One Judicial Review Too Many
Last night, the news broke that Sisu Capital were proceeding with JR2 against Coventry City Council. This latest court case concerns the sale of the shares in Arena Coventry Limited (“ACL”), enabling control of the Ricoh Arena, to Wasps Rugby Club in 2014.
Ms Seppala, boss of Sisu, has a conflict of interest in this matter. On the one hand, she is perfectly entitled to bring legal action in the best interests of her investors, if she believes that she has a valid case; only time will tell in that regard. On the other hand, as custodian of Coventry City Football Club, she has an obligation to supporters to safeguard a much-loved community asset.
The evidence to date is clear, pursuing this action will seriously endanger the future of the Sky Blues. Last year, Wasps broke off discussions regarding an extension of current playing arrangements at the Ricoh, citing the distraction of the potential legal action. So far as the public are aware, there has been no resumption of any discussions in this respect. Now that JR2 has actually been launched, there is no reason to hope that this situation will improve.
Current arrangements at the Ricoh expire at the end of the 2017/18 season, just 15 months away. The original Judicial Review, regarding loan arrangements from Coventry City Council to ACL, took around 3 years to proceed through the various tiers of the judicial system, finally reaching a conclusion in December 2016, although a trip to the European Courts may still be an option. Therefore, a resolution of JR2 may not be achieved until long after the right for CCFC to play at the Ricoh has expired.
Our club therefore faces the very real prospect, once again, of being homeless by the summer of 2018. With zero progress on building our own ground, Coventry City FC could once again be playing far from
the City of Coventry. That is a frightening prospect, one which most likely would be the death knell for the Sky Blues, at least as we have known the club.
Many supporters are already saying that they won’t be buying a season ticket after this season. The attendances at Sixfields in the 12 months between August 2013 and August 2014 were generally below 2,000. If a further period of exile occurs, one can imagine that crowds will average below 1,000.
As stated earlier, Sisu have the right to pursue their case. That does not entitle them to render Coventry City FC as collateral damage in their fight with Coventry City Council and Wasps. If Joy Seppala wishes to follow this course of action, she should do the right thing by the supporters: Sell Up and Go. The court case may then proceed without negative impact on the Football Club.
Meanwhile, the EFL (English Football League) and FA continue to be impotent as our club is slowly destroyed. It is time that they took urgent action, before it is too late to save the City. Political pressure needs to be brought to bear in demanding an intervention.
Therefore, we urge all Sky Blues fans to write or email their own MPs in connection with this matter. The main points to make are as follows:
* Express your concern as a CCFC supporter that the forthcoming Judicial Review brought by Sisu Capital against Coventry City Council, involving Wasps, will have a seriously detrimental effect on Coventry City FC;
* Wasps have stated that they are not prepared to discuss an extension of playing arrangements for CCFC at the Ricoh beyond May 2018 due to the distraction of this legal action;
* CCFC have no alternative venue in the City, therefore if playing arrangements at the Ricoh are not renewed, the club faces a further period of exile from Coventry, as suffered in the 12 months from August 2013;
* Ask that your MP raises the matter with the EFL, requesting that they intervene to ensure that this cannot happen, if necessary by removing the “Golden Share” from Otium Entertainment Limited and reallocating to new ownership for Coventry City FC; [The golden share is the licence for the club to play in the Football League, Otium are the subsidiary of Sisu which operates the Football Club.]
* Request that your MP also brings your correspondence to the attention of Damien Collins MP,
Chair of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, asking for his support in this matter. [Mr Collins is a committed campaigner for the reform of football governance.]
Local MPs in both Coventry and Warwickshire constituencies are known to be sympathetic to the plight of Coventry City Football Club and the suffering of the supporters. Letters and emails are sure to receive a positive response, the more that are sent the better. You can find contact details for you own MP via www.parliament.uk about 2/3s of the way down the home page on the left-hand side, enter your post code in the box and click “Find”. Be courteous at all times and make sure that you include your full name and address, contact phone number and email.
Please act now to help secure a future for Coventry City in the City of Coventry.
PUSB
David Johnson