Les Reid had an article published by the Coventry Observer on March 24th entitled “Coventry City fans call for unity amid Sky Blue Trust ‘anti-Sisu’ Agenda”.
In order to promote fairness and as many sides of the discussion as possible, so that you have the relevant information in order to make up your own minds without wishing to blacken the character of anyone named, we are publishing Les Reid's response to the reponse to that article - http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/worth_a_read__response_to_coventry_city_fans_call_for_unity_article_858209/index.shtml
The views express in this email the personal views of Mr Reid.
"Having been extremely busy on other stories, I have not had a chance to read or respond to further emails, and we felt the matter had been addressed in my response to David's initial email.
The article sent to Coventry Mad contains several falsehoods and misrepresentations,. I therefore request you publish my email response to David last week, copied and pasted below, which addresses the key points and responds to his assertions.
The Sky Blue Trust has made no approach to us, as far as we are aware, to make requests concerning the article in the Coventry Observer. If it wants to submit further comment about the issue for this week's paper, I am sure we will use our editorial judgement in considering it."
"Dear David,
It has been clear from your social media output and your radio appearances that you are far from being a neutral observer. In fact, several have remarked to me that you are one of the leading campaigners behind the now very quiet PSB group, just as you were with Not One Penny More. In the interests of clarity and transparency, can you confirm or deny this is the case?
Your criticisms characteristically misrepresent my article. All sides' views contained in the minutes are represented to some degree, including those of the two relevant Trust members. I attribute those views to those represented in the minutes, which people had opportunity to check. Peter Ward's views and others within the SCG have been clearly set out in my journalism.
My impression of you is that you are among those who despise the articulation in the mainstream media of views counter to your own one-sided 'Sisu out at all costs' agenda, while blaming a historic and complex dispute entirely on the current owners at a time when there is no evidence of a credible takeover of the club. Should that time come, I and others have stated that we would be open to examining it. Thankfully, there is daily anecdotal evidence from social media and elsewhere that many see the problem in all its complexities, not the reductive and simplistic explanations set out in the likes of your social media output, "Sisu out' and PSB press releases.
To be clear, I have formed a fluid view on certain aspects of this saga after years of examining the evidence closely. I am entitled to do so in my proper role as a journalist, something I no doubt have vastly more knowledge and experience of than you.
My "agenda" has been to hold all sides to account, and as a political journalist in particular try to get to the truth, without fear or favour, of the role of the local authority and others in the use of taxpayers' money. I feel responsible challenge to the local authority was being heavily suppressed, I have a clearer insight and vantage point on this than you, and I have overtly joined calls for an independent inquiry, as did a Coventry Observer comment piece.
I have been quite transparent about my views for a long time now on social media and elsewhere, and they are clearly supported by many, while many disagree too. That's the nature of the job I do, particularly when covering and commenting on passionate and fractious disputes.
I had been told by my friend in Australia that you made an approach to him to try and find out private information about me related to my previous job. If this is the extent to which you wish to pursue me as a journalist, going half way round the world, I would urge you to reflect. Please explain why you did this.
While you are entitled to your opinion, I take the kind of attack on my professionalism and integrity contained in your email very seriously. I would urge more caution.
Kind regards,
Les"