Make the call Joy - or is it already too late? (1 Viewer)

MichaelCCFC · Apr 7, 2014

kcic mailout 7.4.14

Make the call, Joy - or is it already too late?

Thanks to everyone who did the poll and for additional comments, and just sorry it’s not possible to reply to every message.

Key points

[*=left]There is overwhelming support for the kcic approach
[*=left]News on how people are feeling about CCFC makes grim reading
[*=left]Interest in an alternative 'AFC Coventry'/Phoenix club is lower than in the last kcic poll
[*=left]It’s looking like a lot of people have given up on CCFC altogether

There were 392 responses so this is a large straw poll not a survey with any statistical reliability.
It is a good indicator of overall views - percentage figures should be read as indicative not as in any way definitive.
The poll was open to all and was advertised widely on social media.
Those responding are people still interested enough to take time to reply - it is likely the poll paints an overly positive picture because people who have already given up are obviously less likely to have replied.

A piece including tables is in the Coventry Telegraph - http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/fans-poll-shows-huge-chunk-6930683 - and this is the full press release:

'We want an immediate return to the Ricoh' is the overwhelming message from Sky Blues fans in an end of season poll conducted by the Keep Cov in Cov (kcic) campaign group - but the poll also makes for grim reading in terms of how supporters are feeling about Coventry City.

The poll saw a massive 94 per cent of those who replied agreeing that: the Sky Blues playing in Northampton is a disaster; the top priority is getting an immediate return to the Ricoh (not endlessly arguing about who is to blame); and the way to do this is by first putting pressure on sisu and its owner, Joy Seppala, to 'make the call' to ACL to say CCFC will return, and then if ACL are obstructive to put pressure on them.

It is already known that a large majority of City fans say that sisu are mainly responsible for the mess we are in but ACL have questions to answer, as do owners prior to sisu. There are some people at the extremes who blame everything just on sisu or just on ACL but they are small minorities. This latest poll emphatically endorses the kcic view as reflecting that of most fans..

But the kcic poll makes for grim reading in terms of how fans are currently feeling. The poll asked people what they intend doing next season. It appears attendances at Northampton are unlikely to improve significantly, with less than 13 per cent of those who took part in the poll saying they will watch Coventry games played there.

Worryingly, only half of those who voted said that so long as CCFC exists it will always be their club. The other half were divided between people saying they no longer consider CCFC to be their club or they may think that in future.

In addition, interest in an alternative 'AFC Coventry'/Phoenix club has fallen compared with previous kcic polls.

There have been several recent stories in the Coventry Telegraph of high profile fans, like ITV's Tom Lowe, saying they are giving up on City and they appear to be expressing the feelings of many other supporters.

There are various reasons behind this. Off the field news about CCFC continues to be dominated by ongoing conflict between sisu and Coventry City Council. Last week saw another court battle, between sisu and the Higgs Charity, and the previous week the Sky Blue Trust were threatened with expulsion from the Supporters Consultative Group.

On the field the season started promisingly but since the sale of striker Leon Clarke, form has dipped badly and the one good bit of news about CCFC has dimmed. It is nearly a year since sisu announced they would build a new stadium but with no site identified, no land purchased and no planning application submitted, many fans are sceptical as to whether it will ever be built.

Some people are fascinated by each court case and every twist and turn in the CCFC saga. But the biggest group of City fans are a silent majority who are interested in football not legal and financial arguments or disputes between supporters groups, and have quietly given up supporting CCFC, now and possibly forever.

With season tickets for Coventry games at Northampton for 2014/15 now on sale, confirming that as things stand that's where CCFC will be playing, it looks like many fans really have had enough.

Nick · Apr 7, 2014

Not much mention about the court case?

Just my opinion, but it should be aimed at all parties to stop fucking about and sort it, rather than just SISU, again...

Hobo · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
Not much mention about the court case?

Just my opinion, but it should be aimed at all parties to stop fucking about and sort it, rather than just SISU, again...

I await your pole to evaluate the situation CCFC is in. I will gladly take part.

Grendel · Apr 7, 2014

Seems that there will actually be no decline in attendances next season then.

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

Grendel said:
Seems that there will actually be no decline in attendances next season then.

I think it's already happened to be honest. They're a few hundred down on the start of the season. I can't see it dropping much further, those that want to attend are and those that don't won't.

Nick · Apr 7, 2014

Hobo said:
I await your pole to evaluate the situation CCFC is in. I will gladly take part.

