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 no where 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 consequences for CCFC. once again this is a plan that will have devastating consequences on ourfootball 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 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. e 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
Football League response:
Thank you for your email regarding Coventry.
While we’ve noted your comments and questions, any correspondence between the club and ourselves is private and confidential and any application to move to a new ground would be considered in its entirety by the League Board at the relevant time taking into account all the available information and the requirements listed in the EFL's regulations.
Recently the EFL stated that it, “understands that Coventry City are seeking to find a long-term stadium solution that will enable the Sky Blues to generate revenue on a comparable basis to other EFL clubs. We remain in regular dialogue with the club about this matter.”
Again we note your comments but we are unable to provide comments relating to training grounds or other club matters, and we would advise you contact them directly to further such queries. The club recently released minutes from a supporters consultative group meeting here http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/scg-minutes-tim-fisher-10102016-3356957.aspx#99tiejL8BlFPd7Mi.99 which you may find of interest.
Thank you for contacting the EFL.
Regards,
Jessica Crook
Supporter Services Department
EFL