Key players in Coventry City saga backing petition calling for parliamentary inquiry (1 Viewer)

[Sub]

• BySimon Gilbert

Key players in Coventry City saga backing petition calling for parliamentary inquiry

3 Feb 2014 11:59Keep Cov in Cov want Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to look into club
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Calls for an independent inquiry into the Ricoh Arena saga have been backed by representatives of all the key players.
Officials from Coventry City FC, Coventry City Council, Ricoh Arena management company ACL and the Alan Edward Higgs Charity are all supporting a petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the situation which has the Sky Blues play ‘home’ fixtures 35 miles awayin Northampton.
The petition, set up by supporters’ group Keep Cov in Cov (KCIC), calls for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to conduct an inquiry into Coventry Cityas part of their wider work into football governance.

Since it was launched last Thursday, it has been signed by almost 4,000 people.
Signatures include those of Coventry City chief executive Tim Fisher, club non-executive director Mark Labovitch and Alan Edward Higgs Charity clerk and ACL board member Peter Knatchbull-Hugessen.
A council spokesman also confirmed that Coventry City Council leader Ann Lucas planned to sign the petition.

Mr Knatchbull-Hugessen said: “My family and I signed the petition last week. As Oliver Kay said in the Times ‘football clubs are proud, historic institutions of enormous social and cultural importance'.
"Rules need to be tightened or introduced to protect clubs from the sort of corporate vandalism that has jeopardised so many of them in recent years.’
“The petition wants government to address these problems starting with an inquiry into the modern-day tragedy that is Coventry City. I hope that supporters of clubs up and down the country will sign; it could be them next.”

If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures it would have to be considered by government.
Mr Labovitch said: “Tim and I have signed the petition and we have encouraged Joy (Seppala) to do so. I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t sign it. In February last year I called for a proper investigation into everything.

“I don’t care who proposed it, I support any motion that gets everything out in the open.
“It is frustrating as a football fan if you think something is being kept from you. We want everything to be looked in to. A proper inquiry cannot come soon enough.”
The link for people to sign the petition online can be found at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/59884.

Http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/key-players-coventry-city-saga-6662306

 

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[Nick]

So if everybody is so keen for an investigation why don't they just put it out there saying "come and investigate us" and let an independent party to investigate all sides thoroughly.

There is no point making a song and a dance about signing a petition.

 

[covmark]

Fucking hell, something everyone agrees on. Now how about agreeing to get us back to the Ricoh.

 

[Ashdown1]

I'm glad they are all supposedly signing but then lets be honest, if one side or the other refused it would be a bit damning to their own credibility.

 

[covspain]

So if everybody is so keen for an investigation why don't they just put it out there saying "come and investigate us" and let an independent party to investigate all sides thoroughly.

There is no point making a song and a dance about signing a petition.

A very good point Nick I totally support that idea. However I have signed and am trying to encourage as many others as possible to do so.

 

[Monners]

So if everybody is so keen for an investigation why don't they just put it out there saying "come and investigate us" and let an independent party to investigate all sides thoroughly.

There is no point making a song and a dance about signing a petition.

The point is not whether any party is keen on an investigation, just that all parties cannot be seen to the outside world as the ones casuing the issues; which not signing the petition may indicate. Just imagine if one didn't - we would all be making merry with it!

 

[ccfcway]

Fucking hell, something everyone agrees on. Now how about agreeing to get us back to the Ricoh.

absolutely !

 

[Nick]

The point is not whether any party is keen on an investigation, just that all parties cannot be seen to the outside world as the ones casuing the issues; which not signing the petition may indicate. Just imagine if one didn't - we would all be making merry with it!

Exactly but surely the JR is sort of an investigation?

 

[SimonGilbert]

• BySimon Gilbert

Key players in Coventry City saga backing petition calling for parliamentary inquiry

3 Feb 2014 11:59Keep Cov in Cov want Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to look into club
Share on printShare on email

Calls for an independent inquiry into the Ricoh Arena saga have been backed by representatives of all the key players.
Officials from Coventry City FC, Coventry City Council, Ricoh Arena management company ACL and the Alan Edward Higgs Charity are all supporting a petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the situation which has the Sky Blues play ‘home’ fixtures 35 miles awayin Northampton.
The petition, set up by supporters’ group Keep Cov in Cov (KCIC), calls for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to conduct an inquiry into Coventry Cityas part of their wider work into football governance.

