Sepalla interview (2 Viewers)

The Lurker

Well-Known Member
The usual binary crap. The council are 100% to blame that an out of town Rugby team has bought part of the Arena company.

Sisu are the ones who took ccfc away from the city and away from the Ricoh. What were the council supposed to do?
 

The Lurker

Well-Known Member
What on earth does that have to do with it?

Come on. You being serious here?

An empty ground not being used for starters. Plus if sisu actually bothered buying the ground when they should we wouldn't have this issue. Fact is, sisu fucked off thinking they could bully ACL and put them out of business due to no income. Sisu never thought of the scenario that another sports team would be interested. The amount of money spent on rent, court cases etc... Would have paid for half the ground by now. But instead they played silly games.
 

Godiva

Well-Known Member
Come on. You being serious here?

An empty ground not being used for starters. Plus if sisu actually bothered buying the ground when they should we wouldn't have this issue. Fact is, sisu fucked off thinking they could bully ACL and put them out of business due to no income. Sisu never thought of the scenario that another sports team would be interested. The amount of money spent on rent, court cases etc... Would have paid for half the ground by now. But instead they played silly games.

As always it's never that simple, is it?

We all seem to forget what Wasps CEO said at the press conference: "This takeover is the culmination of two years meticulous planning."
That put the start of the negotiation right into the timeframe when CCC/Higgs and sisu were all negotiating in good faith. Forget about all the noise about who went to the bank and all that - the negotiations seem to have died when Wasps came around if we are to believe Mr Eastwood.
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
The usual binary crap. The council are 100% to blame that an out of town Rugby team has bought part of the Arena company.

You don't think SISU acting as their estate agent has no bearing on it? Seriously, SISU must be due a commission for all the marketing they've done letting the world know that the Ricoh is available. They even got the council leader TV time saying that CCC will listen to any reasonable offer.

Given the headlines it's made is anyone really surprised that a homeless sporting club in need of it's own stadium came knocking and with the ex Tennant in Northampton telling anyone that would listen that they'd moved on and were building their own stadium is anyone really surprised that the owners of the empty stadium talked to other interested parties.

Then given that while I'm driving to the first game back the CEO is on the radio saying we have still moved on that a deal was completed with someone who hasn't moved on.

I'm guessing that the moral of the story of the boy who cried wolf is lost on you.

Do I think that wasps should have been in a position where they could complete a deal for ACL. No. But to make out that in no way shape or form SISU have played a part is at best blinkered and at worst just plain ignorant to what actually got SISU, ACL, CCC & Higgs to the point where the wasps deal was done
 

olderskyblue

Well-Known Member
He's let Sepalla offer her opinion, he hasn't spun it into anything, the quotes are there to read.

I would have expected an award winning journo to have at least asked lots of questions, as per OSB58's earlier post. Would seem to be the normal thing to do, otherwise she might just have well emailed her piece in to the observer...
 

oldskyblue58

CCFC Finance Director
As always it's never that simple, is it?

We all seem to forget what Wasps CEO said at the press conference: "This takeover is the culmination of two years meticulous planning."
That put the start of the negotiation right into the timeframe when CCC/Higgs and sisu were all negotiating in good faith. Forget about all the noise about who went to the bank and all that - the negotiations seem to have died when Wasps came around if we are to believe Mr Eastwood.

That would put plans being put together in October 2012 wouldn't it. Which is 2 months after any exclusivity period ended and 2 months after the Charity made it clear they were prepared to listen offers from other parties. At that time Oct 2012 it may have been the interest in ACL by wasps was in the 50% owned by the Charity. It may also have been the case that any approach and talks were not particularly substantive especially considering Wasps own financial status at the time. So seems to me the negotiations with SISU as far as Charity were concerned died before Wasps were interested. Did that interest influence the Council, well that depends on the depth of interest doesn't it, and whether there were any talks at all between AEHC/ACL/CCC and Wasps prior to December 2012 when SISU ownership talks failed and we do not know that one way or another
 
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Grendel

Well-Known Member
You don't think SISU acting as their estate agent has no bearing on it? Seriously, SISU must be due a commission for all the marketing they've done letting the world know that the Ricoh is available. They even got the council leader TV time saying that CCC will listen to any reasonable offer.

Given the headlines it's made is anyone really surprised that a homeless sporting club in need of it's own stadium came knocking and with the ex Tennant in Northampton telling anyone that would listen that they'd moved on and were building their own stadium is anyone really surprised that the owners of the empty stadium talked to other interested parties.

Then given that while I'm driving to the first game back the CEO is on the radio saying we have still moved on that a deal was completed with someone who hasn't moved on.

I'm guessing that the moral of the story of the boy who cried wolf is lost on you.

Do I think that wasps should have been in a position where they could complete a deal for ACL. No. But to make out that in no way shape or form SISU have played a part is at best blinkered and at worst just plain ignorant to what actually got SISU, ACL, CCC & Higgs to the point where the wasps deal was done

I thought ACL first approached wasps in 2011?
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
I thought ACL first approached wasps in 2011?

