Trust letters to CCC, SISU and Wasps (1 Viewer)

CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
The Sky Blue Trust today publishes letters that we have issued to SISU/CCFC, Wasps and Coventry City Council urgently requesting meetings to help find a solution to the current crisis


City Council


To Cllr George Duggins cc Cllr Gary Ridley and Martin Reeves, CEO

Dear Cllr Duggins

Coventry City FC - 21 days from expulsion from the English Football League

Like Coventry City fans everywhere, the Sky Blue Trust are appalled that, in just 21 days time, our historic club may be expelled from the Football League. In recent days and weeks, as the Club’s homelessness has been approaching, a war of words has grown between the parties, concentrating on mutual recrimination and blame for the past. Whilst that is understandable, it is getting us nowhere. We are writing today to yourselves, to Wasps and SISU/CCFC seeking urgent meetings to discuss questions about solutions to the crisis. We don’t want to know who said what to whom 5, 6 or 7 years ago. We want to know what you are all now proposing to do in the next 7, 14 and 21 days to save the Club we love from extinction.

Our key questions for the City Council are as follows:

1. It has been reported in the press that SISU/CCFC have identified the site of the former Woodlands Academy as their preferred site for development of a new home ground. We understand that the City Council are owners of the site. Subject to planning permission and other necessary consents becoming available following the normal statutory processes, are the City Council willing, in principle, to sell that site, or indeed any other Council-owned site, to SISU/CCFC for the development of a stadium?

2. If the Woodlands site is not available for the development of another stadium, what steps are being taken by the City Council to assist the Club to continue to play home games in the City of Coventry?

3. It is well-known that an impediment to progress in talks over the continued use by CCFC of the Ricoh Arena is the ongoing litigation between SISU/CCFC, the City Council and Wasps. We are asking all parties to that dispute whether talks are planned to take place between them, in the next three weeks, to resolve that matter, in a spirit on compromise and reconciliation?

The Sky Blue Trust would like to secure a meeting with you to discuss these questions and obtain answers which we could then share with our members. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.


Wasps

To Derek Richardson cc Nick Eastwood

Coventry City FC - 21 days from expulsion from the English Football League

Dear Mr Richardson

Like Coventry City fans everywhere, the Sky Blue Trust are appalled that, in just 21 days time, our historic club may be expelled from the Football League. In recent days and weeks, as the Club’s homelessness has been approaching, a war of words has grown between the parties, concentrating on mutual recrimination and blame for the past. Whilst that is understandable, it is getting us nowhere. We are writing today to yourselves, to the City Council and SISU/CCFC seeking urgent meetings to discuss questions about solutions to the crisis. We don’t want to know who said what to whom 5, 6 or 7 years ago. We want to know what you are all now proposing to do in the next 7, 14 and 21 days to save the Club we love from extinction.

Our key questions for Wasps are as follows:

1. Do you see the continued use of the Ricoh Arena by a successful professional football club, with 136 years of history in the City and 100 in the Football League as adding value to your business at the Arena?

2. If CCFC are forced out of the City of Coventry, possibly never to return, as a result of your refusal to allow them to continue to play at the Ricoh, what impact will the attendant outrage have upon your business in Coventry?

3. It is well-known that an impediment to progress in talks over the continued use by CCFC of the Ricoh Arena is the ongoing litigation between SISU/CCFC, the City Council and Wasps. We are asking all parties to that dispute whether talks are planned to take place between them, in the next three weeks, to resolve that matter, in a spirit on compromise and reconciliation?

The Sky Blue Trust would like to secure a meeting with you to discuss these questions and obtain answers which we could then share with our members. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.


