Wasps want to play on Saturdays... (10 Viewers)

[duffer]

The football club might still get fixture priority (because Wasps are currently obliged contractually to provide that), but if you're a Cov RFC supporter this is worrying...

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/wasps-rfc-could-play-home-9059066

Wasps statement: "The club will work with the RFU and Premiership Rugby to, where possible, minimise the risk of Wasps’ home games clashing with Coventry RFC."

Right, "where possible". Of course if Wasps stuck to Sundays there would be no possibility of a clash with CRFC fixtures. The trust is that they couldn't care less for any club other than their own.

Ann Lucas, "Let me be clear, any deal around the future of the Ricoh Arena must not happen if it threatens the future of the Sky Blues or Coventry Rugby Club."

Let me be clear, this statement was absolute bullshit - the council cared not a jot about CCFC or CRFC when it took the decision to sell to Wasps.

 

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[Paddy9239]

Makes me sick this whole thing from the council. Whatever you say about Sisu, they are business (solely attempting to make money - as grim as it is for us) , the council are supposed to serve the people of Coventry, e.g. protecting its heritage and history.

 

[Otis]

Let's not jump the gun just yet. They could both have fixtures on the same day without a clash, say Cov at 2 p.m. and Wasps at 4.30 or 5.00.

Not good though is it.

Documents should have been drawn up in blood when an agreement was made, guaranteeing City stay at the Ricoh, if they so wished and that there would be no impingement upon Cov Rugby club.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

When the our deal is finished does anyone actually think the club will still have priority on fixtures?

The club have been tossed aside into the flowing rapids here

 

[Grendel]

Let's not jump the gun just yet. They could both have fixtures on the same day without a clash, say Cov at 2 p.m. and Wasps at 4.30 or 5.00.

Not good though is it.

Documents should have been drawn up in blood when an agreement was made, guaranteeing City stay at the Ricoh, if they so wished and that there would be no impingement upon Cov Rugby club.

What difference would that make? Wasps have already stated their mission is to get people to the ground 2 hours prior to kick off and stay for a couple of hours after.

 

[lewys33]

I see they say CCFC still get priority. What about coventry rugby? You know...... The ones that you increased attendances for??

 

[lewys33]

Wonder how many people would be against the move to Northampton now?

I think I still would, unless they announced on the same day a land purchase. Then there would be a realistic time frame in place.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Wonder how many people would be against the move to Northampton now?

I think I still would, unless they announced on the same day a land purchase. Then there would be a realistic time frame in place.

Not Northampton thank you but while the work was going on a move to somewhere like Hinckley or even Nuneaton would be ok by me but the work would have to be at a point where they can't back out.

 

[Grendel]

Wonder how many people would be against the move to Northampton now?

I think I still would, unless they announced on the same day a land purchase. Then there would be a realistic time frame in place.

Logistically it it is too far AND there has to be conviction that a new stadium is being built. If that was the case I would like us to get out.

 

[MichaelCCFC]

Coventry playing in Northampton was wrong. Wasps playing in Coventry is wrong. Simple.

 

[Grendel]

Coventry playing in Northampton was wrong. Wasps playing in Coventry is wrong. Simple.

Most people on here do not agree do they?

 

[Otis]

What difference would that make? Wasps have already stated their mission is to get people to the ground 2 hours prior to kick off and stay for a couple of hours after.

But Cov fans wouldn't do that would they.

Wasps would need to make it that people can go and watch both games, if they so wish.

Some Cov fans also go and watch Wasps. If there were 2 completely differing game times, then they would be able to do that.

 

[Otis]

Wonder how many people would be against the move to Northampton now?

I think I still would, unless they announced on the same day a land purchase. Then there would be a realistic time frame in place.

You think you still would?

Are you serious?

 

[Grendel]

But Cov fans wouldn't do that would they.

Wasps would need to make it that people can go and watch both games, if they so wish.

Some Cov fans also go and watch Wasps. If there were 2 completely differing game times, then they would be able to do that.

I think you are very naive to be honest. Wasps want revenue and want CRFC fans to switch over -- why would they care?

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I think you are very naive to be honest. Wasps want revenue and want CRFC fans to switch over -- why would they care?

It would be poor business sense for them to do otherwise... and would negate a business decision to move in the first place.

 

[MichaelCCFC]

Most people on here do not agree do they?

Do you?

 

[Grendel]

Do you?

No I don't but I'm afraid if you embrace a franchise one way en mass you can't complain if it goes another can you? I can't understand why any CCFC fan would go given what we experienced last season.

 

[Tonylinc]

Maybe I am in a minority here but I strongly believe that Wasps would buy CCFC given the opportunity at a REASONABLE PRICE and all of this is aimed at just that end. Just my opinion.