What will it achieve to be fair apart from scare mongering? Most people know the situation is shite.

No disrespect to anybody but:

[h=1]Fans' poll shows huge chunk of Coventry City supporters have turned their back on club[/h]

Huge chunk equals 55 people.....

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
Not much mention about the court case?

Just my opinion, but it should be aimed at all parties to stop fucking about and sort it, rather than just SISU, again...

Back to the old question: what would you like the Council to do? What specifically should Michael have mentioned about the court case?

Also, in defence of Michael:

"The poll saw a massive 94 per cent of those who replied agreeing that: the Sky Blues playing in Northampton is a disaster; the top priority is getting an immediate return to the Ricoh (not endlessly arguing about who is to blame); and the way to do this is by first putting pressure on sisu and its owner, Joy Seppala, to 'make the call' to ACL to say CCFC will return, and then if ACL are obstructive to put pressure on them.
It is already known that a large majority of City fans say that sisu are mainly responsible for the mess we are in but ACL have questions to answer, as do owners prior to sisu. There are some people at the extremes who blame everything just on sisu [:wave:] or just on ACL but they are small minorities. This latest poll emphatically endorses the kcic view as reflecting that of most fans.."

Nick · Apr 7, 2014

shmmeee said:
I think it's already happened to be honest. They're a few hundred down on the start of the season. I can't see it dropping much further, those that want to attend are and those that don't won't.

Exactly, people are pretty much set in their ways as it is.

wingy · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
Not much mention about the court case?

Just my opinion, but it should be aimed at all parties to stop fucking about and sort it, rather than just SISU, again...

I think you need to remember Micheals data was collected prior to last weeks case.

Brighton Sky Blue · Apr 7, 2014

Grendel said:
Seems that there will actually be no decline in attendances next season then.

Hereford are struggling to manage in the Conference on crowds a few hundred smaller.

Nick · Apr 7, 2014

shmmeee said:
Back to the old question: what would you like the Council to do? What specifically should Michael have mentioned about the court case?

I want ALL side to be pressured into talks, proper talks and not the media shite.

What would have been mentioned if SISU were ordered to pay Higgs? Imagine if the evidence shown (which it may be, we haven't seen the other side yet) says "Tim Fisher said CCFC deserve to pay etc etc", there would be uproar.

wingy · Apr 7, 2014

Also reading GMK there seem a few stalwarts there who are doubtful about carrying on next year.

Brighton Sky Blue · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
Not much mention about the court case?

Just my opinion, but it should be aimed at all parties to stop fucking about and sort it, rather than just SISU, again...

Who decided to play games elsewhere?

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
I want ALL side to be pressured into talks, proper talks and not the media shite.

What would have been mentioned if SISU were ordered to pay Higgs? Imagine if the evidence shown (which it may be, we haven't seen the other side yet) says "Tim Fisher said CCFC deserve to pay etc etc", there would be uproar.

OK, so just the same stance as previously, nothing new that has changed your mind, so why should Michael mention the court case?

All sides are pressured, but only one can actually do anything. We've been over this.

Deleted member 5849 · Apr 7, 2014

shmmeee said:
OK, so just the same stance as previously, nothing new that has changed your mind, so why should Michael mention the court case?

All sides are pressured, but only one can actually do anything. We've been over this.

Not quite true though.

I'd still be all for offers made direct to the club rather than via media/football league.

(Hell, send them recorded delivery, or by kissogram, or something)

I still think the flush out all motives is the best approach, so I'd still be pressuring the city council to find some land to offer the club if they want it, and to publicly announce they'd help them with the planning permission etc.

And I'd like councillors to stop saying the club's a sideshow wrt the Ricoh, and instead say that yes, if it did come back they'd like it to be central to the Ricoh.

All things that can be done by 'the other side' relatively easily, all things that are to the advantage of the football club if taken up on, and are to the advantage of their own position if not.

Imagine the outcry if the club says it's building a ground, here's the committee... and then refuse the offer of land within the city in favour of something five miles away! It'd force them to either publicly reveal Warwick University or something similar as their option, or it'd expose their whole position as a delaying/obfusicating tactic.

So why not pressure the other side to do that?

Hobo · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
What will it achieve to be fair apart from scare mongering? Most people know the situation is shite.

No disrespect to anybody but:

Huge chunk equals 55 people.....

