Letter to Councillors (1 Viewer)

[MichaelCCFC]

I'm doing this solely as an individual supporter but have emailed this to my local councillors



Dear Councillor [x]

I wish to express my concern regarding media reports of a possible deal with Wasps RFC relating to ACL/the Ricoh Arena and to urge you not to agree any such deal unless it is clearly to the benefit of Coventry City and Coventry RFC. Having received tremendous support from supporters at other clubs when campaigning against the relocation of CCFC to sixfields I also have strong concern about any prospect of Coventry becoming the home of a club relocated from another area.

It might be that a deal with Wasps could benefit Coventry City, Coventry RFC (and be supported by Wasps fans), but lack of transparency means there is no evidence that this is the case and it is hard to see how both Coventry clubs would not be harmed.

I have great sympathy for the Council in having to deal with sisu, whose behaviour has been laid bare both in Parliament and the Judicial Review verdict, and I would oppose the sale of any element of the Ricoh to sisu because they clearly cannot be trusted and do not have the best interests of Coventry City at heart.

However, I am unclear as to why there is any need for a deal to be done at this point. During the sixfields episode claims were made that ACL remained viable and might even be better off by being able to host weekend events that sports fixtures previously precluded. I am equally unclear why a period of stability and time to draw breath after the Ricoh return is not the best option.


I shall look forward to your reply.


Yours sincerely,

 

---

[Seaside-Skyblue]

I think you hit it the nail on the head when you question why allowing time to draw breath isn't the best option. That's exactly how this feels, like were having our heads dunked into the water again after a brief glimmer of hope. I just want to enjoy my team playing football. Its not that hard to ask.

 

[Otis]

I'm doing this solely as an individual supporter but have emailed this to my local councillors



Dear Councillor [x]

I wish to express my concern regarding media reports of a possible deal with Wasps RFC relating to ACL/the Ricoh Arena and to urge you not to agree any such deal unless it is clearly to the benefit of Coventry City and Coventry RFC. Having received tremendous support from supporters at other clubs when campaigning against the relocation of CCFC to sixfields I also have strong concern about any prospect of Coventry becoming the home of a club relocated from another area.

It might be that a deal with Wasps could benefit Coventry City, Coventry RFC (and be supported by Wasps fans), but lack of transparency means there is no evidence that this is the case and it is hard to see how both Coventry clubs would not be harmed.

I have great sympathy for the Council in having to deal with sisu, whose behaviour has been laid bare both in Parliament and the Judicial Review verdict, and I would oppose the sale of any element of the Ricoh to sisu because they clearly cannot be trusted and do not have the best interests of Coventry City at heart.

However, I am unclear as to why there is any need for a deal to be done at this point. During the sixfields episode claims were made that ACL remained viable and might even be better off by being able to host weekend events that sports fixtures previously precluded. I am equally unclear why a period of stability and time to draw breath after the Ricoh return is not the best option.


I shall look forward to your reply.


Yours sincerely,

Michael, I really don't believe you need to put the highlighted section in at all.

 

[Limey]

I'm not a Coventry citizen but I agree with Otis.

 

[sky blue john]

Michael, I really don't believe you need to put the highlighted section in at all.

Why not its the truth ?

 

[Otis]

Just needs the first bit with sort sort of summary at the end, stating that as a councillor representing the citizens of Coventry, it is their duty to do the right thing by the 2 main sporting teams of this city, above all else.

 

[Flying Fokker]

Surely this has to end soon? I have 2 season tickets backing the prospect of a good outcome: (

 

[ccfctommy]

Agree with Otis.

I've tweeted my Councillors

 

[Otis]

Why not its the truth ?

Because I am talking about in terms of a template. I believe we all agree on the first part, the 2nd chunk is all personal opinion.

The first part I think would make quite a good template for all fans to use.

 

[Otis]

If someone has either the email or Twitter addresses of all local councillors, might be a good idea to post them up here.

 

[ccfctommy]

@allanandrews
@cllrkentaylor
@cllr_kevinmaton

 

[Ian1779]

There is little point contacting Kevin Maton... he thinks it's a bloody brilliant idea.

 

[MalcSB]

I think the latest episode shows that the council are two faced and acting in an underhand way. On the return to the Ricoh, councillor Thompson said that CCFC ownership was not out of the realms of possibility, but a period of time to rebuild trust between the parties would be necessary. Now, merely weeks later, all this. Goes to show, you can't trust politicians - maybe not everything is the fault of SISU!!

 

[Otis]

Here's mine for what it's worth. Pinched a fair bit of Michael's.

