SISU boss and ultimate owner of Coventry City FC - Joy Seppala was at Ryton training ground on Monday.
The camera shy Finish-American was at Ryton today and met some (not sure how many fans ) afterwards. She met to discuss players with Steve Waggott and Steven Pressley and chatted to youth team players who had been training with the City boss who takes training for the U18's twice a week to ensure same pattern of play runs from first team down.
Some supporters were told at a meeting with Steve Waggott and Tim Fisher on Monday night that we came within 15 mins of not existing the day before the 1st game, such was the deal the Football League gave the club. Steve Waggott had to inform the players that day and the Football League were prepared to kick off the season with 71 clubs - didn't want to but were prepared to.
I am tonight left in no doubt that a new ground will be built 6 miles from cov and whilst nobody tonight said never, I didn't get any warm feeling that the Ricoh would be hosting CCFC again soon BUT it was said that that hoped they still could, it is me who can't see how!! On the playing front, acceptance that 3 more required, one in very soon.
More on this:http://www.gmkonline.com/?page=forum&forum_id=6&thread_id=34737&selpage=15&&limit=15&obf=post_number&obad=ASC
I attended the meeting with Tim Fisher and Steve Waggott last night having been invited by a fellow supporter who knew I did not or would not attend Sixfiields. There were 7 of us in all, not too many to be fair. I understand that the meeting was arranged by one of the other attendees who in turn asked various contacts to attend. That is how I ended up there. I stated that I could not attend Sixfields but I was fed up with the whole sorry saga and just wanted to see CCFC back playing at the Ricoh and if by attending this meeting and listening to TF would in any tiny way help that progress then who am I not to go?
The meeting lasted almost 3 hours - both TF and SW appeared very open and understanding that comments would be released out to social media.
There was a clear call for reconciliation with the fan base - I for one believed this and took these comments as an acceptance of many previous mistakes. For many that ship has sailed" I get that!
So it is true that whilst "never" was not said I did not get any warm feeling of progress in returning to the Ricoh. What was clearly said was that CCFC needed to playing back in the Coventry area and if that could be at the Ricoh then all the better. It just seemed to me that such a possibility didn't seem close but there were my personal feelings not the result of any specific statement.
The attendees to a person heavily criticised the lack of or poor judgement of SISUs PR. TF felt that had they made certain situations known that it would have created more negativity and provide a backlash, we in the meeting disagreed and said that maybe just maybe they should go public with those issues and let the people judge! You are going to have to either agree or slate me here but those issues are ones that I don't feel I should be relating, I feel the club should do that and told them so. No doubt I will be criticised for that but I am making that decision not to discuss them.
There seems to be confusion about whom exactly the SBT met with from ACL and I would hope they could clarify this quickly? The suggestion was that the meeting may well have not included Coventry City Council members but only those from the Higgs Trust- I do not know the truth but would call upon those at that meeting to clarify this quickly?
It was very clearly stated that we came within minutes of not existing - the players were told on the Friday pm that a points deduction. was likely, it did not go down well as you could imagine but for me that just makes their performances even more impressive,
Steven Pressley, has moved his family as is widely known and came very highly recommended directly to SW by Sir Alex Ferguson. He takes the kids training twice a week and is determined that he same playing style runs from the first team through to the academy. It was acknowledged that the squad needed 3 more players and that one player should arrive on a loan in the next few days - hopefully with a view to a perm deal later in the season. No name was asked nor given. Recognition that 2 more would benefit the managers options was freely agreed but no more information was forthcoming.
I felt that we didn't make progress in understanding previous accounts issues and for many that will still really upset them, I get that, I tend to feel that if anything illegal took place then the administrator should a) find it or b) be believed if not, as he is acting on behalf of the courts - I know many will disagree but there is a route open should people feel he has done his job poorly and that is to take legal action towards him I guess. This would especially apply to Coventry City Council I guess if they feel that strongly????
We were told that JS did go to Ryton - I don't see why they should lie about that?
I was not alone in attending last night but also not attending Sixfields and the message that we all want see the team in coventry was clearly made and to be fair is not in doubt By TF or SW. I didn't hear much yesterday though that I felt would see that take place but as stated the word never was not ever used!!
The ownership of the club was discussed, the club is now owned by otium who are in turn owned by Arvo in turn wholly owned by Sisu and therefore in effect by JS.
The need to OWN our own ground was repeated by TF - 4 sites remain to be discussed further - but a distance of six miles from coventry was mentioned - now if that is six miles from the city centre or the boundary I don't know but I felt it was the former when it was stressed that the Ricoh itself is 4 miles from the city centre But we did say that at least the Ricoh was within the city boundaries which for some was an important point.
I am sorry if this is a short review of a long meeting, I am sure the others there can report back in more detail and far more eloquently than I can it I wanted to put out here my version as such.
To wrap up, I am no sisu apologist and have not attended Sixfields, last night did not change that either but I do strongly feel the time for posturing has gone and that even tiny steps to get people talking again cannot be a bad thing and needs to be encouraged by all sides
That could start with understanding who the SBT met with at ACL and understanding if their claim to want to meet TF can really happen and if so, then when??
Sorry for the undoubted spelling errors!