So we are 55 people down Nick., you don't need a pole to know it is more.
You really are a defeatist with a loyalty to SISU. Just come out and state your stance and be pro active about it rather than try and spin stories about ACL plants on this forum

NortonSkyBlue · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
What will it achieve to be fair apart from scare mongering? Most people know the situation is shite.

No disrespect to anybody but:

Huge chunk equals 55 people.....

at the moment 55 people does represent a sizeable chunk of the support

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

Deleted member 5849 said:
Not quite true though.

I'd still be all for offers made direct to the club rather than via media/football league.

(Hell, send them recorded delivery, or by kissogram, or something)

I still think the flush out all motives is the best approach, so I'd still be pressuring the city council to find some land to offer the club if they want it, and to publicly announce they'd help them with the planning permission etc.

And I'd like councillors to stop saying the club's a sideshow wrt the Ricoh, and instead say that yes, if it did come back they'd like it to be central to the Ricoh.

All things that can be done by 'the other side' relatively easily, all things that are to the advantage of the football club if taken up on, and are to the advantage of their own position if not.

Imagine the outcry if the club says it's building a ground, here's the committee... and then refuse the offer of land within the city in favour of something five miles away! It'd force them to either publicly reveal Warwick University or something similar as their option, or it'd expose their whole position as a delaying/obfusicating tactic.

So why not pressure the other side to do that?

I've said all along, if you can give me a solid outcome that would progress us towards coming home I'll campaign anywhere. And you know I've been an advocate of offering land for the new stadium before. But I think there comes a point with offers and such like where you've just got to accept it will either happen or it won't. CCC send an offer Sisu say it never arrived. CCC send to FL, you say they're playing silly buggers. CCC make an offer, Sisu say it's unacceptable. Sisu say what they want, CCC say it's unacceptable. I think we've done that to death TBH.

Nick · Apr 7, 2014

Hobo said:
So we are 55 people down Nick., you don't need a pole to know it is more.
You really are a defeatist with a loyalty to SISU. Just come out and state your stance and be pro active about it rather than try and spin stories about ACL plants on this forum

I have no loyalty to SISU, ACL or CCC, the only loyalty is to CCFC. I am not trying to spin any stories?

JohnWH · Apr 7, 2014

First, I would like to comment my appreciation to Michael to taking the time and effort to design and implement a poll. I understand that he came to this forum seeking feedback on the wording that shows some of his thoughfulness in its best development possible.
In addition, thank you for making initial disclaimers about the limitations of the survey, including a relatively small number of respondents, those fans likely/unlikely to have responded, and that the results should be read as "indicative," and not "definitive."
Hopefully everyone can remember that when discussing the findings.

To me, the survey results further reveal the frustration that all supporters endure in trying to make the best sense of off-field activities. I don't want any Sky Blue supporter to simply "move on" from the club and quit supporting our beloved Coventry City.

What actions can be taken to reinforce the Sky Blue identity, such as community events, away from the football, especially to encourage the emerging "lost generation" of supporters (and especially the children!)?

Deleted member 5849 · Apr 7, 2014

shmmeee said:
I've said all along, if you can give me a solid outcome that would progress us towards coming home I'll campaign anywhere.

The problem is, little of it's solid regardless.

Personally I think public displays should shift from campaigning to being about our identity, but that's just my opinion (to borrow an OSB-ism) and until I can actually get to a trust meeting, I won't even be able to say that in person!

(Not that I would, I'd probably stand uncomfortably in the corner and say nothing anyway )

Deleted member 5849 · Apr 7, 2014

JohnWH said:
I understand that he came to this forum seeking feedback on the wording that shows some of his thoughfulness in its best development possible.

...not that he liked my feedback on it

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

Deleted member 5849 said:
...not that he liked my feedback on it

At least you didn't get told you were writing the next one!

JohnWH · Apr 7, 2014

Deleted member 5849 said:
...not that he liked my feedback on it

My apologies, I only remember seeing a thread that he was soliciting feedback. Never actually read what feedback was given after I skimmed a few posts. Naturally, he retains the ultimate ownership of the end product survey. And assumes responsibilty for the design. I do, however, believe his solicitation was conducted in good-faith.

JohnWH · Apr 7, 2014

Deleted member 5849 said:
The problem is, little of it's solid regardless.

Personally I think public displays should shift from campaigning to being about our identity, but that's just my opinion (to borrow an OSB-ism) and until I can actually get to a trust meeting, I won't even be able to say that in person!

