My thoughts (1 Viewer)

Astute

Well-Known Member
CCC built a stadium for our football club when it was in the shit with no home. They put their own money into it. Rent was too high. But it was needed as the arena at the time had no income. SISU came to our club. Happy with the rent as it was less than 10% of the players wages. They got fed up of throwing money at the club and not doing any better. They then changed direction. We got relegated. Attendances half of what they were when SISU took over.

Rent seen by SISU as too high. No rent reduction. SISU tell the FL that they are being forced out of the Ricoh and stop paying the rent. Make out as though they want to pay off Higgs and do a 50/50 share with CCC. No side is seen as wanting to complete the deal :confused: Take us to Northampton. Litigation starts. And.......

The litigation starts to take up time and money for CCC. Joy says she wants the freehold but doesn't seem to want to negotiate. Carries on costing CCC money. Tying them up in costly litigation. All sorts of threats used like certain members of CCC will be sued once it is over. The boat has sailed. Build our own ground. Many of us saw the Ricoh as a white elephant. SISU still won't negotiate. Ground is left unused. Talks start with Wasps. They are willing to take over the white elephant. Bring back footfall to the area. A chance to get rid of the pain in the arse that the Ricoh had become. Towards the end of the talks SISU bring our club home but refuse to talk about taking over the Ricoh. They still say that they will be building their own stadium. Only back on a 2 year deal plus an option of 2 more.

So what do CCC do now? Joy says that she isn't interested in having the stadium like Wasps are. Fisher says that our club will be building. No bids coming from SISU. They don't want to be left with an empty stadium again. They have had enough of the litigation costing them time and money. So the deal goes through.

Yes there is more that has happened, but the basics are here. Missed out other major parts like bids going wrong and litigation with Higgs. They also wanted out. But would be here all day and a 25,000 essay to get everything in. Not the place for it. But how does understanding why CCC have let the arena go make me a supporter of it?

Wasps supporters - Shit for them. They either have a lot of travelling to do if they live in the London area or they lose their club. Attendances could well suffer badly. Nothing good can be said about the situation.

Wasps owners - Renting a stadium where the rent was going up. Not even in the area that they were supposed to be in either. They have now got a long term home for much less than building elsewhere. So financially can be better off than still renting where they were. And a big point is that Rugby is big up north. They will pick up punters that want to see a good game. But still shit for their own supporters. On the other hand they will want our club to stay there and pay some sort of rent to help with the finances. But do they know what they are taking on with SISU?

CCC - SHIT. I can understand why they have let the Ricoh go. But it doesn't make it right. Could they have held out until our club had a new owner that would negotiate? Would SISU ever leave us whilst the Ricoh was there to be had on their terms? Could their finances continually have taken a hit with the non stop litigation that didn't even stop after SISU losing so badly last time? Still shit though as the ground was built for our club. What chance do we have of owning our own stadium in the future?

SISU - No comment is needed. The one thing that 99.9% of us agree on. Has their non negotiating bullying tactics blown up in their faces? Millions wasted in litigation and moving our club away from Coventry seems to have come to nothing. Not even wanting to negotiate when they could see their target was going elsewhere. Are they now left without a pot to piss in? New ground? Now we will see for sure if it was all a bluff or not. Or was it really all about the pie money?

And most importantly CCFC - Just as you think things are improving it gets shit once more. Can it get any worse? It certainly can. A tinpot stadium built miles away from Coventry, a move back to Northampton.....even liquidation. Although there are not many things to be sold in liquidation so that becomes less of a risk. But a woman scorned....

I just hope it is a chance for us to have a change of direction. We have a minimum 18 months left at the Ricoh on what looks like a 100k rent. But with the way Fisher goes on about sustainability compared to which division we are in this would raise if we ever got promoted? Maybe a good time to negotiate a long term agreement with the Wasps boss. After all the two clubs will need each other. Losing the chance of owning the Ricoh in the near future at least shouldn't harm our club if the rent is kept to a low amount. But will we just be kept ticking along in Division 3 hoping for a promotion whilst selling any decent player that comes through the academy to help fund everything? Will SISU even look at offloading our club? Is there anyone interested right now?

