Warring parties secret talks in last-ditch attempt to keep Sky Blues in Coventry (1 Viewer)

ccfc92

Well-Known Member
Sorry if I've missed this, but when are these talks taking place? Today?
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
It's amazing reading some of the comments on here "we cannot in any circumstance allow Joy Seppela to get her hands on that Ricoh Arena", "Thats what its all about and SISU attitude is bollocks to the fans and the city we want the Ricoh and if we do not get it we are moving out !!! imho".

Nobody wants to move to Northampton or move into a "tinpot" stadium that SISU build, but the moment it's mentioned that Joy Seppala (SISU) wants to invest in the Ricoh people are still throwing there arms up in the air. SISU aren't leaving like most of us want them too, put the past aside, if they can negotiate this with ACL, then this is good for the club.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
She doesn't. She wants to secure the asset in order to sell it and maximize their return in an exit strategy.

All the 'value-added' cash won't go to the team, the academy, the backroom staff, the fans or the taxpayers of Coventry - it'll be doubtless routed to the Cayman Islands; with a nice big bonus for Fish Boy, for pulling this one off.

Yes, the football team and it's venue need to be unified for so many reasons; but these owners have shown contempt for the game, our club, the city and it's fans at every turn.

Any new owners may not be any better. There aren't many worse in league football, but that's no guarantee we wouldn't sink to an every new low. But if the Ricoh were to be 'given' to someone, I'd rather it wasn't SISU, or one of it's many manifestations.

But if you genuinely believe that Joy Seppala cares one iota about getting a better team on the pitch; well, sorry dear chap, you've sprinkled narcotics and not sugar on your Corn Flakes this morning

It's amazing reading some of the comments on here "we cannot in any circumstance allow Joy Seppela to get her hands on that Ricoh Arena", "Thats what its all about and SISU attitude is bollocks to the fans and the city we want the Ricoh and if we do not get it we are moving out !!! imho".

Nobody wants to move to Northampton or move into a "tinpot" stadium that SISU build, but the moment it's mentioned that Joy Seppala (SISU) wants to invest in the Ricoh people are still throwing there arms up in the air. SISU aren't leaving like most of us want them too, put the past aside, if they can negotiate this with ACL, then this is good for the club.

Some people want the picture perfect scenario it can't happen MMM..
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
Sweet, you'll need to keep me updated from Saturday onwards pal :) flying out sat morning

Will do bud. Just make sure there is a SISU Out banner or the words are carved into a beach somewhere
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Maybe someone has said keep Joy, Tim and PWKH out of it so a sensible conversation can be had? Tim and PWKH clearly don't get on so having them involved wouldn't help.

ACL would be mad to agree to any CVA before they have a signed deal to play at the Ricoh.

My feeling is that if SISU end up back at the Ricoh it's the beginning of the end for them, they have no interest in owning a football club and clearly just want to pick up the Ricoh for next to nothing so they can sell it on and make a profit on every penny they have actually put in which we all know is nothing like the figure they claim.

It could be pressure from any number of sources that has led to this or even the protest or shockingly bad season ticket sales. Now we just have to wait and see if its actually meaningful or just being done for appearances sake.
 

Macca

Well-Known Member
There is no way we are not going to play at the Ricoh, said it from the start. Which is why I ve just enjoyed the closed season rather than running around in circles with my pants on my head
 

Sub

Well-Known Member
But what's the difference between wanting to invest in ownership of the Ricoh then building a new stadium? It's only the two fingers to everyone because you feel its SISU, Joy wants to maximise the Club's revenue streams and that improves FFP which means a better team on the pitch and hopefully successful club.


sorry robbo thats complete bollocks. she wants the ricoh and does not give two shits how she gets it!! how many times have we had an embargo ?? or is that to help put a better team on the pitch and benifit the club ? did the refuse to invest in the team and get us relegated? or was that best for the club. she is all about making a profit for her investors and not losing face she will destroy the club before backing down or leaving CCFC!!
 

grego_gee

New Member
There is no way we are not going to play at the Ricoh, said it from the start. Which is why I ve just enjoyed the closed season rather than running around in circles with my pants on my head

nobody likes a smartarse!

