 

[Captain Dart]

Im convinced more than ever CCFC will be back for 14/15 season, Northampton was a last minute move to fulfil fixtures and a year to get best rental deal possible. Never about buying the freehold ricoh. They know full well its never been for sale.

I think they'll be there as long as FL let them get away with it and whilst not hemorrhaging money.

I forsee another 4 to 5 years of posturing unless CCC/ACL bring in a new tenant, then SISU will sell up and move on.

 

[Kingokings204]

I think they'll be there as long as FL let them get away with it and whilst not hemorrhaging money.

I forsee another 4 to 5 years of posturing unless CCC/ACL bring in a new tenant, then SISU will sell up and move on.

Fair shout but not for me. CCFC has potential if run correctly. Every manager says it. We have a massive fan base and isolated city unlike Birmingham and we have the tradition. Needs to be run correctly first.

 

[chiefdave]

The preferred site for a potential new Sky Blues stadium is likely to be officially revealed next month.

That doesn't sound to me like the land will actually be purchased by then. Just that they will say where they are trying to by which goes against what they have been saying about not being able to name the sites due to intense competition from other people wanting to buy the land to build stadiums on.

 

[Captain Dart]

Just a point, didn't SISU announce something about Brandon a few months back and then nothing happened.

Announcing a preferred location is not the same as actually buying the land, there is still nothing in it until serious money is committed,

 

[Paxman II]

The key area in this is the 40 year ACL lease and what happens at the JR.

 

[Cheshire Sky Blue]

They cant buy it Cheshire its not for sale, confirmed this morning by AL, its rent or nothing mate.

I have checked what written media I can and nowhere does Ms Lucas state its rent or nothing. True its hard to break the deal with ACL... well offer to buy it. Everything has a price. They have said they would sell the Freehold under the correct conditions. Again it has a value. match it. The problem is SISU can't, or won't (I think they have no funds and that is the issue)

 

[Kingokings204]

I have checked what written media I can and nowhere does Ms Lucas state its rent or nothing. True its hard to break the deal with ACL... well offer to buy it. Everything has a price. They have said they would sell the Freehold under the correct conditions. Again it has a value. match it. The problem is SISU can't, or won't (I think they have no funds and that is the issue)

No Cheshire, she did say rent or nothing. Promise. I listened live at 8am this morning. They cant and wont sell the freehold. If sisu don't want to rent then she has said do one. It was very clear

 

[PIPSQUEEK]

Then why havn't they moved back already when offered rent free for the rest of this season and next?

Cause they want what ACL have the revenue of the ARENA

 

[Kingokings204]

Rent Only Deal Still Being Offered
Coventry City Council Leader Ann Lucas has maintained the Council's stance that the Ricoh Arena is not up for sale to Coventry City FC and is only available to them to rent.
Speaking on Shane O'Connor's show on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, the Council Leader who yesterday said that the Council must move on from the row over the Ricoh Arena, said that the council will not sell the Ricoh Arena to Coventry City FC and they will only discuss a new rent deal.

FACT. ITS NOT FOR SALE.

 

[dongonzalos]

Lock them in a room with a panel of three independent business experts, one from the private sector, one from public sector, one from academic world.

Anne Lucas, Joy Sepalla and someone with authority to say yes or no from both Higgs Charity and ACL. Plus one representing lawyer per person.

Hotel and conference room booked for 5 days.
Media black out till day 5.

At the end of day 5 (or before if possible) the panel having listened to all the opinions views of all parties suggest the solution.

If one party reject that solution. It is publicly announced who rejected and why.

We then all move on down the chosen opposite paths if the agreement is not made.

If it is the council who reject the deal then the public can pressurise the council over granting planning permission for the (fictitious£ new stadium to be in Coventry.

 

[Noggin]

Cause they want what ACL have the revenue of the ARENA

I was replying to the person who said we'd be back next season because all they want is the best rental deal possible. They have already been offered the best rental deal they are going to get so if he was correct and they would come back for next season then it follows they would be back already.