Since it was launched last Thursday, it has been signed by almost 4,000 people.
Signatures include those of Coventry City chief executive Tim Fisher, club non-executive director Mark Labovitch and Alan Edward Higgs Charity clerk and ACL board member Peter Knatchbull-Hugessen.
A council spokesman also confirmed that Coventry City Council leader Ann Lucas planned to sign the petition.

Mr Knatchbull-Hugessen said: “My family and I signed the petition last week. As Oliver Kay said in the Times ‘football clubs are proud, historic institutions of enormous social and cultural importance'.
"Rules need to be tightened or introduced to protect clubs from the sort of corporate vandalism that has jeopardised so many of them in recent years.’
“The petition wants government to address these problems starting with an inquiry into the modern-day tragedy that is Coventry City. I hope that supporters of clubs up and down the country will sign; it could be them next.”

If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures it would have to be considered by government.
Mr Labovitch said: “Tim and I have signed the petition and we have encouraged Joy (Seppala) to do so. I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t sign it. In February last year I called for a proper investigation into everything.

“I don’t care who proposed it, I support any motion that gets everything out in the open.
“It is frustrating as a football fan if you think something is being kept from you. We want everything to be looked in to. A proper inquiry cannot come soon enough.”
The link for people to sign the petition online can be found at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/59884.

If you could link to our stories as well, we'd be eternally grateful. Times are hard!

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/key-players-coventry-city-saga-6662306



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Monners]

Exactly but surely the JR is sort of an investigation?

In a sense it is, but only on a specific legal point. This much broader in nature, offering the opportunity to cover key issues of football governance, and not just a singular issue in regard to CCFC

 

[duffer]

Exactly but surely the JR is sort of an investigation?

Sort of, except that it's one side challenging the other with respect to a single point of law. The judge isn't going to ask questions about how SISU have run the club, for example.

An independent investigation would have a much broader scope. It would presumably try to draw out the situation with Limited and Holdings, and what role the Football League and F.A. could and should have played.

Edit: Just like Monners said ten seconds before me. Bah.

 

[lewys33]

The biggest battle ........

Lucas vs. Seppala ......... WHO WILL SIGN IT FIRST?!

 

[RoboCCFC90]

The biggest battle ........

Lucas vs. Seppala ......... WHO WILL SIGN IT FIRST?!

You'd think Ann Lucas after all that passion she showed while Marlon King played for us and all

 

[bigfatronssba]

If both sides are willing to open up their books for scrutiny and submit evidence, then why dont the FA step in and hold an investigation themselves? Oh actually I just remembered why, they dont give a shit.

If it nothing comes of this petition I fully expect sisu to come up with the suggestion of the impartial Ms Garlick holding an investigation.

 

[chiefdave]

So if everybody is so keen for an investigation why don't they just put it out there saying "come and investigate us" and let an independent party to investigate all sides thoroughly.

You'd have months of arguments about who was independent! Unless it was done by a select committee as suggested in the petition who would carry it out? I guess you would call in forensic accountants to scrutinise the books on both sides and lawyers to check everything was legal. Then you'd need someone to sum it all up and make recommendations at the end of it. Does anyone exist who would be qualified and agreed to by all sides?

Then there's the small matter of who pays for it, would the council even be allowed to spend on something like that?

 

[RPHunt]

Exactly but surely the JR is sort of an investigation?

Not at all Nick.

If a parliamentary investigation takes place, it will be into the wider issue of ownership and governance. Expect them to grill the owners about ultimate ownership, funding and sources of funds and to grill the FA and the Football League about their rules for ownership.

I can't see how a local authority or an unrelated (to the club) stadium management company will be able to answer any of the wider questions that football fans and a parliamentary committee will be asking.

 

[James Smith]

If you could link to our stories as well, we'd be eternally grateful. Times are hard!

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/key-players-coventry-city-saga-6662306



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've added the link to the first post.

 

[ccfcway]

If both sides are willing to open up their books for scrutiny and submit evidence, then why dont the FA step in and hold an investigation themselves? Oh actually I just remembered why, they dont give a shit.

If it nothing comes of this petition I fully expect sisu to come up with the suggestion of the impartial Ms Garlick holding an investigation.

I miss Paul Appleton

 

[Noggin]

Takes 2 seconds to sign it, makes almost zero chance difference to the petition getting what it wants to happen, makes you look good, the smart play is to sign it even if you are 100% opposed to it's success, it's a shame the telegraph gave them the publicity both sides.

Considering the effort sisu have gone to to avoid filling their accounts, it makes their signing it laughable.