SISU/CCFC

To Joy Seppala, cc Tim Fisher and Dave Boddy

Dear Ms Seppala

Coventry City FC - 21 days from expulsion from the English Football League

Like Coventry City fans everywhere, the Sky Blue Trust are appalled that, in just 21 days time, our historic club may be expelled from the Football League. In recent days and weeks, as the Club’s homelessness has been approaching, a war of words has grown between the parties, concentrating on mutual recrimination and blame for the past. Whilst that is understandable, it is getting us nowhere. We are writing today to yourselves, to Wasps and the City Council seeking urgent meetings to discuss questions about solutions to the crisis. We don’t want to know who said what to whom 5, 6 or 7 years ago. We want to know what you are all now proposing to do in the next 7, 14 and 21 days to save the Club we love from extinction.

1. It has been reported in the press that you have identified the site of the former Woodlands Academy as your preferred site for development of a new home ground. If that is so and if the City Council are prepared, subject to planning permission and other necessary consents becoming available following the normal statutory processes, to sell the site to you, please can you explain in outline to the Club’s supporters how and to what timetable would the development be carried-out? What would be the approximate capacity of the stadium? What supporting commercial development, if any, is envisaged? Which company would own the stadium? Will you consult Coventry City supporters on the location and nature of any new stadium?

2. If the Ricoh Arena is not available for the Club’s home games from 2019/20 onwards, to avoid expulsion from the EFL, it appears that a ground-sharing arrangement may be needed at a suitable ground outside the City. Has such an arrangement been secured? If so, at what location? Will the Club consult its supporters about such an arrangement before committing to it? What is your timescale for identifying and agreeing to any ground-share?

3. It is well-known that an impediment to progress in talks over the continued use by CCFC of the Ricoh Arena is the ongoing litigation between SISU/CCFC, the City Council and Wasps. We are asking all parties to that dispute whether talks are planned to take place between them, in the next three weeks, to resolve that matter, in a spirit on compromise and reconciliation?

The Sky Blue Trust would like to secure a meeting with you to discuss these questions and obtain answers which we could then share with our members. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Sky Blue Trust - The Sky Blue Trust today publishes letters that we have issued to SISU/CCFC, Wasps and Coventry City Council urgently requesting meetings to help find a solution to the current crisis
 

usskyblue

Well-Known Member
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Captain Dart

Well-Known Member
Boom bang a bang.. shortly followed by SISU letter and article from Reid.

Entranched posturing all around. Progress zilch.
 

SkyBlueZack

Well-Known Member
Obtain answers we could share with our members? You wouldn’t even share the questions, never mind the answers from the last meeting with the council and wasps.
 

Magwitch

Well-Known Member
The answers will be:
1 Drop the legals
2 Drop the legals like the council said
3 We are legally entitled to continue with the legal process
It’s all so frustrating think we have to wait until the result of this latest appeal and see what happens after that. Which ever way it goes I think the goalposts will be moved, we all have to be patient
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member

Should I be frustrated by this?
Or just expectant that these would be the replies.

Out of interest could someone at the trust tell us how many times each image was featured on the big screen and at what times? Also if this was communicated to the press in the same manner other trust action is.

Don't like to be suspicious but this seems to have not registered with the CT or Wasps supporters at all and the only picture looks like it could have been taken in the middle of the night.
 
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CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
Out of interest could someone at the trust tell us how many times each image was featured on the big screen and at what times? Also if this was communicated to the press in the same manner other trust action is.

Don't like to be suspicious but this seems to have not registered with the CT or Wasps supporters at all and the only picture looks like it could have been taken in the middle of the night.

Every 1-3 minutes for 10-20 seconds a time. The Telegraph covered it. One of the photos that has been going round was there’s. The one in Les Reid’s tweet was mine.

I’m 100% sure that it registered with Wasps and their fans.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Every 1-3 minutes for 10-20 seconds a time. The Telegraph covered it. One of the photos that has been going round was there’s. The one in Les Reid’s tweet was mine.
And that was split equally across all the images?

Can't find the Telegraph piece, the only one that comes up is
Billboard highlighting CCFC's plight on the Ricoh's doorstep
which concentrates on 6 and Out with no mention of any messages against the council or Wasps.

