FOOTY CHAT

First topic message reminder :

Great reading again Choccy P.....you forget so much so thanks.

Change of avater......and now he's in SkyBlue 3 months.

True Gus it doesn't matter what Gary Hoffman promises Tim Fisher doesn't want us to play at the Ricoh and that's that. Sad.



Did you book the fridge on the plane Choccy ?   Give my love to the Sitton's.

Just out of the fridge in time to pack my bags for the Netherlands tomorrow. Sisu will not agree to play back at the Rioch because if they do they have lost now back to the fridge

Nice one Carole

Im afraid that he could just about buy the blinking Ricoh for them and they would reject it outright.

Tim Fisher is one bad man and I don't trust a word he says. Mark my words, it has been a dark day
in hell when we were taken b Sisu. and it will never be anything different.

RIP Cov City

By Andy Turner, Alan Poole
Coventry Telegraph today

Gary Hoffman interrupts family holiday to try and thrash out Coventry City deal
12 Jul 2013 08:35

Former Sky Blues chairman aiming to have talks with City chief executive Tim Fisher at tomorrow's pre-season friendly at Nuneaton Town
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Gary Hoffman Gary Hoffman

Gary Hoffman is interrupting his family holiday in an attempt to thrash out a deal with Coventry City’s chief executive Tim Fisher at tomorrow’s pre-season friendly at Nuneaton Town.

The former Sky Blues vice-chairman says that he and his fellow investors will stump up the £400,000 rent to Ricoh Arena landlords ACL for the next three years and pay any penalty incurred from cancelling the groundshare deal with Northampton Town in return for a share of the ticket sales.

He says it’s a ‘no-lose’ proposal. But last night – almost 24 hours after the offer had been made – Fisher dismissed it out of hand saying: “ACL’s position to date has been that they don’t recognise us as the football club’s lawful owner and hence have consistently refused to talk to us so I don’t know what authority Mr Hoffman has to bind ACL into any future agreement.

“Besides which, there has been no detail behind these proposals, which were only put to the club by phone last night.

“We wouldn’t want to raise fans’ hopes given that the main source of income whilst playing at the Ricoh was ticket receipts and it certainly doesn’t make sense to describe the deal as an ‘offer to pay arena rent’ when actually the deal is a loan secured against ticket sales resulting in the club giving away a huge chunk of ticket revenues, our only revenue stream.”

Hoffman, however, says that the deal could be worth almost £5million to Sisu over three years and last night told the Telegraph: “I am on holiday in Spain with my family but everyone has said people need to sit down and talk. I am very happy to do that so I am going to fly back for the Nuneaton match.

“I will try to get in touch with Nuneaton’s chief executive Ian Neale to see if he can give us a room and if Tim is there at the game, which I am sure he will be, then why don’t we spend a couple of hours together, or however long it takes, in order to try to hammer out a deal because no one can lose in this situation.”

Hoffman strongly refuted any suggestion that he is trying to cash in on turnstile revenue, insisting: “Absolutely not – what I am trying to do it is save them money from Northampton; they don’t have to pay any rent at the Ricoh and they will definitely make more money out of it.

“My proposal is that I raise the money to pay the rent for the next three seasons. I assume £400,000 per season as that is the number speculated. Otium has to pay nothing towards it and they save the costs of the deal on Northampton, excluding any break clause costs which we would pay, too.

“ACL get their rent. The casino benefits, the hotel benefits, in fact everyone benefits – no losers

“I assume that the attendance at the Ricoh would be at least 5,000 per game more than at Sixfields – this is undoubtedly conservative – so 5,000 at an average £15 per ticket for 25 games equals £1.875m extra revenue.

“Otium can take half of this upside for trading purposes; the people who put up the money with me would take a return to cover financing and other costs and any additional revenue would be invested in the Academy.

“This is not about me trying to make money, it’s about trying to get Coventry back at its home and rightful place, give Sisu some money and invest further in the Academy which is a model we all want to work.

“All we’re saying is we want the £400,000 for the rent back from ticket sales, which is reasonable. Anything above that they can have and the Academy can have. We’re not here to make a return out of it.”