Yes certainly shit all round. All part of being a CCFC supporter.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
CCC built a stadium for our football club when it was in the shit with no home. They put their own money into it. Rent was too high. But it was needed as the arena at the time had no income. SISU came to our club. Happy with the rent as it was less than 10% of the players wages. They got fed up of throwing money at the club and not doing any better. They then changed direction. We got relegated. Attendances half of what they were when SISU took over.

Rent seen by SISU as too high. No rent reduction. SISU tell the FL that they are being forced out of the Ricoh and stop paying the rent. Make out as though they want to pay off Higgs and do a 50/50 share with CCC. No side is seen as wanting to complete the deal :confused: Take us to Northampton. Litigation starts. And.......

The litigation starts to take up time and money for CCC. Joy says she wants the freehold but doesn't seem to want to negotiate. Carries on costing CCC money. Tying them up in costly litigation. All sorts of threats used like certain members of CCC will be sued once it is over. The boat has sailed. Build our own ground. Many of us saw the Ricoh as a white elephant. SISU still won't negotiate. Ground is left unused. Talks start with Wasps. They are willing to take over the white elephant. Bring back footfall to the area. A chance to get rid of the pain in the arse that the Ricoh had become. Towards the end of the talks SISU bring our club home but refuse to talk about taking over the Ricoh. They still say that they will be building their own stadium. Only back on a 2 year deal plus an option of 2 more.

So what do CCC do now? Joy says that she isn't interested in having the stadium like Wasps are. Fisher says that our club will be building. No bids coming from SISU. They don't want to be left with an empty stadium again. They have had enough of the litigation costing them time and money. So the deal goes through.

Yes there is more that has happened, but the basics are here. Missed out other major parts like bids going wrong and litigation with Higgs. They also wanted out. But would be here all day and a 25,000 essay to get everything in. Not the place for it. But how does understanding why CCC have let the arena go make me a supporter of it?

Wasps supporters - Shit for them. They either have a lot of travelling to do if they live in the London area or they lose their club. Attendances could well suffer badly. Nothing good can be said about the situation.

Wasps owners - Renting a stadium where the rent was going up. Not even in the area that they were supposed to be in either. They have now got a long term home for much less than building elsewhere. So financially can be better off than still renting where they were. And a big point is that Rugby is big up north. They will pick up punters that want to see a good game. But still shit for their own supporters. On the other hand they will want our club to stay there and pay some sort of rent to help with the finances. But do they know what they are taking on with SISU?

CCC - SHIT. I can understand why they have let the Ricoh go. But it doesn't make it right. Could they have held out until our club had a new owner that would negotiate? Would SISU ever leave us whilst the Ricoh was there to be had on their terms? Could their finances continually have taken a hit with the non stop litigation that didn't even stop after SISU losing so badly last time? Still shit though as the ground was built for our club. What chance do we have of owning our own stadium in the future?

SISU - No comment is needed. The one thing that 99.9% of us agree on. Has their non negotiating bullying tactics blown up in their faces? Millions wasted in litigation and moving our club away from Coventry seems to have come to nothing. Not even wanting to negotiate when they could see their target was going elsewhere. Are they now left without a pot to piss in? New ground? Now we will see for sure if it was all a bluff or not. Or was it really all about the pie money?

And most importantly CCFC - Just as you think things are improving it gets shit once more. Can it get any worse? It certainly can. A tinpot stadium built miles away from Coventry, a move back to Northampton.....even liquidation. Although there are not many things to be sold in liquidation so that becomes less of a risk. But a woman scorned....

I just hope it is a chance for us to have a change of direction. We have a minimum 18 months left at the Ricoh on what looks like a 100k rent. But with the way Fisher goes on about sustainability compared to which division we are in this would raise if we ever got promoted? Maybe a good time to negotiate a long term agreement with the Wasps boss. After all the two clubs will need each other. Losing the chance of owning the Ricoh in the near future at least shouldn't harm our club if the rent is kept to a low amount. But will we just be kept ticking along in Division 3 hoping for a promotion whilst selling any decent player that comes through the academy to help fund everything? Will SISU even look at offloading our club? Is there anyone interested right now?

