Colleen Fletcher MP to meet with EFL (4 Viewers)

[Captain Dart]

To ask some important questions...
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-crisis-sees-football-11998849

1 - Can you offer assurances that the EFL will not, under any circumstances, allow Coventry City Football Club to relocate again, even on a temporary basis, away from the city of Coventry? If the EFL is unable to provide those assurances, can you outline under what circumstances you would allow the club to relocate away from its home city?

2 - Have the owners of CCFC presented any tangible plans to the EFL which show they are in a position to resolve their long-term stadium needs satisfactorily prior to the end of the 2017/18 season?

3 - Would the EFL ever seek to force one its members into a resolution in terms of its long-term stadium needs? If so, what rules and sanctions are available to the EFL that would allow for the implementation of such enforcement action?

4 - Have the EFL given CCFC’s owners a deadline by which they must find a long-term stadium solution? If so, when is that deadline and what action do the EFL plan to take should that deadline not be met? If not, do the EFL intend to impose such a deadline and at what stage in the process?

5 - Has the EFL been asked to or have they offered to mediate in relation to any proposed negotiations surrounding a ground share agreement?

6 - The EFL says it is in regular dialogue with the owners of CCFC regarding its long-term stadium needs. What role is the EFL currently playing in the process of finding a solution to this situation?

7 - Are you willing to mediate during any negotiations between Wasps and CCFC?

8 - What sanctions are likely to be applied if the club fails to find a long-term stadium solution in the Coventry area?

 

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[Nick]

Didn't she vote to sell it in the first place?

I am not sure how much control they have to be able to answer some of those, so will expect a "the answers werent good enough because they didnt say ccfc would never be able to move" article soon.

 

[Captain Dart]

Didn't she vote to sell it in the first place?

No idea, you find out.

Do you want answers to these questions?

 

[Nick]

No idea, you find out.

Do you want answers to these questions?

As said before, I doubt they can.

They can't force CCFC and Wasps to make a deal can they? They can't say to CCFC you HAVE to stay at the ricoh else we will kick you out of the league.

How can the FL assure that CCFC has to stay in Coventry? At the minute there is only 1 stadium there so the FL can't force the owner of it to let CCFC play there.

If it is about that, why not shout at Wasps and CCFC to get back discussing it? After all it was Wasps who ended discussions that were going well.

 

[Captain Dart]

As said before, I doubt they can.

They can't force CCFC and Wasps to make a deal can they? They can't say to CCFC you HAVE to stay at the ricoh else we will kick you out of the league.

So you don't care, OK.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

All good points but needs questions about the Training Ground and the Academy as well.

 

[Nick]

So you don't care, OK.

Ah, like she cared when she was voting to sell it to Wasps you mean? Like she will care when a publicity chance has gone like the others still do, I bet Nikki Sinclair loved the match against Northampton last week.

All CCFC will be doing is noting everything down, like the stuff with the Butts so they can say "Look, we are trying but look what we are up against".

The FL can't do much, it should be between Wasps and CCFC getting shouted at to sort out a deal. If one side is dragging their heals then hammer them.

How are the FL going to say "Yes, CCFC have to be at the Ricoh" when they have no power over Wasps and their decisions?

 

[Osullivan18]

So you don't care, OK.

I would say as he is the first one to have responded he does care.

The FL cannot force them to make a deal, it involves more companies than just CCFC and They cannot speak for them can they?

 

[Deleted member 5849]

They're not unreasonable questions. A couple are a little leading, but the answers can be a simple rebuttal.

Not sure the answers will be illuminating either, but no harm in asking.

 

[Nick]

I would say as he is the first one to have responded he does care.

The FL cannot force them to make a deal, it involves more companies than just CCFC and They cannot speak for them can they?

Exactly. Common sense surely, if people are worried about a deal then they should be shouting at the people who can make it which is Wasps / CCFC.

It is like going to the RFU to try and get a deal done, they can't do anything.