“I don’t know what they are paying for Northampton, but let’s say £150,000 for three years, so that’s £450,000 in total.

“They save 3 x £400,000 on rent at the Ricoh, which is £1.2m, so that’s £1.6m. They will probably, pessimistically, get £1m a year extra ticket revenue so if you add all this up Sisu get close to £5m over the three years.”

Details of Hoffman’s proposal have been sent to the Football League in the hope that they may now step in.

“If their view was that there was no option to play at the Ricoh, there is now an option and hopefully they will now encourage a deal to be done,” said Hoffman.

“I am as frustrated and heartbroken as any CCFC fan to see the club I support leaving my home town.

“The irony that I now live in Northampton very close to the NTFC chairman is not lost on me – my kids know his kids well.

“I go and see the Cobblers occasionally when the Sky Blues aren’t playing but I won’t go and watch Coventry play their home games in Northampton. It is just wrong.

“There is too much baggage and history and I know some of my own relationships with Sisu don’t help. It is a real personal regret if that has got in the way of progress. What a mess the whole thing is!

“Every party has said that if they could find a way for Coventry to play in Coventry they would – Otium, ACL, the Football League and, above all, the fans.

“In order to imagine a better future you have to forget some of the past and I would like to try to ‘unblock’ things but when I discussed my proposal with Tim Fisher his immediate reply was ‘thanks but, no – emphatically no.’

“There is no down side for them. If they still want to build a stadium, fine, but don’t lose a generation of young fans in the process or people like my dad who is 83 years old and may never see them again.

“I am not playing a game. I am only interested in CCFC, not making money – I wish I was not involved, bit it is my club.

“I want Coventry to play in Coventry. It seems to me that this is in everyone’s interest. Otium, particularly, will be financially better off and the club more attractive in the future

“I call on everyone to put the past behind them and end this heartbreak. What is there to lose?”

Let's hope everyone will feel like you
Vicky

I started to answer that and then I thought "Why am I bothering to answer the prat?"   BUT I'll tell you one thing Fisher it's hard to miss the first game, oh boy is it,  you start thinking "I should be on my way to Coventry to the match by now" as the time ticks by you go through every moment...."I'll be trotting up the steps now waving to Choccy Penguin...." and so it goes on....But THAT FIRST GAME is the hardest to miss, the second one hard but you get through it easier.....after that you settled down to listen to the match, and look forward to reading what Choccy P writes.....so if you think those missing fans will come floading back THINK AGAIN.    PRAT.

Just found THIS on Face BOOK

Fisher
By NS
Fisher Not Expecting Boycott To Last

Coventry City CEO Tim Fisher has said that he does not expect any fans boycott of Sixfields Stadium to last.

Speaking to a loing standing Coventry City supporter last night at Coventry Station as he waited for Dan Walker to take him to the SCG Meeting, Mr FIsher, who says he has nothing to be sorry for, expects fans to boycott the first couple of games but feels that most will be back after three matches.

Mr Fisher, who says that SISU have no intention of buying Sixfields in order to get their hands on a redeveloped stadium, facilities including a hotel and land close to the M1, maintains his stance that he is expecting 3,000-7,000 per game at Sixfields Stadium and is expecting at least seven sold out matches.

SOME one NEEDS to PROVE this A-hole WRONG

BOYCOTT!! BOYCOTT !!!

Oh some people you just want to shake Sitton Bros, some of the comments       

Yes I'm cheering Andy Murray on .....and he's now into the final.   .....sorry the one you were cheering on didn't make it to the final though Sitton's, have to say she's very pretty.

So know what you mean Vicky! Was that stupid guy another person saying supporting the team is not the same as supporting the owners? In our opinion going to the "home" games in Northampton is supporting Sisu, no matter how much they say they only go to support the team... And thus it means supporting those people without any morals with their dirty tricks!! We just hope the image we got from reading comments on facebook and other places, is correct and that not many will show up for "home games" so that those idjits in charge will finally get the message and open their eyes! Although... the $$ signs in their eyes might be what is troubling their view...
We heard that Pressley is a fan of the passing game. That will go marvelous on a pitch that is used 3 to 4 times per week eh?   