 

[ccfc92]

Calls for an independent inquiry into the Ricoh Arena saga have been backed by representatives of all the key players.
Officials from Coventry City FC, Coventry City Council, Ricoh Arena management company ACL and the Alan Edward Higgs Charity are all supporting a petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the situation which has the Sky Blues play ‘home’ fixtures 35 miles away in Northampton.


Just seems strange, as we all know why we are 35 miles away. Yet all sides need an investigation into it?

 

[ccfc92]

also, nearly 4,000 signatures in this day and age of internet.

Really?

Not knocking those who have set it up!

 

[Nick]

The thing is, the wording of the petition says nothing about all parties, it is just about club owners / football league.

 

[ccfc92]

The thing is, the wording of the petition says nothing about all parties, it is just about club owners / football league.

exactly, so why have sisu signed it? :S

maybe they can pick the investigator?

 

[mark82]

Exactly but surely the JR is sort of an investigation?

It's only investigating one element, the loan from the council to ACL.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[RPHunt]

The thing is, the wording of the petition says nothing about all parties, it is just about club owners / football league.

There are many supporters that have good reason to be aggrieved about what has happened or what is happening at their club. The fans of Portsmouth, Birmingham, Cardiff, Notts County or Leeds for instance will want to know how their club ended up in the hands of crooks, crackpots or conmen and why the football authorities let it happen.

There aren’t many of them blaming a local authority!

 

[James Smith]

I miss Paul Appleton

Funny you should mention him as I was looking at google street view of the Sisu offices and spotted this:

coincidence?






Yep!

 

[Sub]

Funny you should mention him as I was looking at google street view of the Sisu offices and spotted this:

coincidence?






Yep!

is that him on the scooter leaving work ???ointlaugh:

 

[Nick]

There are many supporters that have good reason to be aggrieved about what has happened or what is happening at their club. The fans of Portsmouth, Birmingham, Cardiff, Notts County or Leeds for instance will want to know how their club ended up in the hands of crooks, crackpots or conmen and why the football authorities let it happen.

There aren’t many of them blaming a local authority!

I would just like everybody to be looked at to see WHY we are in this mess, council, past owners, sisu etc and to get it all out in the open.

 

[RegTheDonk]

is that him on the scooter leaving work ???ointlaugh:

Surely he could afford a proper motorbike with the amount of money he's fleeced out of us.

 

[Kingokings204]

The signing of the petition is irrelevant. Its like being a vegetarian and then not signing a petition to treat animals fairly.

TF and ML have to sign it really. no news here.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Fuck me have we got that much time and would we understand and even agree with what came out people will still pick out the bits they want so we will still be divided.

I for one have my thoughts and don't mind if I am wrong, won't be the first time others thou won't give in so easily so the battle will continue.

I would just like everybody to be looked at to see WHY we are in this mess, council, past owners, sisu etc and to get it all out in the open.

 

[Nick]

Fuck me have we got that much time and would we understand and even agree with what came out people will still pick out the bits they want so we will still be divided.

I for one have my thoughts and don't mind if I am wrong, won't be the first time others thou won't give in so easily so the battle will continue.

Well how could you not agree with what came out as it would be documented facts? At least everything would be out for everybody to see and then start to see what is really going on.

 

[MichaelCCFC]

With a budget of absolutely zero and no committee/formal structure kcic has got the number one trending petition in the country and still some people on here claim not many are signing it and the wording's wrong. Get the they're the types who if we win 5-1 moan about conceding a goal! lol

 

[bigfatronssba]

Well how could you not agree with what came out as it would be documented facts? At least everything would be out for everybody to see and then start to see what is really going on.

When it comes to football people see what they want to see.

Its the same principle as fans seeing "clear" fouls that a ref misses, and replays show didn't actually happen.

 

[SkyblueBazza]

So if everybody is so keen for an investigation why don't they just put it out there saying "come and investigate us" and let an independent party to investigate all sides thoroughly.

There is no point making a song and a dance about signing a petition.

Maybe the central people involved are happy to sign it because they're quietly confident that the required 100k signatures will not be met? Perhaps both sides have suspicion that key players from the past have hidden things away for the other party? The hope being to expose criminality from past skulduggery perhaps- & maybe find that ACL & SISU aren't after-all poles apart? Or maybe given changes to ACL board it's a step towards reconciliation?
There's loads of stuff we could speculate about such a keen response...let's hope they all get their wish & we hit that magic 100k!!!


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