 

[dongonzalos]

It's all publicity which is a good thing.
Won't get any sensible answers but it's adds to the pressure in FL and the owners that people are looking and asking.
FairPlay

 

[Nick]

It's all publicity which is a good thing.
Won't get any sensible answers but it's adds to the pressure in FL and the owners that people are looking and asking.
FairPlay

The pressure for what though and publicity for who?

Pressuring the FL and CCFC to do a deal at the Ricoh? Strange there is no pressure at all on the landlords to do a deal with CCFC, the ones who said they halted negotiations?

Imagine if the councillor managed to get the FL to say that CCFC had to stay at the Ricoh or be kicked out of the league, just add a few zeros onto the rent again and sit back laughing.

 

[Captain Dart]

She is obviously trying to flesh out the conditions which EFL have, can and would be prepared to impose on CCFC.

As these are currently unclear isn't it worthwhile to try and find out?

As for this being a publicity stunt a la Nikki Sinclaire that's nonsense, Sinclaire was an opportunist MEP, Fletcher is the MP for the constituency in which the Arena is located, therefore it is directly within her parliamentary remit to seek out facts and act if possible. In fact I'd say it is about time the MP's woke up and made a fuss they've been too quiet for too long.

 

[italiahorse]

As said before, I doubt they can.

They can't force CCFC and Wasps to make a deal can they? They can't say to CCFC you HAVE to stay at the ricoh else we will kick you out of the league.

How can the FL assure that CCFC has to stay in Coventry? At the minute there is only 1 stadium there so the FL can't force the owner of it to let CCFC play there.

If it is about that, why not shout at Wasps and CCFC to get back discussing it? After all it was Wasps who ended discussions that were going well.

Here we go again.
The deflection away from the Sisu to cover for the mismanagement of this club.
If the EFL had any sense they would question the reasoning for taking CCC and soon Wasps to court and what they hope to gain.
They may not be able to make them stay at the stadium but they can certainly ask what the plans are to secure a 'home'.
The JR1 verdict is damning for Sisu and coupled with JR2 any logical person would understand why Wasps have halted talks until they are completed.
Sometimes you need to take your CCFC (Sisu ?) glasses off and apply some common sense.

But hey, don't allow it to stop you from deflecting the blame away from the really cause of stopping a stadium long term deal. ("Great Job" ... JS)

 

[Nick]

Here we go again.
The deflection away from the Sisu to cover for the mismanagement of this club.
If the EFL had any sense they would question the reasoning for taking CCC and soon Wasps to court and what they hope to gain.
They may not be able to make them stay at the stadium but they can certainly ask what the plans are to secure a 'home'.
The JR1 verdict is damning for Sisu and coupled with JR2 any logical person would understand why Wasps have halted talks until they are completed.
Sometimes you need to take your CCFC (Sisu ?) glasses off and apply some common sense.

But hey, don't allow it to stop you from deflecting the blame away from the really cause of stopping a stadium long term deal. ("Great Job" ... JS)

What are you on about?

I am saying if the issue is about a deal at the Ricoh the pressure needs to be on Wasps and CCFC to do the deal doesn't it?

The FL can't and won't do much as they have no control over forcing Wasps to even do a deal if they don't want to. If Wasps don't want to do a deal then they can't say "you are out of the league" can they? As I said, CCFC will just say "but we tried the only other place in the city and look what happened", especially as the FL have been involved at every step.

The Football League aren't going to get involved with things like the JR either.

It isn't like there are multiple stadiums within Coventry that can be moved to.

 

[Frankley]

Didn't she vote to sell it in the first place?

I am not sure how much control they have to be able to answer some of those, so will expect a "the answers werent good enough because they didnt say ccfc would never be able to move" article soon.

She was certainly a councillor at Coventry City Council when it voted to sell ACL.

As for the questions listed in the opening post, I think it's ironic that someone who was previously a representative of a council who repeatedly hid behind claims of commercial confidentiality is asking this sort of question.