Gus, so sorry to read about Sharon having to go through all that pain and trouble! We hope for the best, hope the rest will do her good indeed!

Vicky, we noticed you're in the Wimbledon mood with your new avatar/picture? Our Wimbledon mood crashed at the same time as Na Li..

Yes Carole there's houses built on the ground now.

Been listening to everything I could listen to both CWR and TalkSport, good luck to the fans who are going protesting at the Ricoh and Northampton Towns place.   Wonder if Choccy P is at the Ricoh? Oh and that stupid guy "Where's the proof that Sisu are crooks" WHERE'S THE PROOF? Obviously he's not read the article about them. SCREAM!!!!!

How the "mighty" have fallen  
and will the fans follow them over there ?
the best thing would be to STAY away
thus making the owners HURT where it
would hurt MOST ...in their POCKETS ..
Not being over there living ,what happened to
the old Stadium ? was it pulled down after
the Ricoh was built
Can remember the noise from the old one
while on the bus going into town on a match day
sounded like THUNDER  
Maybe that was the problem ,got too big
too fast should have stayed smaller  

OMG Northampton Town......   

Just did my Coventarian duty and signed
the on line petition via the Coventry Telegraph
to keep the team IN the city
Whats the other news I am reading about
the facts not being correct ?
Looking like one BIG MESS
Gus my   to your brave wife
on her journey to health
Your right Shingles is a TERRIBLE thing and hearing
a LOT about it lately , seems if one had Chicken pox
while growing up the Shingles virus is ALREADY in your body
{that really makes ME feel good as despite the Dr arguing
with my Mum that I could NOT have a 2nd dose of them
just after getting pregnant with my first child in 1960 as
I had gotten them off my baby sister when she started
school 10 yrs previously , he apologized after examining
my spots }
They keep saying God only gives us what we can carry on
our shoulders and Sharon is a brave soldier so hope
she is on a upward turn all the best to you all

Hi Gus sorry to hear about Sharon having such a bad time......yes Gus shingles are truely bad as well and with everything else poor love she's really going through it. 

Not seen the letter either Malc.....think both should be passed on, I'm surprised they haven't.   I've passed on the link about Sisu to the Sitton Bros.

Hi all,

Hi Malc, Sharon is doing sort of ok, she has he good days and her bad, but unfortunately,
the last couple of weeks since we returned from Perth visiting her sister, have been awful.

The Chemo / combination of steroids etc etc have brought on an episode of Shingles....

Truly awful bloody things.  I had no idea what they were but in lay terms the are the next

version of chicken pox second time round.  The next day she got this nasty cyst under her arm

which antibiotics sorted, but when she went back to the doc surgery to get the all clear she picked

up a stomach virus (from the waiting room as her ability to fight infection is very low) and seven days

later she was back in hospital.  Luckily she is home tomorrow and a good rest and good food will help.

she had 2 litres of blood, 2 backs of fluids and antibiotics again...don't know how she puts up with it.

Other than that life was a little dull   Hope she gets a few weeks of peace she deserves it...

Nice to see the Sitton bros back...and even though the British and Irish lions beat the Wallabies here the

other night, can I just remind you all AUSTRALIA HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP....HAS ENGLAND YET???

Its good having 50c each way..haaaaa

Love to all

Hi Vicky, not seen any mention in the Telegraph when I look at their web site so it would not hurt to pass it on especially if you know who to send it on to ? Did the Trusts letter make it in there ???...

Yes I'll pass it on to the Sitton Bros Malc......has it been passed on the the Media?  I'm thinking about passing it on to Alan Reid if it hasn't.

Hi guys and ladies of course, although when I say 'Hi guys'...I do mean everyone...

A good letter sent by the supporters club to the football league I see and also a very good breakdown of just what SISU are about...hope you all got my link to them...maybe Vicky could pass them onto the sitton bros if they have not already seen them...

Well first game away to Crawley I see, as it's the nearest ground to me ,will prob go, although there is one weekend in August when I am away on a union course, it's about Mental Health and Stress...think I need this to get through next season.........

