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Please read an open letter direct from Tim Fisher and Joy Seppala to the supporters of Coventry City Football Club
Dear Coventry City supporters,
Firstly we would like to commend Steven Pressley and the team for the great job they did last season. We are proud of both their style of football and the way the manager is moving his football model forward and everyone is looking forward to an exciting campaign next season with the main aim being to mount a strong challenge for promotion.
You have heard a lot from everyone else about any potential return to the Ricoh Arena. However, we understand that you want to hear from us about what is going on. You want the Sky Blues to return to play home games in Coventry. We do too. But any return to the Ricoh Arena has to be driven by Financial Fair Play. We want what is best for the club for the long term and this must be built on financial stability.
We appreciate that some of you have pledged to pay the rent for the Ricoh Arena. We are grateful. But unfortunately the rent is not the biggest problem. We have always been happy to pay a competitive rent but we need to access the match day revenues.
The club’s proposal is very simple. We are happy to pay a rent which is competitive in League One. But, we must have access to our very own match day revenues. That is, under Financial Fair Play Rules, all the business that is generated on a match day is managed by the club so that 60p in every £1 generated can be allocated to Steven Pressley to spend on improving and growing the calibre of the first team squad with promotion to the Championship and beyond in mind.
The generation of revenue also assists in maintaining and growing our excellent Academy so that we continue to produce young local talent to be developed by Steven Pressley and his coaching staff.
Our issue is why should the money you spend in support of the football club be taken away from the club? The first team and Academy should not be disadvantaged - your money should be invested into putting the best team on the pitch and cultivating young players that you can be proud of. As you know, investment in the playing talent is the lifeblood of a football club.
That said, we want the club playing home games in the right place as soon as possible – back in the Coventry community. So, we are ready and willing to talk about a deal that brings the club back to the Ricoh Arena, until we can own our own stadium.
In a statement earlier today, the Football League said the most immediate need is to 'concentrate on the more pressing issue of getting the club back to the Coventry area within the prescribed timeframe' as well as acknowledging 'the club has placed the full sum of £590,000 into an escrow account pending the outcome' of the Football League board’s deliberations. We completely agree and want to play our part to make this happen.
We know that reconciliation will need effort from all sides but we will do all we can as long as it does not jeopardise the long term future of the club. We know we haven’t done enough to communicate with you. We want this to change. We promise to share as much as we can about what is going on.
We are all passionate about the club becoming an essential part of the Coventry City community, determined to secure its long term future and build a team that continues to make us all proud for generations to come.
- Joy Seppala & Tim Fisher
Open letter from Joy and Tim (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter CovFan
- Start date
letsallsingtogether
Well-Known Member
Its a bit late now the damage has already been done, do as you say for once do what is best for CCFC and leave.........
chickentikkamasala
Well-Known Member
Joy and Tim... it is not rocket science, STOP sending out silly messages like this and talk to ACL, then make a reasonable offer for the share CCFC sold in the arena years ago, if you want access to this revenue you have to PAY for it NOT try and distress it to get it on the cheap, now kindly jog on and get in touch will ACL.
This may help you.........
Telephone;
0844 8736500
Or write to; Ricoh Arena, Phoenix way, Foleshill, Coventry, CV66GE. (The true home of CCFC)
This may help you.........
Telephone;
0844 8736500
Or write to; Ricoh Arena, Phoenix way, Foleshill, Coventry, CV66GE. (The true home of CCFC)
DazzleTommyDazzle
Well-Known Member
History suggests that we should be sceptical, but at least it appears to be a step in the right direction.
If you look at the statement with a level of rationality, it's clearly paving the way to a return to the stadium. One of the most reasonable statements I've seen from Sisu. They're clearly ready to go back to the negotiation table.
You don't swallow your pride in public unless you want to achieve something greater.
Call me an optimist, but that is the best looking statement/news i've seen since the debacle began.
You don't swallow your pride in public unless you want to achieve something greater.
Call me an optimist, but that is the best looking statement/news i've seen since the debacle began.
oldskyblue58
CCFC Finance Director
Whilst welcoming a positive response .......
Actions speak louder than words.
Don't speak to the fans pick the phone up and speak to ACL.
Deals require some element of compromise on both sides - are they prepared to compromise? Never got that impression in the past
strange isn't it that both sides release statements before tomorrows march..............
too old and cynical I guess :thinking about:
Actions speak louder than words.
Don't speak to the fans pick the phone up and speak to ACL.
Deals require some element of compromise on both sides - are they prepared to compromise? Never got that impression in the past
strange isn't it that both sides release statements before tomorrows march..............
too old and cynical I guess :thinking about:
I've got issue with any of it, just stop with all the bullshit and make it happen. If they want access to the revenues and ACL won't give it them what difference does it make? it's only two years away and they will own their own stadium with all the access they want.
As stated before this is the majority of fans biggest gripe it's all to easy to see the bullshit between the lines with every statement they make.
As stated before this is the majority of fans biggest gripe it's all to easy to see the bullshit between the lines with every statement they make.
Mary_Mungo_Midge
Well-Known Member
I can't read any further than the lecture about FFP against the backdrop of moving us to Northampton and losing 85% of our supporters...
Moff
Well-Known Member
I think it might have spolied the letter if they had to admit they did that to distress ACL.
Same...... Just skimmed after that
It is strange (or obvious) that statements are released just before the march.... Maybe we should march bimonthly, that way we would be way better informed ?
Finally.... No more statement s...unless it reads " we are back in Coventry..