:pimp:
 

jesus-wept

New Member
I actually think talks have happened and also believe we will be kicking-off at the Ricoh. These talks are scheduled for Friday four days before the reconvened CVA meeting. The Football League IMO are now really on the spot. At this moment in time they don't know where we are playing our home games and might not know until Tuesday/Wednesday. Tickets have to be sold, is it on a Saturday or Sunday, Bristol fans need to know too, we can't come out of administration for over three weeks. The Sky Blue Trust and MPs must now pressurise the League immediately to decide Ricoh or Sixfields for the Bristol game. Put them on the spot.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
sorry robbo thats complete bollocks. she wants the ricoh and does not give two shits how she gets it!! how many times have we had an embargo ?? or is that to help put a better team on the pitch and benifit the club ? did the refuse to invest in the team and get us relegated? or was that best for the club. she is all about making a profit for her investors and not losing face she will destroy the club before backing down or leaving CCFC!!

This is what Hedgefunds are all about Sub, like it or not that's what we have. We have had an Embargo a few times, yes I admit that, however with regards to the Embargo and the revenue this is just it, if they can negotiate a deal for the Arena then this would benefit our club. If you don't like it Sub then I am sure you'll approve of our other plans to move Northampton? I would prefer us getting relegated and this crap and getting sorted out then staying in the Championship running more debt up and for this issue to remain sealed in the books of history.
 

MusicDating

Euro 2016 Prediction League Champion!!
There is no way we are not going to play at the Ricoh, said it from the start. Which is why I ve just enjoyed the closed season rather than running around in circles with my pants on my head

Is that what you normally do in the close season then?...:whistle:
 

Sub

Well-Known Member
This is what Hedgefunds are all about Sub, like it or not that's what we have. We have had an Embargo a few times, yes I admit that, however with regards to the Embargo and the revenue this is just it, if they can negotiate a deal for the Arena then this would benefit our club. If you don't like it Sub then I am sure you'll approve of our other plans to move Northampton? I would prefer us getting relegated and this crap and getting sorted out then staying in the Championship running more debt up and for this issue to remain sealed in the books of history.

ile approve to move to northampton ??:facepalm: we should play in coventry end of story SISU are not fit and proper owners and the FL are to blame for them still being here and agreeing to the sixfields move, i blame appleton for the choice of otium being the preffered bidder for the club everybody knew what was going to happen and its a joke and for the FL to agree to it shows its a complete farce. we were debt free in september according to TF, then 70million debt suddenly hits the club its a complete and utter disgrace. no books handed in for two years? why would that be then ? any ideas?? what was it TF said they are in a mess so why would that be then ?? something stinks !!! sisu have some questions to answer and the truth needs to come out before they get ownership of the stadium ( if they ever do) so much for clear and transparent its just lies, bullshit and smoke and mirrors or as tim calls it normal business practice!!!
 
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RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
approve to move to northampton ?? we should play in coventry end of story SISU are not fit and proper owners and the FL are to blame for them still being here and agreeing to the sixfields move, i blame appleton for the choice of otium being the preffered bidder for the club everybody knew what was going to happen and its a joke and for the FL to agree to it shows its a complete farce. we were debt free in september according to TF, then 70million debt suddenly hits the club its a complete and utter disgrace. no books handed in for two years? why would that be then ? any ideas?? what was it TF said they are in a mess so why would that be then ?? something stinks !!! sisu have some questions to answer and the truth needs to come out before they get ownership of the stadium ( if they ever do) so much for clear and transparent its just lies, bullshit and smoke and mirrors or as tim calls it normal business practice!!!

Well if this deal is struck we will be playing in Coventry, I'd be happy for a temporary 3 year rent or for the club to buy a stake in the Arena (This choice more preferrable). You can blame the Football League all you want, but all they will do is enforce their rules, they don't have the money to get in big legal battles, if you want to look at an organisation who should be doing something look at the FA, currently doing sweet FA ironically!

Appleton's job was to find the best resolution for the creditors and the perfect buyer for the club that suited that was Otium, yes it is not preferrable, but because we all would of like to of seen new owners maybe in PH4, but lets be honest his bid would have held more weight behind it if he had owned the Ricoh, which ACL have been posturing for weeks and has never materialised (Probably some sort of bluff).

The final bit I agree with you on, SISU are not clear and transparent and an example of this would be Joy Seppala herself, the so called head honcho has never shown herself once or acknowledged CCFC fans, they do have some questions to answer based on this business practices and I hope they will.