 

[Nick]

Maybe I am in a minority here but I strongly believe that Wasps would buy CCFC given the opportunity at a REASONABLE PRICE and all of this is aimed at just that end. Just my opinion.

Haven't they said they aren't interested?

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Maybe I am in a minority here but I strongly believe that Wasps would buy CCFC given the opportunity at a REASONABLE PRICE and all of this is aimed at just that end. Just my opinion.

Surely we're against businesses distressing others to pick them up cheap?

 

[Grendel]

Maybe I am in a minority here but I strongly believe that Wasps would buy CCFC given the opportunity at a REASONABLE PRICE and all of this is aimed at just that end. Just my opinion.

Er no

As much as I hold no malice for CCFC and its supporters, I fear for a scenario that involves Wasps owners taking ownership of CCFC.

Football is a money drain. To compete you need to put shed loads of cash into agents and players pockets. You bet your business on achieving the promised land of premiership football and the riches that go with it, and then you spend those hard earned riches just to stay there. If you are relegated and you are no longer sustainable.

My fear is that the benefits that Richardson and Eastwood have been espousing about the move to Cov - the second highest turnover club in Europe, 'if Dai wants a something we will get it for him' (I paraphrase) would be negated by the need to plunder profits (and then some) to support the football gravy train at Wasps expense.

You can run a football club in a sustainable way but they tend to be mediocre yo-yo clubs or good lower league outfits, then supporters expectations need to be managed and who is going to tell the proud supporters of a club who regularly punched above its weight that you need to accept mediocrity in the longer term, and forget about premiership football and challenging for trophies with the exception of the odd cup run and promotion/relegation cycle?

 

[Tonylinc]

No I don't but I'm afraid if you embrace a franchise one way en mass you can't complain if it goes another can you? I can't understand why any CCFC fan would go given what we experienced last season.

Am I mistaken or did you not attend at Sixfields last season?

 

[Nick]

Am I mistaken or did you not attend at Sixfields last season?

Was that a permanent move?

 

[Grendel]

Am I mistaken or did you not attend at Sixfields last season?

Twice -- why?

 

[Tonylinc]

Twice -- why?

Because on those occasions you were supporting a "franchise", club; that is why.

 

[Otis]

I think you are very naive to be honest. Wasps want revenue and want CRFC fans to switch over -- why would they care?

Why I am naive?

Cov fans on the whole I would assume are loyal to Cov and wouldn't go and watch Wasps anyway. Wasps bosses must know this anyway.

There are some Cov fans though that do go to both. Best solution all round is for Wasps not to impinge upon Cov Rugby. The more Wasps annoy City and Cov Rugby, the more resentment they are going to get.

For instance, if Wasps said they were going to kick City out of the Ricoh, then there would be protests a plenty and calls to boycott etc. Wasps would be pretty stupid to set out to destroy Cov Rugby, but enticing all their fans away.

 

[Tonylinc]

Was that a permanent move?

Nobody knew at the time did they?

 

[Nick]

Because on those occasions you were supporting a "franchise", club; that is why.

Were they moved full time or was it temporary?

 

[Grendel]

Because on those occasions you were supporting a "franchise", club; that is why.

Can you please define what you mean by franchise?

 

[Nick]

Nobody knew at the time did they?

Yes, as it was a temporary thing. Was there an announcement it was for good? If there was it would have been a lot different.

 

[Otis]

Were they moved full time or was it temporary?

No point going all over old ground, Nick, but the club quite clearly said they had no intention of coming back to the City and next to none of us believed they would ever build a new stadium.

Sounded pretty permanent to an awful lot of City fans I can tell you.

Not going to keep banging on about the past though, it's pointless. All I can say categorically, is the way I felt and it all felt very permanent to me and that was because of the words coming out of the club about no return to the Ricoh. That boat had sailed.

No new stadium, meant permanent ground share in that circumstance.

 

[Ian1779]

Coventry City never have been, and never will be a franchise club. To suggest or pretend otherwise is nonsense.

Wasps are a franchise club now.... huge difference.

 

[Tonylinc]

By "franchise", I mean a club that plays away from the home of its title ie Coventry City playing at a ground outside of Coventry. Is that enough of an explanation for you? None of us knew at the time whether that was temporary or permanent.

 

[lewys33]

You think you still would?

Are you serious?

Am I serious that I would be against it? Yes I would be against it, but if they announced a land deal the same day it would be a more acceptable situation in my opinion. Yes Northampton was "a little too far" but I hate being tenants to Wasps. They are slowly but surely sucking the life away from CRFC and CCFC.

 

[Johnnythespider]

What if CRFC move to the Ricoh and play their games before wasps, and we take over the butts and develop it