Hence why I asked. Wondered if it was down to the trust not highlighting it or the local media have changed the emphasis.
I’m 100% sure that it registered with Wasps and their fans.
Is that based on any actual evidence? Looking at their forums and social media there's no mention of it at all. Certainly hope you're right.
 

CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
And that was split equally across all the images?

Can't find the Telegraph piece, the only one that comes up is
Billboard highlighting CCFC's plight on the Ricoh's doorstep
which concentrates on 6 and Out with no mention of any messages against the council or Wasps.

Hence why I asked. Wondered if it was down to the trust not highlighting it or the local media have changed the emphasis.

Is that based on any actual evidence? Looking at their forums and social media there's no mention of it at all. Certainly hope you're right.

The same media contacts get each PR or nudge towards what we’re doing. Yes it’s based on evidence.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
The same media contacts get each PR or nudge towards what we’re doing. Yes it’s based on evidence.
The Telegraph really need to be called out on that then as it seems they were sent details of action by the trust against the council and Wasps and have 'censored', for want of a better word, their coverage to remove any mention of the council and Wasps.
 

Paul Anthony

Well-Known Member
The telegraph are a joke. They are so far in bed with the council, so it doesn't surprise in the slightest that they don't want to publish anything that might show them up. If only they were capable of some proper journalism, they'd realise their job should be to get right in the middle of it all and start biting into everyone, council included. I doubt it'll ever happen.
 

shepardo01

Well-Known Member
The Telegraph really need to be called out on that then as it seems they were sent details of action by the trust against the council and Wasps and have 'censored', for want of a better word, their coverage to remove any mention of the council and Wasps.
Totally agree!! Who calls them out though?
Anybody with links to national media??
Another problem is that other media always go to the "Trust" for comment and fan sentiment... and we all know the problem there!!
Could anybody/has anybody here got any way of pushing things regarding recent statements higher??
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Totally agree!! Who calls them out though?
The trust calling them out would be a start. If they're misrepresenting what the Trust are telling them its pretty important they make that clear.

Another article up on the CT site today about the letters which has been presented as very much against SISU rather than all sides.
A Coventry City fans' group has called for urgent meetings with the key players in the Ricoh Arena row in a bid to solve the crisis that could see the club leaving the city once again.

The Sky Blue Trust last week wrote to Coventry City owners Sisu, the club itself, Wasps and Coventry City Council with tough questions fans wanted answers to.

The letter also told all parties that the statements issued in recent weeks were "concentrating on mutual recrimination and blame" and were "getting us nowhere".

For Sisu, the numerous questions include:
  • if a groundshare for next season has been identified and if fans will be given a say on it
  • how soon a new stadium development could be carried out
  • how big a new stadium would be and who it would be owned by
  • if a commercial development is planned alongside the new stadium
  • if CCFC supporters would be consulted on the location and nature of a new stadium
In a separate letter, the group asks Coventry City Council if it would be willing in principle to sell the site of the former Woodlands Academy for Sisu to build a stadium.

And in the letter to Wasps, they ask if the fallout from CCFC being potentially ousted from the city would be damaging to Wasps' business.
Why list out the questions for SISU and then leave Wasps and the council as an afterthought. Its only little things but it builds up and there is still a lot of people that rely on the CT for their news.
 

Captain Dart

Well-Known Member
The trust calling them out would be a start. If they're misrepresenting what the Trust are telling them its pretty important they make that clear.

Another article up on the CT site today about the letters which has been presented as very much against SISU rather than all sides.

Why list out the questions for SISU and then leave Wasps and the council as an afterthought. Its only little things but it builds up and there is still a lot of people that rely on the CT for their news.
Compare with Les Reid at the Coventry Observer who only questions one party, presents the SISU case without questioning it and only mentions the trust letters in passing as he brands them as "anti SISU".

BREAKING: Coventry City owners respond over school ‘stadium site’ – as we ask council if it wants club out of city in bid to oust Sisu

Expect no balanced reporting in this war.
 

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