However talking currently of a deal for CCFC to play in the Ricoh Arena against Bristol City on Saturday 10th August and beyond, if something can be arranged a rental agreement or a purchase of a stake in the Arena itself would be ideal for this Football Club, better than moving to Northampton and better for the City of Coventry and it's fans, 100%. Forget the SISU crap, for now we have to ensure this club plays within the confines of the City of which it takes it name and that we hold dearly. Getting SISU out can wait as long as we are playing at the Ricoh.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member

Sky Blues

Active Member
It is understood Coventry City owners Sisu/Otium have reluctantly agreed to negotiate because they desperately want ACL to sign Mr Appleton’s proposed Creditor Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to enable the club to exit administration.

The Telegraph understands Coventry City will insist on ACL signing the CVA before there can be any second round of discussions over playing at the Ricoh.
The club desperately wants CCFC Limited to exit administration so that a Football League transfer embargo can be lifted,
to enable new players to be signed.
The earliest the club can come out of administration is three weeks into the new season - which starts in ten days - as a 28-day “cooling off” period must follow any CVA agreement.

Mr Appleton has stated the alternative to CCFC Ltd exiting administration via a CVA is liquidation - which could incur a further 15-point League deduction from the club’s 2013/14 Division One campaign.
It is thought ACL is willing to discuss terms over rent payments and who receives matchday revenues - after it previously offered to lower annual rent from £1.3million to £400,000.

Sources believe Ms Seppala will be highly reluctant to enter into any partnership in the Ricoh, or return to being a tenant with ACL or the council as owner.
It is thought she will want 100 per cent ownership of the Ricoh, and that ACL will not want to sell on those terms.
The price of any such sale would also potentially be a major stumbling block.


Ms Seppala seems very keen to have this CVA signed.

If ACL sign the CVA and give up that bargaining chip, I would not be surprised if the "next round" of negotiation involves Ms Seppala telling them "sell us the Ricoh lease for X amount or we move to Northampton" (X = Sisu's value on the stadium if ACL was in a distressed state).

ACL would then have to decide whether to let CCFC go or give up the stadium for a derisory sum.

Assuming this scenario (or something similar) happens and ACL don't give up the Ricoh for Sisu's price, ACL are left with:
Say no to CVA, killing negotiations and seeing if Sisu to carry out their threat to move to Northampton
Say yes to CVA, say no in negotiations and seeing if Sisu to carry out their threat to move to Northampton
 
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Noggin

New Member
Seems like false hope to me. Assuming that article is correct there is no way we are going to get an agreement, it's doubtful that that the people there will even have the authority to make a deal. ACL would be very foolish to sign the cva without an actual agreement in place and the article says that won't happen.

The fact that after hours of lawyer time they couldn't even agree on a statement to release doesn't make it seem likely that a proper agreement is possible.
 

theferret

Well-Known Member


Ms Seppala seems very keen to have this CVA signed.

If ACL sign the CVA and give up that bargaining chip, I would not be surprised if the "next round" of negotiation involves Ms Seppala telling them "sell us the Ricoh lease for X amount or we move to Northampton" (X = Sisu's value on the stadium if ACL was in a distressed state).

ACL would then have to decide whether to let CCFC go or give up the stadium for a derisory sum.

Assuming this scenario (or something similar) happens and ACL don't give up the Ricoh for Sisu's price, we are left with:
Say no to CVA, killing negotiations and seeing if Sisu to carry out their threat to move to Northampton
Say yes to CVA, say no in negotiations and seeing if Sisu to carry out their threat to move to Northampton

If (and it is a big if) a deal is done and we start the season at the Ricoh - this threat to move to Northampton (or anywhere else for that matter) will never resurface again. Not even SISU are that stupid.
 

oldskyblue58

CCFC Finance Director
a few thoughts about the article

- so the Council were briefed on Monday about a secret meeting well you might expect that wouldnt you..... doesnt mean it has to be widely reported?
- Apparently there was supposed to be a complete news blackout until the next CVA meeting - that worked then :facepalm: lasted all of a day! Wonder where the "exclusive" came from ?