Joy n timmem, just put the club back in cov
oldskyblue58
CCFC Finance Director
If this is for a short term deal say 2 or 3 years how much difference does the F&B really make to a return to the Ricoh. Car parking and advertising is easy to sort out. The biggest difference is match income
Sixfields ....... under £500k
Ricoh ........... £3m
it is not a difficult decision even without the F&B's ................... match receipts alone gives SP & the academy far more than Sixfields.
Should F&B's really kill a short term deal at the Ricoh? ................
Sixfields ....... under £500k
Ricoh ........... £3m
it is not a difficult decision even without the F&B's ................... match receipts alone gives SP & the academy far more than Sixfields.
Should F&B's really kill a short term deal at the Ricoh? ................
Mary_Mungo_Midge
Well-Known Member
Good points, well made. It might have devalued the balance a touch...
DazzleTommyDazzle
Well-Known Member
Absolutely - That is why any decision other than coming back to the Ricoh makes no economic sense at all.
ccfc92
Well-Known Member
I thought that too. Why say building a new stadium is plan a, then release a statement like this?
Anyway, actions speak louder than words.
Samo
Well-Known Member
Completely different tone to anything we've seen before from them. The first rung on a long long climb down.
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
Until they provide figures as to how playing at Sixfields with F&B's creates a higher turnover to the Ricoh without F&B's then I'm afraid I am not willing to listen to these incompetent buffoons.
I can only think season ticket sales must be slow and their legal advice regarding the appeal wasn't what they wanted to hear.
I can only think season ticket sales must be slow and their legal advice regarding the appeal wasn't what they wanted to hear.
Ian1779
Well-Known Member
If they are now going to concede to bring us back then let them all get on with it. It's a step in the right direction.
Not about pies & beer, it's about ALL match day revenues.
Parking, catering, match day advertising boards etc. etc..
PUSB PUSB PUSB PUSB PUSB
AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
What happened to the land we are buying for a new stadium Fisheppla?
Statement released before big march against all things evil to fans.
Statement still goes on about stadium ownership.
Fpp is getting boring.
At one point i thought Fisher said the rent is too high for the club at the Ricoh? Now he is saying it's never been about the rent?
What I want to hear is an apology to the fans for this mess and admit they have done wrong.
Now if you want to turn a corner then make this fecking happen double time.
Statement released before big march against all things evil to fans.
Statement still goes on about stadium ownership.
Fpp is getting boring.
At one point i thought Fisher said the rent is too high for the club at the Ricoh? Now he is saying it's never been about the rent?
What I want to hear is an apology to the fans for this mess and admit they have done wrong.
Now if you want to turn a corner then make this fecking happen double time.
sotonskyblue
Member
As said in other thread have SISU been leant on by the FL and have they been tipped the wink that their JR appeal will fail?? There is a different tone to this statement from Joy/Tim,maybe they have been given some PR advice.Only time will tell
lapsed_skyblue
Well-Known Member
Both sides have effectively put pre conditions on any talks.
ACL want the matter of the £590,000 resolved. Understandably they want the money first: if the FL should decide to reverse or modify their original decision then this stance may have to change.
SISU will only talk if match day revenues are on the table.
ACL may also want safeguards such as any landlord with an unreliable tenant might require. For instance, a contract with a company that actually trades and has some assets.
I would agree that if this is to be only a short term deal until CCFC get their own stadium (whatever that means) then why get into the complications of match day revenues. Would SISU want access to ACL 's books in order to verify the payments? Would ACL want to do this? A rental agreement with perhaps an attendance related rebate should suffice.
Another interesting date - 7th August when the FL meet to discuss CCFC related matters. What's the betting that due to holidays and other commitments that if a meeting should actually get scheduled it will be after this date?
ACL want the matter of the £590,000 resolved. Understandably they want the money first: if the FL should decide to reverse or modify their original decision then this stance may have to change.
SISU will only talk if match day revenues are on the table.
ACL may also want safeguards such as any landlord with an unreliable tenant might require. For instance, a contract with a company that actually trades and has some assets.
I would agree that if this is to be only a short term deal until CCFC get their own stadium (whatever that means) then why get into the complications of match day revenues. Would SISU want access to ACL 's books in order to verify the payments? Would ACL want to do this? A rental agreement with perhaps an attendance related rebate should suffice.
Another interesting date - 7th August when the FL meet to discuss CCFC related matters. What's the betting that due to holidays and other commitments that if a meeting should actually get scheduled it will be after this date?
They have never ever said that playing in Northampton improved the clubs financial situation, it's a short term solution to an ongoing long term problem that has existed for more years than I care to remember.
Stemming back to when we sold Highfield Road and then rented back but lost all the money we made paying rent!
Kingokings204
Well-Known Member
Rent was 7-8% of the clubs turnover. So that last sentance is just plain wrong.
Ian1779
Well-Known Member
Really? When exactly was that then?
lifelongcityfan
Well-Known Member
Kingokings204
Well-Known Member
Everyone knows Ian, rent of 1.3 although being very overpriced it was only around 8% of the clubs money. Money was lost in numerous other areas.
Tbf that seems to be reitified now with a reduced wage bill and club better run financially than ever before (sixfields apart)
I agree they need match day incomes of course they do but pay a fair offer in as you need to buy them.
As I say 500k ticket sales sixfields or 3m at the Ricoh? And they want to tell me about FFP. Lol come on.
chickentikkamasala
Well-Known Member
Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
I read this statement and immediately I thought, "this sounds like a bit of panic". Why? Then I realised. The "March" is tomorrow! They are trying to come across as nice people in the hope they will change fans minds about the march tomorrow. F**k 'em! Let's march! (Well, I can't - too far to travel but I'll be watching developments on here!)