Why ask things she must know the FL isn't going to answer?

 

[Nick]

Why ask things she must know the FL isn't going to answer?

Because then people can get angry at the fact they haven't answered them and it stirs it up?

 

[Frankley]

Because then people can get angry at the fact they haven't answered them and it stirs it up?

You mean it's a cynical attempt to increase unrest amongst the club's supporters?

Oh... and on the off chance that the FL does throw out a tit-bit of information, that will be useful to Wasps in any negotiations for future use of the Ricoh.

 

[Moff]

Here we go again.
The deflection away from the Sisu to cover for the mismanagement of this club.
If the EFL had any sense they would question the reasoning for taking CCC and soon Wasps to court and what they hope to gain.
They may not be able to make them stay at the stadium but they can certainly ask what the plans are to secure a 'home'.
The JR1 verdict is damning for Sisu and coupled with JR2 any logical person would understand why Wasps have halted talks until they are completed.
Sometimes you need to take your CCFC (Sisu ?) glasses off and apply some common sense.

But hey, don't allow it to stop you from deflecting the blame away from the really cause of stopping a stadium long term deal. ("Great Job" ... JS)

I think you need to step back and think before you type.

It appears to me Nick was suggesting he felt the questions would be futile, and would lead to nothing. That's his opinion, nothing else. Stop getting frothy mouthed, as it isn't a prerequisite on any post on this site that you have to rant about the mismanagement of the club, everyone knows about that, but apparently it doesn't stop you demanding it on a continual basis.

Get back in your motor home, relax and turn off the wifi for a bit.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Why ask things she must know the FL isn't going to answer?

If you don't ask, you *definitely* don't find out.

Same applies to CCC, Wasps, SISU too... surely?

 

[Nick]

If you don't ask, you *definitely* don't find out.

Same applies to CCC, Wasps, SISU too... surely?

It is strange how while it is all about "Assure us CCFC can't leave the city" there is no mention of the conditions of the sale where it won't harm CCFC. (Note CCFC, not SISU) or any pressure on Wasps to get negotiating.

The other interesting bit was when Duggins seemed to hint that they could have a bit of swing with Wasps if they paid up the legal fees, yet goes un-noticed largely.

Again, for Italia. The pressure needs to be on CCFC and Wasps to do a deal, both of them.

The FL physically can't say "They can't move, they have to be in Coventry" can they? Which is what people are wanting to hear.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It is strange how while it is all about "Assure us CCFC can't leave the city" there is no mention of the conditions of the sale where it won't harm CCFC. (Note CCFC, not SISU) or any pressure on Wasps to get negotiating.

In this particular instance however, there's no need for there to be.

Pushing on one front shouldn't stop pushing on many fronts, but nor should it restrict pushing on *some&* fronts either.

In this instance, it's just info gathering (or not!) anyway.

 

[Nick]

In this particular instance however, there's no need for there to be.

Pushing on one front shouldn't stop pushing on many fronts, but nor should it restrict pushing on *some&* fronts either.

In this instance, it's just info gathering (or not!) anyway.

I think if the issue is about CCFC being in Coventry, the pressure should be on CCFC / Wasps to do a deal surely?

What is the info being gathered for? Like you say there won't be much info given out and even if they said something like "Well Coventry City would have to do x and y to be able to stay in the football league" then all it does is give other people ammo. Imagine if they said "You must have a 10 year deal signed within 3 months" for example.

Wasps would be rubbing their hands together.

The FL won't want to be doing or saying anything that could backfire on them.

 

[DazzleTommyDazzle]

There are some sensible comments above regarding the difficulties that the EFL have in this situation, but this does expose a bigger issue.

There is a very valid way of looking at our position that says that SISU have effectively "made themselves" (that's us, by the way) homeless, by the appalling way that they have managed negotiations over a number of years.