Dear Councillor Kershaw,

I wish to express my concern regarding media reports of a possible deal with Wasps RFC relating to ACL/the Ricoh Arena and to urge you not to agree any such deal unless it is to the clear benefit of the people of Coventry, Coventry City FC and Coventry RFC. Having received tremendous support from supporters at other clubs when campaigning against the relocation of CCFC to sixfields I also have strong concern about any prospect of Coventry becoming the home of a club relocated from another area, many miles away.

It might feasibly be that a deal with Wasps could benefit Coventry City, Coventry RFC, but lack of transparency means there is no evidence that this is the case and it is hard to see how either of the Coventry clubs, if not both, would not be harmed.

As a councillor representing the citizens of Coventry, it is your duty to act in the best interests of the people of Coventry and by the two main sporting teams of this city, this decision would impinge upon, above all else. This has to be first and foremost in your thinking.

I urge you to do the right thing here when it comes to any Coventry City Council vote on this most crucial matter .

Yours sincerely,

Me

 

[chiefdave]

Going to try and put my letter in by proxy as I don't live locally. Have to rely on my Dad's ability of sending an email to the right person so it's 50/50 if it will reach the council at all!

 

[ccfc1234]

Why not its the truth ?

In life it's not always what you say it's what you don't and how you say things. We all know SISU have been hard to deal with let's not reaffirm those feelings with our elected members who no doubt have ego's and personal feelings against our owners who seem to lack a human touch in dealing with authority.

 

[Otis]

And it's also rather superfluous to this one particular argument. This isn't a blame game letter, it is a plea for common sense and for councillors to do the right thing by the people of Coventry and two of its biggest sporting clubs that carry the city's name.

Best to keep it simple and focus on this one argument. and not go off on a tangent I feel.

 

[bigfatronssba]

The problem is it isn't the councils duty to protect the interests of ccfc and crfc. If we're saying that it is, then it is also the councils duty to force sisu out and bring about a change of ownership. The councils duty is to do the right thing for the whole city, and for all we know, the wasps deal could be of far greater economic benefit.

The argument that needs to be put forward to councillors is the sentimental one. An argument that two iconic coventry organisations could potentially be destroyed if the sale goes ahead.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

The problem is it isn't the councils duty to protect the interests of ccfc and crfc.

It is the council's duty to aid, assist and protect the cultural heritage of its city, and the social wellbeing of its citizens.

 

[Otis]

The problem is it isn't the councils duty to protect the interests of ccfc and crfc. If we're saying that it is, then it is also the councils duty to force sisu out and bring about a change of ownership. The councils duty is to do the right thing for the whole city, and for all we know, the wasps deal could be of far greater economic benefit.

The argument that needs to be put forward to councillors is the sentimental one. An argument that two iconic coventry organisations could potentially be destroyed if the sale goes ahead.

But in protecting the interests of CCFC and CRFC they are protecting the interests of the whole city, because it is in the city's interest for these 2 historic Coventry clubs, that go back nearly 150 years, to survive and flourish if at all possible.

 

[bigfatronssba]

But in protecting the interests of CCFC and CRFC they are protecting the interests of the whole city, because it is in the city's interest for these 2 historic Coventry clubs, that go back nearly 150 years, to survive and flourish if at all possible.

And that's the point that needs to be made. Just saying it's bad for Coventry because two of its private businesses will suffer isn't enough.

The letter has no emotion. Also it is right to mention sisu in all this. The council rightly don't trust sisu. What they need to be reminded is that sisu won't be here forever.

 

[Nick]

Surely the council know how important the football club is anyway from all of the emotional crap they piled onto fans?

 

[MichaelCCFC]

What matters at this stage is the QUANTITY of messages Councillors receive. If they only get a few, however brilliantly written, then it will show the deal isn't a concern for most people. If they get lots all expressing concern, irrespective of detailed points, then they know there's a problem.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Surely the council know how important the football club is anyway from all of the emotional crap they piled onto fans?

The council want to wash their hands of the whole thing and I for one can't blame them for having that attitude. For far to long they have been criticised for trying to do the right thing.

We need to emphasise, regardless of whats gone on, that they need to stick with it and hope that one day the club will be stable & in Coventry.

 

[Nick]

What matters at this stage is the QUANTITY of messages Councillors receive. If they only get a few, however brilliantly written, then it will show the deal isn't a concern for most people. If they get lots all expressing concern, irrespective of detailed points, then they know there's a problem.

So in theory we could just setup a script to hammer the crap out of their mailboxes?

 

[Otis]

For anyone in Bablake Ward, these are the 3 councillor contacts.

[email protected] - Labour

[email protected] - Labour

[email protected] - Conservative

If you are not sure who your councillor is, just click the link below and enter your postcode and it will list all the councillors who represent your ward;

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/councillors/search

 

[torchomatic]

If I lived in Cov, I would join in. I hope your emails do some good. Can't help thinking it's a done deal though.

