The Preservation Sky Blues Group have sent the following open letter to the Football Association and Football League.
To whoever this may concern at the Football League and Football Association.
We are a Coventry City supporters group writing this open letter to
both bodies today to plead with you to have an urgent serious investigation into
the CCFC situation.
You will be aware that the football club is owned by a hedge fund
company known as SISU or Otium Entertainment Group Ltd.
We firmly believe that these hedge fund asset stripping business
organisations should be let nowhere
near a cherished football club
that means so much to a community.
However it is to late for that argument right now.
In nine years of ownership under SISU the fans of Coventry City
have had to witness a ground share in Northampton, transfer
embargoes, point deductions,
administration and countless court cases.
SISU have contributed to us losing our only possible home, the
Ricoh Arena, a ground built purposely for Coventry City Football
Club.
SISU tried to distress stadium owners ACL by withholding rent so
as to put ACLin a position where they would be forced to sell to
SISU on the cheap. This move backfired and now the stadium
is owned by Wasps Rugby club.
A move which has left the future of CCFC very uncertain.
In the middle of this on going battle we have been embroiled in
another court case which is still ongoing today and were forced
to move to Northampton to ground
share against the fans wishes.
A move which both the Football League and Football Association
turned a blind eye rather than standing up for a club and its
community.
We are now at the Ricoh arena on a rent deal which is coming to
an end next year. New owners Wasps have called off all
negotiations on a new rent deal until SISU drop their legal action
against ACL.
So what's next for CCFC? Are you both going to sanction another
move out of the city?
This week it has been confirmed by the club that SISU are planning
on selling our only remaining asset, the Ryton Lodge, our first team
training ground.
It would appear that SISU want to sell this land to build houses on
to sell at a forprofit for their own benefit, regardless of the
consequencies for CCFC.
Once again, this is a plan that will have devastating consequences
on our football club. This plan has been met with outrage by fans.
The late Jimmy Hill built our training base up from scratch. It has a
huge history and is a newly refurbed top class facility. Jimmy Hill's
legacy is about to be destroyed by an asset stripping hedge fund
company that have no concern whatsoever for the football clubs
welfare or its fans.
What are you going to do about this?
To keep this email as short as we possibly can, we have listed a few
urgent points that worry us greatly and need addressing.
1. We have no stadium
2. Our rent deal is coming to an end
3. Rent deal talks have stalled
4. Our Academy is in huge crisis with its very existence at
massive risk.
5. The 1st team training ground is up for sale, our only asset.
6. Our average home attendance has halved from 16,000 to 8,000
7. SISU have no communication with fans
8. The Football League and FA are doing nothing
Our local newspaper the Coventry Telegraph have started up a
petition asking for SISU to put the club up for sale. This has
attracted national interest and currently has around 15,000
signatures in just a few days of being launched.
As a result of this SISU have now banned the Telegraph from
CCFC press conferences.
Our crisis is being noticed nationally, from ex players from
various clubs,CCFC legends, opposition fans, pundits and key
figures in the media.
Why are you still not taking any notice or taking any action to help
our club.
Coventry city is a club that has a huge history in the game, a big
fan base and a huge importance to the community.
Sadly this club is on its knees and is about to cease to be in
existence.
We are currently being asset stripped before our very eyes.
Our questions to you both is this, Why is this being allowed to
happen?
Why are you doing nothing to protect the existence of Coventry
City Football Club?
Football fans are the heartbeat of any club.
The way we are being treated by our owners is disgraceful but
the way the Football League and Football Association continue to
ignore our plight is heartbreaking.
We urge you to do all that you can now to save Coventry City.
Regards PSB Group - CCFC supporters
Pskybluesgroup@gmail.com
@psb_group