I can see why the Admin bloke favoured the bid from a SISU shell Company for pure business reasons...but I do not see how the Football League can let them even own the club in the first place, now their dodgy business dealings is out in the open ?...

The story continues to unfold....

Good to see the sitton bros in saying hello...hi guys.....

Hi Gus, how's Sharon doing mate and the rest of you of course......will email shortly...

Ok...lets see...tomorrow is another day...:;soaps:

 it's the Sitton Bros.....and yes I've received your email and will be answering it .....sooon.....

I so agree.....and I know others do as well......everything you say about SISU and Tim Fisher.     Anyway it's lovely to have to  again.

Lovely to have Gus's views as well.

Look after Choccy P while he's over there Sitton Bros.

Hi Carole......you just wonder what's going on.

Malc someone should send this article to Coventry Telegraph.....to Les Reid.

Hi all:  Yes interesting article on "fit and proper" I doubt if Appleton or the League did any proper checks on Otium.

Soon be on a  to see The Sitton Bros and a few pre season games

Hello all!! Sorry, again not been here for waaaaay too long! Weeks, no scratch that, Months just keep disappearing! As if they are days...

For us too, the only good news past months was learning our beloved Sky Blues coming to the Netherlands in July! Verrrryyyy excited here! :D:D They are away games so we won't get in trouble with our conscience for going hehe.
Extra fun for us (or not, if we lose) is that they play our eldest bro's fave team (Go Ahead Eagles Deventer) as well as one of our bestfriend's fave team (Heracles Almelo). Two matches they cannot lose or we'll suffer the rest of our lives! lol

And we also look forward to having you here Choccy!! :D:D
Vicky, did you get our update mail?

That SISU can get away with this mess is quite unbelievable. Putting something in administration with the left hand only to buy back with the right hand. As someone said, no wonder Fisher kept talking rubbish when everyone else thought he had no ground to stand on, (hmm, pun wasn't intended heh) seems they were so certain to get it back.
We been reading a lot of comments on facebook and elsewhere, and believe that the majority feel like "Not one more penny" should go to SISU. But also reading some letters of people thinking the boycott is wrong and they feel the boycotters are the minority. Guess time will tell. Normally we believe in always support your team, in good and bad times, but we must say we fully support the boycott of home games and merchandise and such. (Even though it would be really time for a new shirt again heh, and our managers coat is also starting to show wear and tear, we will be patient.) This is just a situation that is beyond belief. There is more drama than in Eastenders! Or was it Coronation Street? We strongly feel SISU are just trying to delay things so they hope to get the Ricoh on the cheap. Dirty practices which we don't want to support in any way!

And to close off with something more light hearted, just wondering, did anyone see the Confederations Cup game between Italy and our faves Japan? Result wasn't nice for us of course, but we're really happy Japan are finally getting the praise they deserve! Read one comment on the BBC website which was very accurate, that they tend to overdo the passing in the final 3rd and lack a real killer. Hoping Havenaar could become one over time.

*Waving to all!* 

The worlds gone mad...what is going on at City?

I just cant see an end to all this madness

Choccy for got to tell you to space
before  & AFTER  a smile 
As to getting them through
customs , put a leash on them and
say they are your "pets"   

I was reading again today about the American
 I do not know why he wants City Vicky
maybe he KNOWS I was born there  
   
Seems SISU just do not want any one else
to own the club , but what money will they make
if they play out of Coventry if the fans as the
paper says are not wanting to leave the Stadium
in THAT I agree , whats the point of being called
Coventry City if you have to     in Atherstone

OK have a good trip Choccy

Carole:  Never get the :fish:through customes

I will say hi to them both.  It is still up to the league to ratify the take over but we could be heading for a 15 pt decution if a take over is not completed and I hear SISU are struggling to get anyone to ground share with

The Asian's never made a bid in the end Carole as for the others......though the American is still saying he wants to buy in it's looking as if Sisu have it because *they* have put the highest bid in BUT well seeing they're the ones who are owed ....so they say.....£45m they've got the upper hand.          it's a mess, as for the American wanting to buy in he must be puddled, he won't make any money from CCFC and isn't he only interested in making money    so just why is he interested Carole.....it doesn't make sense, now buying into ManU, Chelsea even Liverpool you can understand it but Cov City FC.  and I'm a fan saying this.