If in that situation the EFL says - Oh well, we have to let them move out of their city", then when a club owner wants to move a club, it'd be pretty simple to manufacture a situation that looks pretty similar, then point to the SISU precedent, threaten the EFL with legal action and move the club.

Hey presto - franchise football is now firmly established.

So can the EFL afford to sit back and take a laissez faire position?

 

[blueflint]

The pressure for what though and publicity for who?

Pressuring the FL and CCFC to do a deal at the Ricoh? Strange there is no pressure at all on the landlords to do a deal with CCFC, the ones who said they halted negotiations?

Imagine if the councillor managed to get the FL to say that CCFC had to stay at the Ricoh or be kicked out of the league, just add a few zeros onto the rent again and sit back laughing.

would you negotiate with SISU i wouldn't

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Hey presto - franchise football is now firmly established.

So can the EFL afford to sit back and take a laissez faire position?

tbh I'd say it doesn't take much for franchise football to get established. Although they closed rules after MK, I can't see why it wouldn't take much to push it.

I guess this is also the problem we have too - we (I hope!) don't want franchise football but... some parties are in a difficult position campaigning against it, wrt a consistent position against franchising in sport.

As such in this instance, I'd take these questions at face value as for info, rather than any wider context.

 

[Nick]

would you negotiate with SISU i wouldn't

So you couldn't moan if the club moved then surely? That's why I said pressure both Wasps and CCFC.

If it is CCFC stalling the deal them hammer them, if it is Wasps then hammer them.

As it seems, Wasps could say "give us £2m a year rent, no revenue" and CCFC would say no. As it stands now, it would be SISU's fault there was no deal.

 

[fernandopartridge]

It's all publicity which is a good thing.
Won't get any sensible answers but it's adds to the pressure in FL and the owners that people are looking and asking.
FairPlay

It isn't any more publicity than any of the saga has got so far. Do you think anybody outside of Coventry cares?

 

[Captain Dart]

There are some sensible comments above regarding the difficulties that the EFL have in this situation, but this does expose a bigger issue.

There is a very valid way of looking at our position that says that SISU have effectively "made themselves" (that's us, by the way) homeless, by the appalling way that they have managed negotiations over a number of years.

If in that situation the EFL says - Oh well, we have to let them move out of their city", then when a club owner wants to move a club, it'd be pretty simple to manufacture a situation that looks pretty similar, then point to the SISU precedent, threaten the EFL with legal action and move the club.

Hey presto - franchise football is now firmly established.

So can the EFL afford to sit back and take a laissez faire position?

It would not surprise me if SISU want to relocate to Birmingham, near the airport.

 

[Gosford Green]

Wasps will not negotiate while the threat of legal action hangs over them caused by the people who they want to do long term business with.

Even if they find a ground (which is unlikely) how long would SISU put up with gates of 900?
If the FL decide to remove the golden share because of a move SISU would just liquidate the club. If SISU move the club again then it will be the end of CCFC one way or another. The FL should step in and demand answers at the start of 2018.

This whole saga does has a very simple solution.

 

[Nick]

Wasps will not negotiate while the threat of legal action hangs over them caused by the people who they want to do long term business with.

They already have negotiated, that's the thing.

 

[Gosford Green]

They already have negotiated, that's the thing.

OK negotiate further.

I am surprised they even sat down at the table in the first place.

 

[torchomatic]

would you negotiate with SISU i wouldn't

That's the attitude that lost us the Ricoh.

 

[Nick]

OK negotiate further.

I am surprised they even sat down at the table in the first place.

That's why it is strange they threw in the won't negotiate stuff when halfway through talks, understandable maybe before doing anything.

 

[Gosford Green]

That's the attitude that lost us the Ricoh.

SISU are known to be almost impossible to deal with, everything is hard ball.

CCC,
Alan Higgs Charity,
CSF
CET
Wasps

Falling out with 1 or 2 of the above is understandable but they manage it with just about everyone important to the clubs future.