Yes certainly shit all round. All part of being a CCFC supporter.

That's the way I see it too. Negotiate a long rental deal with Wasps. The 2 clubs now do need each other.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
I feel for Wasps as a Fanbase, our Football Club and it's fans and the Rugga Club.. What happened in the past is now in the past, we have to hope that either:

- A long term deal can be achieved with Wasps to stay at the Ricoh.

- Build a new Stadium in Coventry or the surrounding area.




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Hobo

Well-Known Member
A golden opportunity missed by SISU to have the Ricoh. In fact their reluctance to buy into the Ricoh ever since they arrived has always suggested one thing to me....they haven't got the money!

But the lack of a counter bid against the Wasps has really disappointed me. Having the Ricoh is far cheaper than building from new and that is before you start talking location, location, location.
 
Excellent post. Like you cannot understand why the Council are getting so much stick . I agree the City of Coventry should have morally been the priority but this is business any other business would have done the same. . Many have said it on here over the past 2years but fact is until SISU go we are screwed.
 

Leamington Pete

Well-Known Member
You have to wonder why they apparently didn't bid for the Ricoh when it looked like going to Wasps. Nothing they could build for the same money will ever match it for location and potential.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
I must admit that I am little surprised as many will be that Sisu didn't attempt in an effort to have discussion with ACL/CCC.. You have to wonder why.


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Otis

Well-Known Member
You have to wonder why they apparently didn't bid for the Ricoh when it looked like going to Wasps. Nothing they could build for the same money will ever match it for location and potential.


That is absoultely and totally spot on.

I do wish they would tell me where they are going to build a stadium that has really good access, is really close to motorway links, next door to a rail station, had 5 lane road outside, won't be opposed by local residents and will be in the 'surrounding Coventry area?'

Where is this magical land?
 

Astute

Well-Known Member
I must admit that I am little surprised as many will be that Sisu didn't attempt in an effort to have discussion with ACL/CCC.. You have to wonder why.

To me it means that they don't have the money for a stadium or something is going on that we don't know about.

Unless that is that they are looking to get out ASAP and would worry about getting their money back if they paid for the stadium. We are a Division 3 club as things stand and the big money is normally for the Prem sides.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
To me it means that they don't have the money for a stadium or something is going on that we don't know about.

Unless that is that they are looking to get out ASAP and would worry about getting their money back if they paid for the stadium. We are a Division 3 club as things stand and the big money is normally for the Prem sides.

We can speculate what it might mean, but I think the Trust or someone needs to directly ask this question to the Club, Why was an offer not made? What prevented the Club from doing so? Etc.


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Astute

Well-Known Member
We can speculate what it might mean, but I think the Trust or someone needs to directly ask this question to the Club, Why was an offer not made? What prevented the Club from doing so? Etc.

I can already see the answer. They want to own their own ground. It was the lease that Wasps got. Yet most of us know it doesn't make sense.....unless there is something that we don't know yet.

Are we to believe what Les Reid said? Was it up to 14 councilors to vote against the sale to Wasps? If so what made them change their minds?

I feel as though there is something missing from what we know that is important. And hopefully we will find out today.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
I can already see the answer. They want to own their own ground. It was the lease that Wasps got. Yet most of us know it doesn't make sense.....unless there is something that we don't know yet.

Are we to believe what Les Reid said? Was it up to 14 councilors to vote against the sale to Wasps? If so what made them change their minds?

I feel as though there is something missing from what we know that is important. And hopefully we will find out today.

I agree it's difficult to swallow at this moment in time, but not solely down to the situation but due to the lack of knowledge that has been apparent.


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The Penguin

Well-Known Member
To me it means that they don't have the money for a stadium or something is going on that we don't know about.

Unless that is that they are looking to get out ASAP and would worry about getting their money back if they paid for the stadium. We are a Division 3 club as things stand and the big money is normally for the Prem sides.

A League One club with no ground and very few other assets.

