jimmyhillsfanclub
Well-Known Member
Not sure how many of you have noticed the latest Newsbot story on this forum...
As the Sky Blues look set to exit stage left for Northampton with the boos of the crowd ringing out for villain Sisu, a subplot has emerged that throws fresh light on the long-running pantomime.
According to a source in the front row, the chairman of the Ricoh was preparing for just such an eventuality three years ago and had sounded out the stadium’s major sponsors.
David Allvey was apparently carrying out a loyalty-check to see if they would remain with the Ricoh if the star attraction left.
And he had a Plan B in mind if the City packed up and walked off with the ball – replace it with an oval one and bring in a top rugby side!
He didn’t need a crystal ball to see what was looming. The rent-row was getting increasing bitter and he correctly predicted there would be a parting of the ways.
In the end, he was the one to go when in May last year he quit as ACL chairman because of “policy differences” – thought to be his objection to giving further ground, in every sense, to Sisu.
Now the Sky Blues have exited and next week is due to be their first 35-mile trip to their “home” ground in Northampton.
Ironically, Northampton Saints might have been playing rugby at the Ricoh under Plan B – life without the football team.
They were part of a bold idea that would not so much have shifted the goal-posts, it would have booted them into touch.
The main target for the Ricoh was London Wasps, then unhappy with their home in High Wycombe, and tempted by the lure a 30,000 seater stadium in Coventry.
And Northampton Saints were to be offered the ground for their cup matches.
Both rugby clubs at that time had ground problems. Wasps were threatening to leave Adams Park, which they shared with Wycombe Wanderers FC, unless the council agreed to a bigger stadium.
A report to the Wycombe District Council noted ominously: “We understand that London Wasps RFC have indicated that they will seek a new home ground outside of Wycombe District if their aspirations cannot be met within High Wycombe.”
And Saints were finding their stadium too small for the big crowds their Heineken Cup games attracted.
Both clubs in fact had played cup matches at the Ricoh, and it seemed a fit.
David Allvey, now chairman of construction giant Costain, was invited to comment this week on the story but had not responded by deadline.
ACL director Peter Knatchbull-Hugessen said he had no knowledge of sponsors being sounded out three years ago.
“But we do have an on-going dialogue with sponsors, some of whom have staff and offices at the Ricoh, as part of an on-going relatioship,” he added.
Wasps have since been given the go-ahead for a new stadium at High Wycombe.
* There may still be a link between rugby and the Ricoh – through Coventry Rugby Club and the Alan Higgs Centre, former home to the Sky Blues Academy and part of the charity that has a half-share in the stadium.
The rugby club, which won’t be moving from The Butts, has big plans to expand in academy-style partnerships and Red
Button understands the Higgs Centre is on its radar.
* There’s hardly been a peep from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce about the effect the Sky Blues leaving Coventry will have on local businesses. Strange, that, when you consider their president Amrik Bhabra was on the advisory panel to CCFC last season.
So according to this, the ACL chairman (since quit) was looking for alternatives to City playing at the Ricoh over 3 years ago....
....even though Sisu/CCFC were paying the full rent at the time....
Every day ACL are looking slightly less cuddly aren't they.....
ACL, SISU, CCC......Cunts, the lot of them!
So according to this, the ACL chairman (since quit) was looking for alternatives to City playing at the Ricoh over 3 years ago....
....even though Sisu/CCFC were paying the full rent at the time....
Every day ACL are looking slightly less cuddly aren't they.....
ACL, SISU, CCC......Cunts, the lot of them!
Well, if ACL move this rugby club into the Ricoh then they are no better than SISU, are they? I wonder if Northampton Saints fans fancy a 70 mile round trip?
no, rugby would have been played as well as football on different days. Not sure we'd have been thrilled about the pitch being used more but there certainly isn't anything as sinister as you are suggesting. It wouldn't have been possible or good for acl to get rid of the football club.
So according to this, the ACL chairman (since quit) was looking for alternatives to City playing at the Ricoh over 3 years ago....
....even though Sisu/CCFC were paying the full rent at the time....
Every day ACL are looking slightly less cuddly aren't they.....
ACL, SISU, CCC......Cunts, the lot of them!
Well, if ACL move this rugby club into the Ricoh then they are no better than SISU, are they? I wonder if Northampton Saints fans fancy a 70 mile round trip?
The difference would be that they were actively looking for somewhere to play cup games as their ground was too small. They've played before at the Ricoh and also I think at MK Dons with no objection from their fans.
There is no difference. Just ways to justify, which you exhibited so deftly.
situation a) club moved out of home town where suitable stadium is available against fans wishes which will mean the loss of tens of millions in revenue
situation b) club plays limited number of home games out of home town as stadium can't cope with demand with the endorsement of fans leading to increase in revenue
In your world these 2 situations are exactly the same?
So where is your evidence that saints fans would endorse it?
Where is yours that they would not?
So where is your evidence that saints fans would endorse it?
I must have missed the huge protests and petition from Saints fans. The fact that 22K turned up at Stadium MK and 27K turned up at the Rioch would seem to indicate it wasn't an issue.
I must have missed the huge protests and petition from Saints fans. The fact that 22K turned up at Stadium MK and 27K turned up at the Rioch would seem to indicate it wasn't an issue.
But they were semis of Cup games weren't they?
Would be like saying if we played in the semis of an FA Cup game or a play-off final at Wembley we'd all be endorsing a move to Wembley.
I know this was all set some time ago, but PWKH did say a few weeks ago at the Trust AGM(I think) that they were in discussions with another sports club to play in the Ricoh.
Just hope that they don't get sued by whoever accomodates them now(whoever they are).
Would be like saying if we played in the semis of an FA Cup game or a play-off final at Wembley we'd all be endorsing a move to Wembley.
Anyway he made the statement so to make it he needs some evidence.
No evidence then fair enough.
They had double the capacity of Franklin Gardens in attendance at those games, to me that is evidence that the fans were happy to go but if you want to believe that twice as many tickets sold as their regular grounds capacity, which is rarely sold out, is evidence that they were up in arms in the same way we are about the move to Northampton then that's down to you.
They had double the capacity of Franklin Gardens in attendance at those games, to me that is evidence that the fans were happy to go
The same applies as before.
We would average about 10-12,000 at the moment at the Ricoh(if we played there).
If we got to a play-off final, or FA Cup Semi, or even a JPT final, then our allocation would be hugely oversubscribed.
Would that then be evidence that Coventry fans want us to play all our games in London?
So MK Dons seeing an increase in ticket sales that sees more tickets sold than as Wimbledon is equally evidence that fans were happy?
Volume and quantity is a dangerous argument to reduce it to. Isn't that what our club's owners are doing?? Reducing it to the finances and quantity, and forgetting the human side?
Both are enticing a club to leave its geographical situation, a geographical situation that is crucial for its identity, culture, and sense of wellbeing.
Both are doing that because of cash.
Both should be resisted by anybody who favours sport ahead of business.
Well yes, the fluidity of football fans morals and "lines in the sand" never cease to amaze me.
Lordsumm........ please don't spend so much time sounding so superior on a day like this. Even though we all expected this, there is a lot of pent up frustration about with people not quite sure how to release it. Allthough I expect that it may soon well have opportunity to show itself once fans get organised.
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