Please help CCFC exist

[PuB]

Spotters (train spotters), Charlton

 

[JaredSUFC]

Signed. Good luck from this Sutton United supporter

 

[The Mustard Tiger]

Signed. Used to live in Coventry and work at the Ricoh. The fans have had it rubbish for years now and deserve better.

 

[ccfctommy]

Apologies but isn't your request what ALL footballl fans want?
ie: Investment in their club, take a gamble and if it doesn't work then they clear off and more new owners throw money at their club with more new investment.

Just because SISU put CCFC up for sale wouldn't necessarily change much. Sheff Utd have been up for sale for about 10 years, our Chairman welcomes offers but we've still had no serious interest.

Wouldn't the variables making business difficult restraining SISU remain in place for the new owners? So it would need a massive investment from new owners just to reduce some of the overheads with relatively little chance of a return.

Also if SISU are currently selling off assets, signing free transfers and giving out low wages. Isn't that to balance the books to ensure the club remains in business or woukd you prefer SISU to overspend and risk going into administration.

I remember when SWFC had the dead weight of DEBT around their neck and they struggled to compete financially in league 1. Some of their own fans were wanting their club to overspend, run up debts, then go into admin to clear their debt so they could start again. They never officially went into admin but new investor Milan Mandaric did a deal with the Co-op bank to wipe out over 20 million pounds of debt so they could start again.

Sorry for the long post but it seems some clubs play by the rules and can figuratively die a slow death whilst others spend more they can afford, then if the gamble fails then go to admin and start again. Most investors are business men only interested in gaining a return. The problem is that football is a difficult business to achieve a return.

That isn't a bad post at all. The Council have a lot to answer for, practically gifting the stadium built for CCFC to London Wasps. That ship has sailed ans we will never own the Ricoh.

However, 9 years under SISU have seen one relegation (could be two), two points deductions, several managers, god knows how many board members, and over a year needlessly playing games in Northampton. The Sixfields period is a huge stain on the history of CCFC.

Were not asking SISU to spend loads of money. Lord, we've done the whole speculate to accumulate thing before, and that period nearly ruined the club.

You mentioned that SISU pay low wages, contracts etc - A lot of fans believe that Joy Seppala and the SISU investors do not care if we get promoted or relegated, the club is supposidly self sufficiant now. We are a blight on their portfolio.

The Chief Exec resigned on Monday. No one is sure who runs the club on day to day. Our Chairman, Tim Fisher has gone all quiet, Joy Seppala is only ever seen when SISU are taking someone to court and otherwise lives in Florida. Dermot Coleman is another SISU head honcho but no one knows what he looks like...

There is no transparancy. I have no idea if we have money or if we are skint. We are now rock bottom of the third division and we will probably get 6000 fans v Wimbledon on Wednesday. London Wasps (I refuse to call them just, Wasps) are taking over the adadamy (lease runs out soon). SISU are rumoured to be selling the training ground for houses. Oh and the rent deal for us to play at the Ricoh arena (that big stadium with the Sky Blue seats and the Jimmy Hill statue outside of it) runs out at the end of next season. Where will we play!?

Tim Fisher said three years ago he has found land in the 'Coventry area' for a new stadium. Three years later, not a peep.

That's about it I guess. Kind of angry now, typing all of that!

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

What happens after the Ricoh lease expires? Are Wasps willing to do a deal?

No wasps have pulled out of negotiations as SISU have legal action ongoing against the Coventry council, wasps have said the ongoing legal action is a distraction and must be dropped before discussions on the Ricoh resume.

The legal action is about a loan coventry council gave to ACL (ACL being the management company that runs the Ricoh arena, which wasps now own). SISU claim this is illegal state aid. The court case from SISU has been ongoing for at least 18 months now and already been rejected several times from different judges but SISU just keep appealing the decision to the next court higher up.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

Signed

What happens if you reach the target? And what are SISU actually gaining from owning CCFC?

Dunno, this petition was started by the local paper. Hence why they have been banned by the club, they say this is just the beginning and have other things planned.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

Our academy is on the brink of folding and we are staring down the face of another Northampton scenario coming after next season.

 

[Camdenite]

Signed too.

 

[darren gregory]

Criminal what they are doing to a very very decent club , more than happy to sign.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

This is what we were told...

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-closing-in-site-4022310

Mr Fisher said the company was the largest real estate adviser in the UK and had been hired not just to identify sites but provide football stadium expertise, and negotiate with landowners.

He said he expected a purchase to be completed within “three to four weeks”.

He still refuses to name the site he says has progressed to a second round of bidding – or name “back-up” sites, saying they must reamin confidential for commercial reasons.


This article was over three years ago and zero progress made.

 

[codaplenty]

Read somewhere today over 15000 have signed the petition which is fantastic, unfortunately actions speak louder than words and I hope there are people out there who can force SISU to rethink and get the hell out

 

[LadyWomble]

Signatures on petitions are useful in raising awareness but not much more. I'm guessing that Coventry's Trust are doing a great deal that doesn't get mentioned or needs to be kept confidential. Good luck to them but they're facing a formidable enemy. SISU remind me of old Wimbledon's last owners. Both groups are very bitter, litigious and determined to have their way, even if it means cutting off their noses to spite their faces - losing money in their case. If it means splitting and/or totally alienating the fanbase in the process, that's a plus in their twisted world.

 

[City169]

I'm not sure how signing a petition will actually help you, other than raising awareness.
I have signed though, and hope Coventry one day get rid of SISU.