Despite any 'potential' we might have (y'know, if we had actual decent stewardship) it's easy to see why nobody wants to buy us (certainly not for the amount that SISU might want).
 

Malaka

Well-Known Member
On the positive side. SISU might now get rid. We might get a new stadium that is fit for purpose, I hate rattling around in a stadium with 20000 empty seats. A stadium can now be built in close proximity to Cov, permission will be easier to gain as now our neighboring authorities will be more open to suggestions now that the Ricoh is off the councils books.
Our kids were brilliant last night, yes I know it was against Exeter but they remind me of the team that Dave Sexton got together back in the 70's.
What will be will be, if we go under so be it, but one thing is for sure, I cant bear this shit any longer either let us die so that we can salvage something or we get investment and rise to a position of some respect. Because I am sick of playing the mighty Yeovil, Gillingham, Scunthorpe etc. We are Coventry City and we should be playing better teams than them.
 

Moff

Well-Known Member
What will be will be, if we go under so be it, but one thing is for sure, I cant bear this shit any longer either let us die so that we can salvage something or we get investment and rise to a position of some respect. Because I am sick of playing the mighty Yeovil, Gillingham, Scunthorpe etc. We are Coventry City and we should be playing better teams than them.

Malaka, I totally agree, I think a lot of fans are now reaching tipping point, as even the good news of being back at 'home' is lost by the uncertain news of is it still home, and where will home be in the future.

If we carry on as a middling club, with no success, or ambition, then I suspect the Sixfields attendances may become nearer reality again, except this time in a 32,000 seater stadium
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
On the positive side. SISU might now get rid. We might get a new stadium that is fit for purpose, I hate rattling around in a stadium with 20000 empty seats. A stadium can now be built in close proximity to Cov, permission will be easier to gain as now our neighboring authorities will be more open to suggestions now that the Ricoh is off the councils books.
Our kids were brilliant last night, yes I know it was against Exeter but they remind me of the team that Dave Sexton got together back in the 70's.
What will be will be, if we go under so be it, but one thing is for sure, I cant bear this shit any longer either let us die so that we can salvage something or we get investment and rise to a position of some respect. Because I am sick of playing the mighty Yeovil, Gillingham, Scunthorpe etc. We are Coventry City and we should be playing better teams than them.

And the answer would be to move into a cheaper, smaller stadium? :confused:

If we move up the leagues and play the bigger teams we could quite easily get 30,000 against Birmingham or Leicester or Villa, or Chelsea, or Man U, or Chelsea, or Liverpool, or Man City.
 

Malaka

Well-Known Member
And the answer would be to move into a cheaper, smaller stadium? :confused:

If we move up the leagues and play the bigger teams we could quite easily get 30,000 against Birmingham or Leicester or Villa, or Chelsea, or Man U, or Chelsea, or Liverpool, or Man City.

And how many times have you been to a City match with over 25000? I have been going for years, you live in a dream. Having a large stadium is like having a six bedroom house just so your relations can visit over christmas...a waste of time and money. Get real we are not and never have been a fashionable club. In general, the people of Coventry do not give a shit about CCFC. At the Gillingham games I saw friends and acquaintances that had never been before, do not support us but went for the occassion. We can hope for 22-25k max in the premier league.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
I have just seen this from a statement by the Club yesterday:

We realise you are frustrated on the lack of information on the new stadium plans but we simply can’t discuss the details of our latest stadium development plans for commercial reasons. However, this potential deal with Wasps shows how important it is that we take control of our own destiny when it comes to stadium ownership.

We want to deliver our vision of a 21st century facility that a proud and successful club, its players and its fans, should have. You, through the stadium forum, will be at the heart of our plans.

Read more at http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/...-city-071014-2003415.aspx#xVIboEYvjEMgQPd6.99

Words fail me..


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Otis

Well-Known Member
And how many times have you been to a City match with over 25000? I have been going for years, you live in a dream. Having a large stadium is like having a six bedroom house just so your relations can visit over christmas...a waste of time and money. Get real we are not and never have been a fashionable club. In general, the people of Coventry do not give a shit about CCFC. At the Gillingham games I saw friends and acquaintances that had never been before, do not support us but went for the occassion. We can hope for 22-25k max in the premier league.