You think a lot of things. SIsu deliberately lost the JR, no other party would be interested in the Ricoh etc etc.

Anyway how many of your clients are you taking to Wasps first game as a high flier in the Wasps official sponsors?
 

The Lurker

Well-Known Member
That would put plans being put together in October 2012 wouldn't it. Which is 2 months after any exclusivity period ended and 2 months after the Charity made it clear they were prepared to listen offers from other parties. At that time Oct 2012 it may have been the interest in ACL by wasps was in the 50% owned by the Charity. It may also have been the case that any approach and talks were not particularly substantive especially considering Wasps own financial status at the time. So seems to me the negotiations with SISU as far as Charity were concerned died before Wasps were interested. Did that interest influence the Council, well that depends on the depth of interest doesn't it, and whether there were any talks at all between AEHC/ACL/CCC and Wasps prior to December 2012 when SISU ownership talks failed and we do not know that one way or another

Precisely buddie... The argument sisu are blameless for the wasps takeover is just ludicrous.
 

Sky Blue Dal

Well-Known Member
And with apologies to those I've insulted, which is probably pretty much everyone - I'll leave it there I think.

I don't think, for all of the press stuff, there's any more mileage in this for me as a fan. The decision is done. The 50% won't come to CCFC, the new stadium won't be built.

I'll quietly hope that for all kinds of different reasons, Wasps go under, or better, move back south.

Also I'll hang on to the thought that we're getting closer to the "bottom of the cycle" every day, and that eventually we'll have new owners. I certainly can't see us going anywhere other than further down with the ones we've got.

I've got to say though, that for all of the enormous harm that SISU have done to the club, for me it's the council that have put the final nail in the coffin. Until they sold to Wasps there was always some hope of a way back - I can't see one now.

Duffer, there was never going to be a way back for us with SISU in charge without them paying the right price for it.

The day the final nail went into CCFC coffin was the day they abandoned the Ricoh for Sixfields. If they had stuck it out and paid even a little bit of the rent which was affordable it would have been difficult for the Wasps to come in take control of the Ricoh as I am confident it would have ended up being a big PR disaster for CCC/ACL/Higgs.

As my solicitor advised me if I ever go through a divorce never ever leave or abandon your marital home because as soon as you do so, the wife will have changed the locks, bring in a new lover and get the kids to call him daddy therefore legally losing your home and making you penniless.

Afraid that's sums up what is happening to our club under SISU's watch.

That's my take.
 
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chiefdave

Well-Known Member
I thought ACL first approached wasps in 2011?

Was that about moving permanently or about using the Ricoh for Euro games that couldn't be staged in Wycombe?

Found this on th​e wasps forum when I was having a dig to see when talk of moving first came up:

Rossborough said that two years ago, he met Wasps owner Derek Richardson and discussed, very generally, how the two clubs might work together and the word “merger” was mentioned, albeit informally.

Apparently at that point Richardson didn't own Wasps, it was in the period at which he was considering buying the club, he didn't actually buy it until April 2013.
 

torchomatic

Well-Known Member
I also thought there was something in the Telegraph about Wasps coming here a couple of years ago. Might be wrong though.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
Was that about moving permanently or about using the Ricoh for Euro games that couldn't be staged in Wycombe?

Found this on th​e wasps forum when I was having a dig to see when talk of moving first came up:



Apparently at that point Richardson didn't own Wasps, it was in the period at which he was considering buying the club, he didn't actually buy it until April 2013.

It was discussed on here. We certainly know that it's been 2 years in discussion before CCFC left the ground
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
We certainly know? So you have proof that talks were held in 2011?

No I said it was discussed on here and someone said 2011 was the initial discussions.

Either way it was definitely 2012 and it was when the club was still there if the CEO of wasps is to be believed so your argument that they had to do it as the stadium was empty is a false one.

Are you called the lurker as you lurk around the council house all day before you post your council crap on here in the evening?
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
It was discussed on here. We certainly know that it's been 2 years in discussion before CCFC left the ground

But at that point were they discussing Wasps renting in addition to us or selling them the ground? Richardson hasn't been in charge at Wasps too long and their fans have been told he's funding it. Were the plans to buy the ground already in place before he came in, was that part of the deal when he took over?
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
But at that point were they discussing Wasps renting in addition to us or selling them the ground? Richardson hasn't been in charge at Wasps too long and their fans have been told he's funding it. Were the plans to buy the ground already in place before he came in, was that part of the deal when he took over?

Well you will have to ask the CEO what he meant by the comment "this has taken two years" won't you?
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
You don't think SISU acting as their estate agent has no bearing on it? Seriously, SISU must be due a commission for all the marketing they've done letting the world know that the Ricoh is available. They even got the council leader TV time saying that CCC will listen to any reasonable offer.

Given the headlines it's made is anyone really surprised that a homeless sporting club in need of it's own stadium came knocking and with the ex Tennant in Northampton telling anyone that would listen that they'd moved on and were building their own stadium is anyone really surprised that the owners of the empty stadium talked to other interested parties.