 

[Matty_CCFC]

I'm doing this solely as an individual supporter but have emailed this to my local councillors



Dear Councillor [x]

I wish to express my concern regarding media reports of a possible deal with Wasps RFC relating to ACL/the Ricoh Arena and to urge you not to agree any such deal unless it is clearly to the benefit of Coventry City and Coventry RFC. Having received tremendous support from supporters at other clubs when campaigning against the relocation of CCFC to sixfields I also have strong concern about any prospect of Coventry becoming the home of a club relocated from another area.

It might be that a deal with Wasps could benefit Coventry City, Coventry RFC (and be supported by Wasps fans), but lack of transparency means there is no evidence that this is the case and it is hard to see how both Coventry clubs would not be harmed.

I have great sympathy for the Council in having to deal with sisu, whose behaviour has been laid bare both in Parliament and the Judicial Review verdict, and I would oppose the sale of any element of the Ricoh to sisu because they clearly cannot be trusted and do not have the best interests of Coventry City at heart.

However, I am unclear as to why there is any need for a deal to be done at this point. During the sixfields episode claims were made that ACL remained viable and might even be better off by being able to host weekend events that sports fixtures previously precluded. I am equally unclear why a period of stability and time to draw breath after the Ricoh return is not the best option.


I shall look forward to your reply.


Yours sincerely,

Sorry Michael
A few letters to Council members will change nothing.
NEED ACTION.

 

[Otis]

Sorry Michael
A few letters to Council members will change nothing.
NEED ACTION.

Arson attack on the council house? :thinking about:

 

[duffer]

Well, I've fired off mine to Ann Lucas and my three ward councillors. I've tried to point out the moral and financial issues, and the impact on our existing clubs.

I don't know if it will work, and I don't know if it's a done deal.

I do know that SISU aren't helping themselves by sitting back and letting this all go ahead. This is the time to step in, otherwise we're trapped for a long time as tenants. Or the smaller, crappier stadium in the Warwickshire hinterlands awaits. Either way we're likely to end up with a smaller, crappier team. Desperate days.

 

[Covstu]

And that's the point that needs to be made. Just saying it's bad for Coventry because two of its private businesses will suffer isn't enough.

The letter has no emotion. Also it is right to mention sisu in all this. The council rightly don't trust sisu. What they need to be reminded is that sisu won't be here forever.

This particular matter is not about SISU, this is about a club 100 miles away buying the ground which will directly affect the two clubs in the city. Yes we all know that SISU are tossers and should have had an adult conversation with ACL/CCC a long time ago but that is a side issue to this particular decision.

 

[Snozz_is_god]

Arson attack on the council house? :thinking about:

Not the brightest thing to say on an open forum, I thought you were better than that otis, clearly not.......

 

[rupert_bear]

Don't we need to know the detail before writing letters etc. Nobody knows anything yet, not even sure if any deal includes Wasps, I have heard it doesn't, I would think any vote taken Tuesday would be an agreement or not in principle. I will say this if any deal included the Ricoh, getting the football club away from our present owners, a better run club with on the pitch investment fans would snap the hands off and bollox to the fate of Wasps. Doesn't make it ethical though I admit but this is the real world we live in.

 

[duffer]

Don't we need to know the detail before writing letters etc. Nobody knows anything yet, not even sure if any deal includes Wasps, I have heard it doesn't, I would think any vote taken Tuesday would be an agreement or not in principle. I will say this if any deal included the Ricoh, getting the football club away from our present owners, a better run club with on the pitch investment fans would snap the hands off and bollox to the fate of Wasps. Doesn't make it ethical though I admit but this is the real world we live in.

I think it's fair enough to complain to the Council on the presumption that the deal proposed involves Wasps taking ownership of ACL. That's what has been widely reported, and as yet has not been challenged. If you wait until the vote is made, then it'll be a little late to do anything about it.

As for this being the 'real world' and that somehow justifying it, that isn't an argument that bears much scrutiny.

In the "real world" you've got a choice of whether or not you support doing to someone else what you detested having done to you. If you're willing to allow this to be done to Wasps, then you can have no complaint when it happens to a team that you do care about.

When SISU moved the club to Northampton, did you feel aggrieved then, or did you just accept that they were just operating in the real world that we live in? In fact, it's hard to take issue with anything using that logic. How can you complain about any time that you or someone or something you care about is wronged, if you're prepared to take that attitude to stitching up someone else?

 

[standupforcity]

For anyone in Bablake Ward, these are the 3 councillor contacts.

[email protected] - Labour

[email protected] - Labour

[email protected] - Conservative

If you are not sure who your councillor is, just click the link below and enter your postcode and it will list all the councillors who represent your ward;

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/councillors/search

Unfortunately this doesn't help the likes of me who live in London. Supported City since 1966, travel up for all the games I can now we're back at the Ricoh, and I would like to give my support. But how?