 

[Nick]

Rent Only Deal Still Being Offered
Coventry City Council Leader Ann Lucas has maintained the Council's stance that the Ricoh Arena is not up for sale to Coventry City FC and is only available to them to rent.
Speaking on Shane O'Connor's show on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, the Council Leader who yesterday said that the Council must move on from the row over the Ricoh Arena, said that the council will not sell the Ricoh Arena to Coventry City FC and they will only discuss a new rent deal.

FACT. ITS NOT FOR SALE.

What does this mean then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25728542

 

[tuousis]

Time we took it to the UNITED NATIONS.

 

[Kingokings204]

What does this mean then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25728542

It is misleading. It isn't the case and was clearly stated by AL this morning on radio. It is rent or nothing they clearly state. Simple isn't it really. Its not for sale. End of conversation.

 

[Huckerby]

It is misleading. It isn't the case and was clearly stated by AL this morning on radio. It is rent or nothing they clearly state. Simple isn't it really. Its not for sale. End of conversation.

Everything is always for sale.

 

[covcity4life]

everybodys got a price

 

[Kingokings204]

Everything is always for sale.

Councils don't sell freeholds. Its rare and they certainly don't sell on the cheap like sisu want and with 40 year leases with ACL and compass etc why would you sell it and why would you buy it. Not that hard. Sisu are much better off cheap rental or buy ACL share of 50% say the higgs share.

 

[dongonzalos]

What does this mean then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25728542

I found this one strange as it is nowhere in Anne's statement

 

[shmmeee]

Everything is always for sale.

Yes. But not at any price.

I'm sure if Sisu offered £100m suddenly the council would be writing up compensation deals and winding up ACL. But that's not happening is it?

The only offer so far that I'm aware of is for £5m and all debt cancelled (a cost of £14m). Now they want the debt and the contracts cancelled taking the cost (I'd imagine) to tens of millions of pounds.

To sell something they don't want to sell.

Why on earth would you do that? You may as well start protesting the Neu Camp to get Barca to sell us Messi for £250k because it's all we've got.

 

[Cheshire Sky Blue]

No Cheshire, she did say rent or nothing. Promise. I listened live at 8am this morning. They cant and wont sell the freehold. If sisu don't want to rent then she has said do one. It was very clear

OK I'm out of CWR range this week so didn't hear what she had to say. But if that is the stance of the Owners of our stadium, then that is what SISU will have to deal with. I have said I think that SISU have inadequate funding to either purchase the arena or build a new Stadium (Hence a 12k shed somewhere near Coventry) If they are as astute as they proclaim to be, the time has come to cease the posturing and the PR bull that the likes of Labovitch keep coming out with. Each day they erode a further element of good will. Each day, once ardent Sky blues fans are turning away and are becoming accustomed to the idea of a new Coventry team forming. I am of the view that if SISU do not change tack soon, the distance between them and CCFC fans will be so big it will never be closed.

 

[Huckerby]

Yes. But not at any price.

I'm sure if Sisu offered £100m suddenly the council would be writing up compensation deals and winding up ACL. But that's not happening is it?

The only offer so far that I'm aware of is for £5m and all debt cancelled (a cost of £14m). Now they want the debt and the contracts cancelled taking the cost (I'd imagine) to tens of millions of pounds.

To sell something they don't want to sell.

Why on earth would you do that? You may as well start protesting the Neu Camp to get Barca to sell us Messi for £250k because it's all we've got.

Completely agree. Just pointing out a sale isn't every out of the question

 

[sw88]

Only just got round to catching up on this thread so apologies if I duplicate anything that has already been said (and I suspect it has been) but how is it possible to now have 'Plan B' as your 'preferred option'? Call me daft but A still becomes before B!