We have never played in the Premier at the Ricoh. If we can get 22,000 for local derbies in the Championship, we will get close to 30,000 in the Premier for the big games and it's the big games I am talking about. Away end will be totally sold out for Villa, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Cheslea.

Away allocation I think is 6,000. You telling me only 16,000 City fans will want to go and watch City against Liverpool or Man U?

Can easily see 20,000 city fans wanting to go to those games + all the neutrals too.
 
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Otis

Well-Known Member
We have never played in the Premier at the Ricoh. If we can get 22,000 for local derbies in the Championship, we will get close to 30,000 in the Premier for the big games and it's the big games I am talking about. Away end will be totally sold out for Villa, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Cheslea.

Away allocation I think is 6,000. You telling me only 16,000 City fans will want to go and watch City against Liverpool or Man U?

Can easily see 20,000 city fans wanting to go to those games + all the neutrals too.


Plus let's not forget about all the Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City 'fans' there now are in this city.

You see shirts of all those clubs everywhere and these people will be buying tickets in the home end. If Chelsea came here there would probably be at least 1,000 local Chelsea supporters in the ground in the home stands.
 

Malaka

Well-Known Member
What were the crowds at Highfield Rd for those games? They away fans used to sit with the home fans so that they could get in. We do not need a huge stadium for four maybe five games a year so yes I think that some of the Cov people who rock up will be supporting Man U or Liverpool. They are everywhere. I would rather have a full stadium every game with a great atmosphere than a few thousand empty seats at every game other than against the big boys. Fuck them! why let them have six thousand fans in? intimidate them and humiliate them. 1983 Coventry City v Liverpool 20,000, we were going for the top spot and only 20000. Like I said Otis no one gives a shit
 

Hobo

Well-Known Member
Plus let's not forget about all the Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City 'fans' there now are in this city.

You see shirts of all those clubs everywhere and these people will be buying tickets in the home end. If Chelsea came here there would probably be at least 1,000 local Chelsea supporters in the ground in the home stands.

and they will be first in their wallets for a brand new Wasps shirt.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
What were the crowds at Highfield Rd for those games? They away fans used to sit with the home fans so that they could get in. We do not need a huge stadium for four maybe five games a year so yes I think that some of the Cov people who rock up will be supporting Man U or Liverpool. They are everywhere. I would rather have a full stadium every game with a great atmosphere than a few thousand empty seats at every game other than against the big boys. Fuck them! why let them have six thousand fans in? intimidate them and humiliate them. 1983 Coventry City v Liverpool 20,000, we were going for the top spot and only 20000. Like I said Otis no one gives a shit

Times have changed. This is no longer Highfield Road, we have been away for 14 years. Sky changed the Premier and it has now become much more high profile.


Average Premier attendances;

Mid to lower table

West Ham - 34,000
Villa- 33,000
Leicester - 31,500
Southampton -29,000
Stoke - 27,000
West Brom - 24,000 (capacity 26,400)
Crystal Palace - 24,000 (capacity 26,000)
Hull -23,000 (capacity 24,500)
Burnley -20,000 (capacity 21,000)
Swansea - 20,000 (capacity 20,750)
QPR - 17,500 (capacity 18,500)
 
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Otis

Well-Known Member
I reckon we would average around 22,000. Even if it was 20,000 or just under, for the big games we would be getting much closer to 30,000.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
What were the crowds at Highfield Rd for those games? They away fans used to sit with the home fans so that they could get in. We do not need a huge stadium for four maybe five games a year so yes I think that some of the Cov people who rock up will be supporting Man U or Liverpool. They are everywhere. I would rather have a full stadium every game with a great atmosphere than a few thousand empty seats at every game other than against the big boys. Fuck them! why let them have six thousand fans in? intimidate them and humiliate them. 1983 Coventry City v Liverpool 20,000, we were going for the top spot and only 20000. Like I said Otis no one gives a shit
that Liverpool crowd was when the capacity would only have been 20600.
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
And still people cling onto the notion that SISU will leave..... :facepalm:
 

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