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

Details

Published: 05 April 2019

 

 

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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