Then given that while I'm driving to the first game back the CEO is on the radio saying we have still moved on that a deal was completed with someone who hasn't moved on.

I'm guessing that the moral of the story of the boy who cried wolf is lost on you.

Do I think that wasps should have been in a position where they could complete a deal for ACL. No. But to make out that in no way shape or form SISU have played a part is at best blinkered and at worst just plain ignorant to what actually got SISU, ACL, CCC & Higgs to the point where the wasps deal was done
The council didn't need to sell their stake in ACL. You and others parrotted that sort of line gleefully cos it meant nasty hedge fund wouldn't get the community asset. CCFC were an irrelevance as the Ricoh had a full order book. Turnover had trebled.

Now you decide that the council HAD to sell their stake because of CCFC.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
That would put plans being put together in October 2012 wouldn't it. Which is 2 months after any exclusivity period ended and 2 months after the Charity made it clear they were prepared to listen offers from other parties. At that time Oct 2012 it may have been the interest in ACL by wasps was in the 50% owned by the Charity. It may also have been the case that any approach and talks were not particularly substantive especially considering Wasps own financial status at the time. So seems to me the negotiations with SISU as far as Charity were concerned died before Wasps were interested. Did that interest influence the Council, well that depends on the depth of interest doesn't it, and whether there were any talks at all between AEHC/ACL/CCC and Wasps prior to December 2012 when SISU ownership talks failed and we do not know that one way or another

Only the council have sold their stake so far. Nothing to do with the exclusivity agreement. Does it show that the council never wanted a deal with CCFC?
 

The Lurker

Well-Known Member
No I said it was discussed on here and someone said 2011 was the initial discussions.

Either way it was definitely 2012 and it was when the club was still there if the CEO of wasps is to be believed so your argument that they had to do it as the stadium was empty is a false one.

Are you called the lurker as you lurk around the council house all day before you post your council crap on here in the evening?

No, you said we certainly know discussions took place in 2011. Now you back track and said it was discussed on here. So everything on here is gospel then? Priceless. And 2012 is slightly different to 2011. Keep back tracking. Making yourself look rather silly here using discussions on here as fact.
 

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
The council didn't need to sell their stake in ACL. You and others parrotted that sort of line gleefully cos it meant nasty hedge fund wouldn't get the community asset. CCFC were an irrelevance as the Ricoh had a full order book. Turnover had trebled.

Now you decide that the council HAD to sell their stake because of CCFC.

You're wasting your time mate, these lot make it up as they go along. What's even funnier is that the Ricoh has still been old to a hedge fund.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Did he not just mean in the general context of finding a permanent home and not specifically doing the Ricoh deal?

Sounds like that could be the case

Naturally our initial search started within the London and M25 area. However after a thorough process over the past two years, it is clear that the Ricoh Arena provides by far the best option for the long-term success of the Club. It is a once in a life-time opportunity we simply could not overlook.

There's reports online from early 2013 saying a move to Brentford was not too far from being agreed. At the end of the day only those involved know and we're not likely to find out.
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
The council didn't need to sell their stake in ACL. You and others parrotted that sort of line gleefully cos it meant nasty hedge fund wouldn't get the community asset. CCFC were an irrelevance as the Ricoh had a full order book. Turnover had trebled.

Now you decide that the council HAD to sell their stake because of CCFC.

They didn't need to but they clearly wanted to. Clearly they'd been distressed. Maybe not in the financial sense (I guess we won't know for sure until ACL's books are available for this period) but certainly in the we've had enough of this shit let's cut and run sense. Are you suggesting that CCC having enough was nothing to do with SISU and their distressing tactics? I can only imagine that the elation of being cleared in the JR without a sniff of a smoking gun only to be told that an appeal is being lodged, oh and by the way we've moved on and are building our own ground exacerbated that.

So then Wasps rock up and it goes public before a council meeting to approve it. Joys response? Not, give us the chance to counter the deal. Oh no, we won't stand in the way we've moved on and we're building our own ground. Is that rubber stamping the wasps deal? Who knows? But she's passing said rubber stamp to the council.

Even now she's on about building her own stadium while tabling a bid to buy the Higgs share. Like OSB pointed out. Who in there right mind is going to get into that relationship on that basis? Again is she rubber stamping a wasps takeover of the Higgs share? Who knows? But if wasps do have the power of veto she's passing them the stamp.

Like I said. The moral of the story of the boy who cried wolf is lost on you.
 

letsallsingtogether

Well-Known Member
D

Deleted member 5849

Guest
There was a fair bit TBF

It may have formed a certain amount of CCC policy on the situation as It stood 18-24 months ago.

Yeah, Mutton especially was keen to emphasise he wouldn't consider a deal with CCFC while a hedge fund was in charge. Supposedly we'd moved forward from that... but arguably the actions since say otherwise, and we should at least respect Mutton for being up front about things!
 

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