Gilbert's Book (4 Viewers)

Captain Dart

Well-Known Member
Out of interest, what did you find revelatory?

The only thing I saw was Robinson's opinion, and McGuigan's opinion. Robinson seems happy to sell Derek Higgs down the river (and is nicer about Richardson than I expected, given the way they all parted company), while everyone seems to conveniently forget we actually owned the option to buy HR back at that time (and used it!).

So... revelations?

Had to read again to crystallise my thoughts.

The sequence of events concerning the land deal had new information, I knew the club never owned the land but I did not realise how the Dutch Construction firm HGB came to own it and resell it to the council (making £18M in the process) before they pulled out. There is no doubt they outflanked everyone with that move & turned a crisis into a profitable venture for them.

Then there is information about the legal restrictions the council were working under which ended up with the rent at £1M and the lease at only 45 years.

There seems to be a story in the book about tiered rent which contradicts PWKH's version of events, GR says the club proposed tiered rent depending on league but the council rejected it, but my memory is that PWKH claimed the club rejected the idea.

Its also quite interesting that CCFC accounts show relatively large sums up to £11M being put into the Arena project but the money put into actual construction was £2M, so one asks where did the rest of that money go because it seems an awful lot for planning and consultants prior to construction? :angelic:

Its no revelation but GR saying "we mustn't speak badly of (Alan Higgs)" and then go on to blame him for several cock ups is it seems rather typical of him.
 

NorthernWisdom

Well-Known Member
There seems to be a story in the book about tiered rent which contradicts PWKH's version of events, GR says the club proposed tiered rent depending on league but the council rejected it, but my memory is that PWKH claimed the club rejected the idea.

There's a Telegraph article about that suggestion somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it out later.

Its no revelation but GR saying "we mustn't speak badly of (Alan Higgs)" and then go on to blame him for several cock ups is it seems rather typical of him.

Derek Higgs ;) and... agreed. Was surprised as much because I thought they were good friends. The deal being set up there sounded quite... strange anyway, if I'm honest.

I'll grant you the construction firm. That's ruthlessness the like of which we could have done with pre-SISU!
 

ajsccfc

Well-Known Member
The Dutch company was new to me, or I've at least forgotten it since the time. Now there's a Kindle version I'm tempted, although that taster chapter is a lot of money man and politician talk so it may be too depressing and disillusioning to read the whole saga.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
The sequence of events concerning the land deal had new information, I knew the club never owned the land but I did not realise how the Dutch Construction firm HGB came to own it and resell it to the council (making £18M in the process) before they pulled out. There is no doubt they outflanked everyone with that move & turned a crisis into a profitable venture for them.
This is where BR's claims get more complicated. I did bring it up in another thread a while back when he started spouting off again but it was shouted down as 'it was always council land'. From memory HGB were the company BR engaged to work on the Ricoh project and they purchased the land on the clubs behalf, more than likely because we didn't have the money and promised to pay them back later from the Tesco money.
 

Captain Dart

Well-Known Member
This is where BR's claims get more complicated. I did bring it up in another thread a while back when he started spouting off again but it was shouted down as 'it was always council land'. From memory HGB were the company BR engaged to work on the Ricoh project and they purchased the land on the clubs behalf, more than likely because we didn't have the money and promised to pay them back later from the Tesco money.

Read the downloadable chapter from the book, details in there.
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
I wasn't going to bother with this book but going by the discussions about the downloadable chapter it sounds like a worthwhile read.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
I wasn't going to bother with this book but going by the discussions about the downloadable chapter it sounds like a worthwhile read.

You could even e mail Simon and tell him you've purchased it.
 

Terry Gibson's perm

Well-Known Member
There's a Telegraph article about that suggestion somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it out later.



Derek Higgs ;) and... agreed. Was surprised as much because I thought they were good friends. The deal being set up there sounded quite... strange anyway, if I'm honest.

I'll grant you the construction firm. That's ruthlessness the like of which we could have done with pre-SISU!


Geoffrey has two friends in life money and himself.
 

Nick

Administrator
Interesting the Telegraph are marketing it every day with snippets.

I wonder if they backed it or anything? Surely they would have wanted these stories for themselves rather than "click here to buy my book and read it all" stuff?
 

covcity4life

Well-Known Member
nothing that i know off. just got involved with the cet bashing lol. hes a nice enough guy

its a shame we cov fans have to be so angry all time because of circumstances. i bet leicester fans love everyone
 

covcity4life

Well-Known Member
Chill out. You stalking me today

As it stands just checked and he hasn't blocked me on Twitter. Apologies Simon!

My data probably down and not loading his tweets earlier
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
If what was quoted the other day about the amount of money CCFC spent on the Ricoh project is any indication then it would seem not a lot of fact checking took place.
 

NorthernWisdom

Well-Known Member
Don't care about Amazon.

I know on here if Italia loves it, I should avoid it, if covcity4life loves it, it'll be a picture book and pro SISU, and if Tony76 loves it, Grendel'll hate it.

These reviews, I know what I'm dealing with.
 

Nick

Administrator
Don't care about Amazon.

I know on here if Italia loves it, I should avoid it, if covcity4life loves it, it'll be a picture book and pro SISU, and if Tony76 loves it, Grendel'll hate it.

These reviews, I know what I'm dealing with.

What we really need is it broken down into a 5 things we learnt and a reader's reaction!
 

italiahorse

Well-Known Member
Don't care about Amazon.

I know on here if Italia loves it, I should avoid it, if covcity4life loves it, it'll be a picture book and pro SISU, and if Tony76 loves it, Grendel'll hate it.

These reviews, I know what I'm dealing with.
I love facts.
 

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