 

[Pirateer]

signed and good luck

 

[1977Valiant]

After all that Vale have gone through in the last 10 years (Administration, Transfer Embargoes, lots of dodgy directors and boards, directors not paying shares, directors remortgaging the ground, supporters losing their shares due to board actions etc..) I know just how bad it can get!

I've signed the petition and you have my full support. I hope you can remove SISU like we managed to remove MOLD - good luck!

 

[ccfctommy]

Signatures on petitions are useful in raising awareness but not much more. I'm guessing that Coventry's Trust are doing a great deal that doesn't get mentioned or needs to be kept confidential. Good luck to them but they're facing a formidable enemy. SISU remind me of old Wimbledon's last owners. Both groups are very bitter, litigious and determined to have their way, even if it means cutting off their noses to spite their faces - losing money in their case. If it means splitting and/or totally alienating the fanbase in the process, that's a plus in their twisted world.

Had a big meeting on Monday to make plans for protests etc.

 

[T.A]

I read that a total boycott of the home game v Rochdale is planned?

 

[James [bcafc]]

Who next for the managers job then?

 

[Chris Cov 87]

Thanks for all your support so far. We now have no Manager. Mowbray was on a losing fight with lack of investment, but 0 wins in 10 had to go. Only worry is who hell would want the job?. Sign of the man Mowbray though resigned not wanting any pay out as the club needs the money.

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

I read that a total boycott of the home game v Rochdale is planned?

A fan protest group is calling for it, a total boycott won't materialise as there are at about 3000 diehards who will go to see the team play whatever protest call, like when we went to Northampton.
I expect about 500 more than that for the Rochdale game.
Really sad times at the club

 

[Chris Cov 87]

I would seriously fold CCFC. Start again as CCFC 1883 rather than us holding on to a shredded shoestring, start again 7 years be back or around football league but fan owned and start afresh. Only heading one way as no one will invest as only asset is football league status. Be a fun journey back up through leagues. End of the day the club is the fans so enjoy random away days and yes take time but climb again

 

[Sheffsteel]

I've just listened to the Coventry situation on Talksport.

The crux of the matter seems to be you've built a brand new large and expensive stadium and due to relegation income streams have substantially decreased meaning you're struggling to meet basic running costs, so there's little money for the playing staff.

Isn't there similiarities with Leicester City? Can't exactly remember but didn't they build a new stadium they couldn't afford then just went into admin to have millions of debt written off?

It's immoral but it seems there's an attitude if those clubs don't pay their debts then why should we? I remember most Wednesday fans wishing their club could go into admin so that they could clear their debt and start again.

I also remember the Portsmouth situation. They paid extortionate wages to persuade top players to join. None of their fans complained at the time when they were winning things whilst clearly getting into massive debt.

Many of our own fans demand that our board take big risks and pay salaries we can't afford.

Many fans demand that their clubs show ambition and speculate to accumulate BUT if it doesn't work you're left with the heavy burden of debt around your neck.

Actually "showing ambition" and "financial neglicience" are closely related.

I wonder why SISU haven't bailed out earlier if they are making losses. It's the mirky waters of business which can be so difficult to understand.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

I've just listened to the Coventry situation on Talksport.

The crux of the matter seems to be you've built a brand new large and expensive stadium and due to relegation income streams have substantially decreased meaning you're struggling to meet basic running costs, so there's little money for the playing staff.

Isn't there similiarities with Leicester City? Can't exactly remember but didn't they build a new stadium they couldn't afford then just went into admin to have millions of debt written off?

It's immoral but it seems there's an attitude if those clubs don't pay their debts then why should we? I remember most Wednesday fans wishing their club could go into admin so that they could clear their debt and start again.

I also remember the Portsmouth situation. They paid extortionate wages to persuade top players to join. None of their fans complained at the time when they were winning things whilst clearly getting into massive debt.

Many of our own fans demand that our board take big risks and pay salaries we can't afford.

Many fans demand that their clubs show ambition and speculate to accumulate BUT if it doesn't work you're left with the heavy burden of debt around your neck.

Actually "showing ambition" and "financial neglicience" are closely related.

I wonder why SISU haven't bailed out earlier if they are making losses. It's the mirky waters of business which can be so difficult to understand.

That's pretty much it, we ended up selling our share in the Ricoh project before the stadium was even completed to the Higgs charity, the intention was for this share to then be sold back to the football club when it was on more sound footing.

This led to an extortionate rental deal being agreed of upwards of £1.2-1.3 million a year and where we don't profit from any of the Ricoh arena revenue streams, this in turn led to the rental dispute in 2011 which ended up with two points deductions in consecutive seasons and us leaving for Northampton for a season.

With no tenant at the Ricoh the council and Higgs charity agreed to sell the Arena to Wasps rugby club, the club then matched the offer for a 50% share but was rejected in favour of Wasps. Since then Coventry council have handed over our academy facilities to Wasps as they needed a training ground and now we are left nothing, on the brink of losing the academy and no stadium, now no manager and nosediving to league 2.

I've said it a few times on other forums but I'd be amazed if Coventry has a football team in the football league in 10 years time.

 

[Freethinker]

Not all moves to a big new stadium have a happy ending.
Has any that involve an 'out of town site' really worked?
Brighton possibly, Reading had some fleeting success, Rushden & Diamonds went under, Colchester are sinking, Ditto Bolton.
What others? Shrewsbury

 

[PuB]

Darlington are probably the best example of a new ground not working out, running costs alone sent them under in the end.