Yes Hi brothers two
So does this mean the two millionaires
the American Haskell & the Asian who
wants to bring in a "choo choo"
have lost out to SISU ????

Choccy , you behave and here take these
in CASE you feel peckish 

Oh say "Hi" to them both.

Yes a company with Tim Fisher on it's board has been allowed to take over a company with Tim Fisher at it's head not dodgy at all.

Off to The Netherlands next week for footie and to say "hi" to the Sitton Brothers

Oh crumbs so Sisu have won the bid to get back CCFC Ltd. 

Well just read the report in the
Coventry Paper on the American
Haskel's bid for the club
in case you did not see it here is the
link
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/preston-haskell-sisu-both-submit-4279998
Sounds like the others do not want ANYONE ELSE to own the Skyblues

Well listened to the meeting with *dodgy Fisher* ......he didn't have a smmoth ride though he stayed calm, by the sounds of it he wants us to move away from the Ricoh *come what may* and he's not listening to the fans.

I haven't learnt anything I didn't know.....a lot of the fans tried to put him on the spot by asking great questions (the fan with the copy of the accounts was good....which Fisher didn't answer) but as the fan from Bedworth said Fisher would make a politician.

Oh it's in such a mess Carole.

Choccy Penguin did you go to the meeting tonight? If so can you let us what's what......that's if you understood what Tim Fisher was going on about.

Thank you. xx

Morning Folks ,lets hope SOMEONE rescues City otherwise I fear Coventry will be without
a team

By Andy Turner
6 Comments

Preston Haskell IV makes revised bid for Coventry City
31 May 2013 09:48

American ups ante before deadline for offers to buy company that holds rights to League's 'golden share'
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Preston Haksell IV Preston Haksell IV

American property tycoon Preston Haskell IV today upped the ante with a revised bid to buy the Sky Blues.

June 7 is now the revised deadline set by Coventry City FC Ltd’s administrator Paul Appleton for offers for the company that currently holds the rights to the 'golden share' – the licence to play in the Football League.

Appleton has already revealed that eight parties have expressed an interest, including Haskell and a Chinese consortium fronted by North Warwickshire businessman Michael Byng, although it remains to be seen how many actually follow through with firm bids.

Sisu/CCFC (Holdings), who claim they are the beneficial owner of the golden share, are also expected to bid for CCFC Ltd, the company they put into administration.

Haskell’s bid is being fronted by former Sky Blues vice chairman Gary Hoffman and suspended life president Joe Elliott, who submitted an initial offer ten days ago but have decided to revise that following information that has since come to light.

Hoffman and Elliott have tabled their bid on the basis that they are in advanced commercial discussions and close to an agreement on buying 50 per cent of the stadium.

What the offers for CCFC Ltd will resolve is unclear but anyone bidding will be doing so on the assumption that the golden share – which is now in Preston with the Football League who confiscate it when a club goes into administration and then return it when it comes out – is given to them to run the football club.

Hoffman confirmed a revised bid was being made today and said: “Our objective would be to do a deal on the stadium and buy the football club, the golden share, to enable us to reunite the heart and home of Coventry City because Coventry has not had a home, really, since Highfield Road because it has been a tenant.

“It would be great to reunite the heart and the home and to have Coventry City playing at the Ricoh from day one of the new season.

“That’s what we want to do and that’s what Preston Haskell wants to do, and he’s committed to doing that.”

Hi guys...just been reading back on what's what with the club...errrrr...exactly

Tim Fisher talks the talk...but it is what he does not say...like...we are in this mess because we decided not to invest in the playing side of the club so that we could get the Rico for a song, then make Bils of £'s on the land around it and eventually sell the ground as well...**** the club in other words...well it is not working old boy...expect crowds of around 3/4000 at Walsall...if that.

I agree that the football league should come out and say who they feel owns the club...Holding or LTD...as that would go a long way...the admin man has said LTD, but it may need to go to court to actually legalise this judgment...is that not a gamble too much for any would be investor ???