(Not that I would, I'd probably stand uncomfortably in the corner and say nothing anyway )

I agree about increasing efforts to rekindle the issue of the Sky Blue identity. May I recommend community parties, raffles/prizes for "team spirit" (hate that term though, oh well), and even destruction of effigies of rivals such as Leicester, Villa (in jest only, with proper safeguards). If possible, proceeds from fundraising events can be donated to honorable causes, or a Sky Blue Kids Brigade established to do good deeds, such as assisting elderly. The Sky Blue identity can be much more than just the football. Refocus the negative energy and frustration into positive acts that benefit the community as a whole. That's how a group can reclaim their identity.

Nick · Apr 7, 2014

I still like the scarf idea!

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

JohnWH said:
I agree about increasing efforts to rekindle the issue of the Sky Blue identity. May I recommend community parties, raffles/prizes for "team spirit" (hate that term though, oh well), and even destruction of effigies of rivals such as Leicester, Villa (in jest only, with proper safeguards). If possible, proceeds from fundraising events can be donated to honorable causes, or a Sky Blue Kids Brigade established to do good deeds, such as assisting elderly. The Sky Blue identity can be much more than just the football. Refocus the negative energy and frustration into positive acts that benefit the community as a whole. That's how a group can reclaim their identity.

The only things that have come close are the march and the Ricoh charity game. Problem is you can't have them every week or it becomes like the million people in the office asking for sponsorship.

EDIT: On another note: I think if we're all honest there's nothing that can be done by us but sit and wait. Hence the problems with the Trust, hence the split between the fans. We're just impotent in all this and it doesn't feel nice so we shout at others who should be representing us (council, FL, Trust, MPs) but they are just as impotent, except now we have an other to blame for the impotence.

Deleted member 5849 · Apr 7, 2014

shmmeee said:
The only things that have come close are the march and the Ricoh charity game. Problem is you can't have them every week or it becomes like the million people in the office asking for sponsorship.

Yup, sporadic events.

Still think marking May 16th with an open top bus parade could have been a goer.

Bit too close to the time now to organise it, mind. Also the associated risk of a bus whizzing round a desolate windswept Coventry in 20 minutes flat!

shmmeee · Apr 7, 2014

Deleted member 5849 said:
Yup, sporadic events.

Still think marking May 16th with an open top bus parade could have been a goer.

Bit too close to the time now to organise it, mind. Also the associated risk of a bus whizzing round a desolate windswept Coventry in 20 minutes flat!

I'm still up for a protest at Sixfields V Wolves, but looks like that was never a goer either.

blueflint · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
Not much mention about the court case?

Just my opinion, but it should be aimed at all parties to stop fucking about and sort it, rather than just SISU, again...[/QUOTE

how did i know that comment would come from you he can only report the results of the poll

Brighton Sky Blue · Apr 7, 2014

When I lived in Brighton you could clearly tell that the club had a presence throughout the city purely based on the number of businesses which had 'Albion' or 'Seagulls' either in the name or on the front door. When you go through Coventry you'd have no idea a football team (at least used to) play there.

Deleted member 5849 · Apr 7, 2014

shmmeee said:
I'm still up for a protest at Sixfields V Wolves, but looks like that was never a goer either.

Yup, likewise.

It does need that culture shift though, and another reason why our identity should be the focus, as it's something we can all get behind, whoever we 'blame'.

Nobody ever wants to think they'll be the only people there, after all, one it's obvious there's a mass movement, others tag along.

Grendel · Apr 7, 2014

Brighton Sky Blue said:
When I lived in Brighton you could clearly tell that the club had a presence throughout the city purely based on the number of businesses which had 'Albion' or 'Seagulls' either in the name or on the front door. When you go through Coventry you'd have no idea a football team (at least used to) play there.

That's always been the way though hasn't it? Its always been fairly apathetic.

Brighton Sky Blue · Apr 7, 2014

Grendel said:
That's always been the way though hasn't it? Its always been fairly apathetic.

Which is a large part of our problem. It obviously won't happen but I personally would love it if Chelsea/Man Utd/Arsenal etc merchandise was banned from being sold in the city sports shops...

Samo · Apr 7, 2014

Nick said:
What will it achieve to be fair apart from scare mongering? Most people know the situation is shite.

No disrespect to anybody but:

Huge chunk equals 55 people.....

55 sharing one backbone

Make the call Joy - or is it already too late? (1 Viewer)

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