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I think that's more likely to be a valuation of ACL, the business holding the lease, at the point that SISU weren't paying any rent, rather than a valuation of the entire Ricoh (costing £118m to build with a decent slab of land for development). How much are SISU planning to spend on the new...

Maybe if they were coming at it from the perspective of "it's a council idea and therefore crap", yes. Building a hotel or two at the Ricoh, or indeed at HR, wouldn't bother me at all. It doesn't impact in any way my ability to enjoy football there, and in fact if there were a few more decent...

File under "right-wing think tank condemns council spending shocker". Until CCFC screwed themselves into a cocked hat I don't remember the Council ever wanting to build a stadium. I don't think they're exactly going into the hotel business either, more like trying to push along a development...

I think you're missing the point mate, politely. The idea is that more hotel space around the Ricoh enables it to draw in more exhibitions. More accomodation on site, more exhibitions, more money. (More jobs too).

So in other words, you haven't really done the research. As I recall there's been talk about a shortage of hotel rooms at the Ricoh for ages - long before all the hassle with the club broke out. And yet on the back of a fagpacket and a whole ten minutes research you and a few others here are...

Erm... that'll be common sense backed by no evidence whatsoever and the "abundance of real time evidence" based on trying to book one room when there's nothing on at the Ricoh. From my personal experience, I know of at least one big corporate, Argos, who use the Ricoh for annual conferences but...

Useful research. Though to make it actually worthwhile try getting a room at the Ricoh when there's a big event there, or a room anywhere within a reasonable distance of the NEC when something like Crufts is on there.

Sorry mate, not trying to catch you out, but I'm reasonably certain that SISU wanted to buy out the whole thing for themselves for around £6m - £7m. Hence presenting ACL as distressed. In fairness, I'm too busy atm to dig it out myself, but if I can find it later I'll come back to you.

Also, more hotels means more bars within walking distance of the ground. Who could possibly stand against that? ;)

Where's the evidence that they would have been joint holders of the loan? Forgive me but I've never seen that. As to why they pulled out of the deal, if there was ever a deal, then I guess trust issues might be one reason, or that it was dangerously close to illegal might be another, or that...

Sorry mate, you're confused again. As BSB says, the £14m came way before Haskell arrived. Have you been listening to Bob again? ;)

All councils are cutting costs, in particular at the moment as a function of reduction in central funds from Government and the fact that they're not allowed to raise Council Tax by more than 2% to make up the deficit. There's nothing unique about CCC in that. In terms of the £14m loan, if...

I think there's a general shortage of hotel rooms when there are big events at the NEC too, fwiw. Plus, I think the idea of the extra rooms at the Ricoh is not only to make money at current events, but also to make them more attractive and hence bring in even more events there too. Regardless...

"A Sideways Look at Football"? One of the best footy books I've read. Actually written by a footballer iirc, rather than a ghost writer. Imagine, a footballer who can write! I've mislaid my copy, sadly. Paraphrasing - "I'm not saying they didn't like me at Birmingham, but I started to think...

It's in green belt as well as everything else, so it's definitely a non-runner for a new stadium, imho. Anyway, they were probably mis-quoted. I'm sure we'll soon hear that they were never interested in Brandon anyway. ;)

Don't fall off your chair mate, but I couldn't agree with you more. :) It's utterly incredible that there's this vast amount of money going into the game, and yet clubs are still going pop. It could only happen in football.

You've lost me on the one common enemy thing. Germany? ;) Personally I think the last thing the FL and FA will want is the Government taking an interest in them. If I was standing for election in a key swing marginal, and thought there were some votes in it, I'd be putting my kicking boots...

The completely opaque and multi-layered ownership structure for one thing. The fact that no one really knows where SISU's money comes from should be a massive red flag to anyone wanting to see whether they are fit and proper owners. How can you tell whether they are fit and proper, when you...

I wonder if it might stay around the same. This on the basis that it's already bottomed out, and those that leave because they can't bear it any more might be replaced by those who start going because they can't see anything changing? Personally though, I think there will be a slight drop...

Such is life. At least it probably means that one of our own players gets another chance to play in the first team. If I had one grumble against the loan system it's that it's a quick fix solution which can work against teams bringing their own players through. I hope the lad does well...