I myself (if there is still a club to watch) will only go to away games and not one home game if the switch does happen and I will no longer buy anything from the club shop...no big loss on it's own...but I may not be the only one ???

Hey upsidedownman...good likeness mate you must have posed for the model maker...ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa.

Ah the latest Carole is some Chinese guy who's a Billionaire who wants to buy the whole shebang and also invest in the rail link yeah yeah..... we've heard it all before.

Have a lovely time Gus.

G.day Gus ,hope all is progressing well with you and yours
have a wonderful time in Perth
As to the footy ,seems they did not want the Yank who offered
for the club unless that has changed again
See Ya

Hi All

If Tim Fisher isnt the most detested man in Coventry then I dont know who is!

I really fear for our club....hope all these offers of bidders are good and strong

and we can finally be rid of sisu. Not that sisu didnt start out making us all

believe all would be fine, but over the years the lies, mistruths and straight out

Bulls^%$ has taken us to a place we dont wont to be....

Long live CCFC....

Gus

Oh, Off to Perth for a week with mrs Gus to see her sister....YUM....

Highfield Two.....right that'll get the fans on my side

Will they be able to raise the £20m to finance this? And can this be sustained with income from a 12,000 seater stadium? As for playing at Walsall until they build the stadium....well.

All the best to Mrs Gus.....we all understand why you've been missing.

As about being confused Gus join the queue.....and Gobby Fisher has been nattering again.

He certainly is cute, and I don't doubt just as cute as you Gus.

Oh, my new avatar is my skyblue gus sitting on my computer desk


Sort of cute .... like me

Hi Guys,

Sorry its been a long time since I posted last, but Ive been busy with Mrs Gus....she had a bad month with treatment etc and
obviously she has taken my full attention....well she is special so what can I say!!!

So after reading GMK, Cov City Mad and anything else I can, Ive come to the decision that.....IM BLOOOOOODY CONFUSED

So if anyone can help....fill me in cos Im scared we wont have a football club next year....

Love to all

Gus

Ahhh just read up on the Multi Millionaire
He is 46 born in Florida but made his fortune
{164 million pounds } in Sweden ..
Preston Haskell IV is also a minority owner
of the Jacksonville Jags football team
He would like to put Joe Elliott back onto the team
Guess as YOU say we sit and watch

Hi Choccy P.....glad to see you posting, as to Tim Fisher MAD.....I also agree with you about all this "Can't find who owns the Golden Share"

Carole Tim Fisher is Chief Exc of Coventry City FC.....keeps nattering but seeing we're in Admin now what can he natter about? And yes an American.... something the fourth. ..... is interested in buying us.....watch this space. Sigh!!!

Morning Choccy
Not being in the "loop" regarding
City I do not know WHO Tim Fisher is

Have heard the rumors that an American was
interested in buying them ,whats the news on THAT
score then?
Yes Beckham has called it quits being worth over $200 mil
I guess you say why not ,silly to risk his limbs now and
only being 38 he has his WHOLE life ahead of him
to find another area to keep him happy

Anyway fill us in unless of course Vicky knows all
the info and I am SURE will fill me in

Hope your keeping well

Haven't been on since the end of the season and it seems Tim Fisher has gone mad thinking he can get a ground planned and built in three years.

Strange the day City went up for sale Beckham retired and said he wanted to invest in a team

I wish I trained to be an administrator he is on good money but can't even find teh golden share.

It was great hearing Cov City being spoken about after and before the FA Cup final......and Keith Houchen.

thanks Choccy, been busy here so not popped in...good to see you and Kev at the Crawley game...bumped into some old lost friends...why I never got back to you for the second half.

OK...wait and se just what is going to happen to our beloved CCFC...???

Thanks Choccy P for the match report, on Saturday we kept hearing the fans loudly cheering the players on while lots of nattering goes on about other games..."What's going on.....I don't care what other teams are doing" I kept shouting at the radio.

Anyway Choccy P thanks so much for all the match reports.....keep popping in and letting us know what's going on with our summer games....and if you hear any gossip.

Final match report in a good game and a deserved point

So it finshed 2-2.

Just read about the English Schools u16's match and other matches at the Ricoh, they didn't advertise that very well.