I’ve listed some links at the end of this message but main points are - sisu rejected an offer to play at the Ricoh rent-free - analysis seems to show (e.g. by Clive Eakin on CWR) that even with match day costs, the offer to play at the Ricoh would be financially better for CCFC compared with being in Northampton. sisu continue not to table an offer for the Ricoh, while constantly saying they want to buy it. The judicial review will go ahead meaning months of more uncertainty. Fisher talked a lot about a new stadium again – it would be really helpful if anyone who sees acl-the council as culprits and remains willing to give sisu the benefit of the doubt, could explain why if sisu are so committed to building a new ground they are still saying they want to buy the Ricoh? sisu turned on CCFC fans – totally shocking news that the Sky Blue Trust were threatened with legal action by sisu relating to posting a link to a newspaper story. Being on the receiving end of something like that is horrible and I’m sure the vast majority of fans support the Trust 100% on this. What does it all mean? 1. Any hopes of us returning to the Ricoh in the short-term are dead – when sisu won’t accept an offer that would be financially beneficial compared with playing in Northampton, the message is loud and clear. 2. It’s looking like we will be in Northampton for the 2014/15 season – however appalling and painful a prospect this is we cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend everything will somehow turn out ok. The reality is the Judicial Review is unlikely to be heard for several months and potentially further legal action could follow. We can all keep our fingers crossed that something changes but the facts are that the likelihood of the situation being resolved by the end of this season, ready for the next, is pretty remote. 3. Some people are even saying we have played our last game in Coventry – this is an even more appalling prospect. But the logic is that sisu will only return to the Ricoh as owners and are determined to drive down the price as low as possible. So unless acl-the council hand over the Ricoh to sisu for peanuts, and that ain’t gonna happen, that’s it because sisu have always said their new stadium would be outside Coventry anyway. Sincerely hope that one’s wide of the mark. 4. sisu’s attitude to fans is now absolutely clear – the Sky Blue Trust didn’t say or do anything, they just posted a link to a newspaper story. sisu don’t like the newspaper story so threatened the Trust, who are just fans like the rest of us, with legal action. Absolutely shocking. So what do we do? One view is sisu are getting desperate so the first thing is to keep the sixfields boycott strong. Ideas for an Independent Inquiry, large-scale City Centre event and applying for the Ricoh to be an Asset of Community Value, are now with the Sky Blue Trust and kcic will offer whatever support it can. ‘AFC Coventry’, this is a controversial one and I’m completely torn on it. It would be nice to wait till the end of this season and see where things are at. But unfortunately, to register a new team for the 2014/15 season has an initial deadline in February so if anything is to be done there is some urgency. A new suggestion is that instead of setting up a team as an alternative to ccfc, it is done as part of the protest about what is happening to CCFC. So the suggestion is an option should be explored of setting up a new team whose badge would be a sky blue ribbon, the symbol of opposition to the Northampton move. The team name would need to reflect the protest idea e.g. something like 'Coventry in Coventry' or the 'Coventry Ribboners'. It would give people a team to watch in Coventry, show sisu that we will not stand idly by and let them do what they want, and every mention of the new team would be a reminder to the world of what is being done to CCFC. This is all very much people talking about options but a small group are looking at practicalities so if you would like to be involved please email keepcovincov@gmail.com.
Source: Coventry MAD
Source: FOOTYMAD