 

[Jack Griffin]

What does this mean then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-25728542

It means the BBC have royally screwed up.

 

[ccfcway]

1 week today

Cant wait !!

 

[Covcraig@bury]

I wont be holding my breath about any new ground being built
After listening to Sandra Garlic at the Village Hotel last week and the other two YES people
it just is not going to happen.

 

[Hobo]

The new stadium will be mentioned next month, but won't be any further forward.

 

[runner]

Here we go again...

Labovitch in Cov Tel has mentioned land deal will be announced to supporters next month.

Sky Blues to reveal new Coventry City stadium plan next month
15 January 2014 12:04 PM By Simon Gilbert
Director says club is in the final stages of securing land for a new home - but return to Ricoh is still 'preferred option'
Architects' image for new Coventry City stadium
The preferred site for a potential new Sky Blues stadium is likely to be officially revealed next month.

Speaking to the Telegraph today, Mark Labovitch - non-executive director of Coventry City - confirmed the club was in the final stages of securing land for a new home and details were likely to be revealed in February.

He said: “We are about three weeks away from being able to name the final site. We are down to two sites and hopefully, within a month, two will be down to one.

"I don’t like the position of no comment, but the commercial and political sensitivity around land negotiations is such that we can not talk about individual sites yet.”

Mr Labovitch confirmed a return to the Ricoh Arena would be the preferred option, but with negotiations seemingly reaching stalemate , the club would press ahead with plans for a new stadium.

He said: “Our preferred option is to bring the football club back to Coventry as soon as possible.

“Obviously buying a stadium which is already there is the quickest option and that is what we would have preferred to do.”

He added the club would only return to the Ricoh if negotiations over arena ownership were re-opened by the council and suggested the 40-year lease of stadium operators Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) was a major stumbling block.

But a statement from Coventry City Council leader Ann Lucas, on Tuesday, insisted the council and ACL would now look to move on with or without the Sky Blues - possibly opening the door for a new anchor tenant.

Mr Labovitch said: “The council needs to make clear exactly what it would sell, the freehold or the leasehold. You can’t have the leasehold without dismantling ACL, but there is no break clause in ACL’s contract.

"Let’s say you wanted to buy a shop and have a great idea about how to make that shop more money, but it has a sitting tenant on a 20-year lease, why would you buy it?”

An impending judicial review over a deal which effectively saw the council become ACL’s mortgage lenders by buying the company’s bank debt for £14m could be key to negotiations.

Asked about the impact of the council loan potentially being recalled, Labovitch said: “I think ACL would go bust.”

Responding to the suggestion ACL folding is what the club wanted, he added: “It’s none of our business, we want to run a football club.”

Adding: “It would help it they were not there.”

Anyone else concerned about his repetitive use of the word "hopefully" kind of covers a multitude of sins eh :jerkit:

 

[asb]

Stop repeating his comments as they are only used to show that he, and others at Sisu, have no clue about how to run a football club, and how to communicate with fans. It only leads to him being misquoted.

How do the club officials cope with this idea about the new stadium with having to psychologically suppress all this contradictory information. It really is concerning. When people have to internalise incongruence it can lead to some really strange behaviours, many of which are destructive.

It is better to let them all go along in their safe world, unchallenged.

So with that in mind, Go build your new stadium Mr Labovitch. No need to delay.


...wait what's that... still no sign, but still talking about the Ricoh. Move along Mr Labovitch your stadium needs building.

...no really move along Mr Labovitch.

 

[Tonylinc]

"We are moving on, but a return to the Ricoh is the preferred option". In that case.......make a bloody offer you idiots!

 

[JohnWH]

Ugh, I'm simply... disappointed? ?... about the whole notion of a new stadium on principle.
I can understand that different parties have different opinions about values, revenue streams, etc. But, WTF! There is a perfectly good stadium being unused... Makes no sense to me...
Feel free to bash on me, I can only complain and not offer any actionable recommendations.