The Sky Blue Trust comment on the Supreme Court Ruling
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The Sky Blue Trust hopes that the latest ruling by the Supreme Court will be the end of the drawn-out, expensive and destructive court actions about the Ricoh Arena. At long last, all the parties to the dispute can set their past differences aside and work together to secure the long-term future for Coventry City FC, in Coventry, at the Ricoh Arena. We have recently urged SISU/CCFC, Wasps and Coventry City Council to negotiate a lasting settlement to this bitter dispute. Today’s decision should allow that to happen without delay. The pending EFL meeting on 25 April, to consider the exile or expulsion of the Club from the League, caused Sky Blue fans to fear the imminent death of the Club we love. If this latest news means the Club’s future in the City can be secured, the remaining two home games at the Ricoh - against Bradford City and Shrewsbury Town - will become events of joyous celebration.
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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
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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.
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The Results of the Ground Sharing Survey
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Page 9 of 82