- thought TF & ACL said negotiations ceased in February not March. Going in to administration was not negotiations
- If the deal is signed and approved at Sixfields I wonder what the break costs are?
- I thought this was negotiations not mediation so why does a mediator need to be appointed?
- If TF & JS are not present will the CCFC/SISU team have the authority to make a deal?
- Does Labovitch/Waggot/Brookfield seem like the B team to anyone else? Makes me wonder how seriously these talks are being taken
- PWKH attending ? would have thought that numbers would match up on each side of the table but it does not have to be the case
- Is the desperation to get the CVA signed because of the effect on the team or is it because liquidation results in a much more thorough investigation as to what has gone on?
- So negotiations have preconditions imposed by SISU about the CVA - some how do not see ACL agreeing to that especially as the CVA meeting is next Tuesday. (yes i know ACL might have some preconditions but they are not saying anything at the moment because of the news blackout so we dont know)
- Will there be a second round of talks? Does it need a second round of talks? What happens if one side says this is what is on the table and the other says thats miles away from our position?
- what happens if ACL offer a deal that matches the Sixfield one but meets the League rules about 10 years plus tenure. Puts SISU in an awkward place I would guess
- what happens if SISU position is unrealisitic to ACL - does that put both sides in an awkward place? or only one ?
- What happens if the ACL position is unrealistic to SISU? (there is a difference between commercial deal and demands) - does that put both sides in an awkward place or only one?
- is the 28 day cooling off period a legal rule in insolvency or is it a Football League rule subject to FL Board discretion?
- JS doesnt want a partnership with the Ricoh. Personally can't see ACL wanting one with her either. Is any form of partnership actually on offer or is it a straight tenancy?
- As for a demand to own the Ricoh 100% outright - can any one seriously see SISU getting that? I very much doubt that is on the table from ACL

I welcome that they are at least talking, but worry that both sides are not going in with open minds, worry that the article puts in to the public mind a perception of the meeting and its purpose that does not actually exist.

Personally I think this is a meeting that will have at its centre only a rental deal to allow CCFC to play at the Ricoh for the next 10 years - and that BOTH sides are prepared to walk away from it. Key is will BOTH sides compromise to make a deal work ?
 
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McLovin87

Well-Known Member
However talking currently of a deal for CCFC to play in the Ricoh Arena against Bristol City on Saturday 10th August and beyond, if something can be arranged a rental agreement or a purchase of a stake in the Arena itself would be ideal for this Football Club, better than moving to Northampton and better for the City of Coventry and it's fans, 100%. Forget the SISU crap, for now we have to ensure this club plays within the confines of the City of which it takes it name and that we hold dearly. Getting SISU out can wait as long as we are playing at the Ricoh.

Isn't this statement a little ambiguous; I would have thought that once SISU have their teeth into the Ricoh they would be be a lot harder to get rid of.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
I welcome that they are at least talking, but worry that both sides are not going in with open minds, worry that the article puts in to the public mind a perception of the meeting and its purpose that does not actually exist.

Personally I think this is a meeting that will have at its centre only a rental deal to allow CCFC to play at the Ricoh for the next 10 years - and that BOTH sides are prepared to walk away from it. Key is will BOTH sides compromise to make a deal work ?

Agreed - negotiations implies that it's a discussion to reach an agreement - I'd almost see it as potentially something as a prelude to even thinking about negotiating, i.e. a negotation about the scope of a negotiation!
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
However talking currently of a deal for CCFC to play in the Ricoh Arena against Bristol City on Saturday 10th August and beyond, if something can be arranged a rental agreement or a purchase of a stake in the Arena itself would be ideal for this Football Club, better than moving to Northampton and better for the City of Coventry and it's fans, 100%. Forget the SISU crap, for now we have to ensure this club plays within the confines of the City of which it takes it name and that we hold dearly. Getting SISU out can wait as long as we are playing at the Ricoh.

Isn't this statement a little ambiguous; I would have thought that once SISU have their teeth into the Ricoh they would be be a lot harder to get rid of.

The thing is if SISU own the Arena and get us promoted to the Championship and the Preimer League (Theoretically) most of this would have been forgotten.

You may also think that it might be harder to shift SISU but if they owned the Arena and benefitted from it's revenue's for say two years they could easily sell us up and command a more realistic price, because at his moment they don't have much assets in the football Club that could command the amount of money that they would want to sell the club for, add the Ricoh in, different story. Of course it's an opinion I could be wrong.
 
J

Jack Griffin

Guest
The way forward maybe involves cooperation for a few years with the intention of selling on a complete package of CCFC + Arena to an approved 3rd party who in the meanwhile prepared to invest in the complex.

The business as a whole has to be seen to work.

But I am skeptical of SISU's ability to negotiate, they seem to have a zero sum mentality.
 

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