Coventry City Banter - Join the debate with CCFC fans, staff writers and club legends

Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-23T09:51:31Z

Coventry City eager to tie up Clive Platt deal

COVENTRY City are waiting to hear if veteran striker Clive Platt wants to extend his stay at the Ricoh Arena.

Fears grow over Coventry City going bust as Cayman Islands link revealed

FEARS that Coventry City could be close to going bust are growing - following a Telegraph investigation into owner Sisu's offshore business dealings in the Cayman Islands.

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The bookies got it right on Coventry City's relegation

2012-05-22T18:58:14Z

FELLOW blogger TJL says were the Sky Blues doomed from the start ?
He was referring to the bookmakers prediction that the City would get relegated and they got it spot on.

It will be interesting to see what they think the Sky Blues chances are in the up and coming season? Will they make us favourites to get straight back up or will they play it safe and reckon we may struggle ?

But until we get the transfer embargo lifted and keep hold of our better players I wouldn't be surprised to see us favourites to drop even further down the table.

We obviously need our talisman and Mr dependable Richard Keogh to stay but the signs don't look that promising as a few teams are sniffing about and as we are totally skint and a selling club it won't be a shock to see him depart to pastures new.

At the moment all talk is going on behind the scenes and in the boardroom and stories in the Telegraph don't fill us with confidence do they ?

I've reached the point now where I don't bother reading the stories as it's as enjoyable as banging your head against a brick wall.

One day you read an uplifting article and the next day your brought back down again it's as if nobody really knows what the hell is going on anymore.

But all us fans can do is hope and pray that we have a football ground and a set of players next season because the bookies will be watching what's happening at our club before giving their prediction on our chances.

I like a flutter myself now and again but never bet on the Sky Blues as they have let me down too many times but if we can keep hold of some of our decent players and bring some quality in I may break the habit of a lifetime and have a few quid on them to finish near the top but. who knows what can happen in the next few months ?

Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-22T10:42:46Z

Coventry City reject Bristol City's 'derisory' bid for Richard Keogh

COVENTRY City have rejected a 'derisory' offer from Bristol City for centre-half Richard Keogh - but the Robins' official approach could spark a full-scale bidding war for the Sky Blues' prime asset.

James McPake set for crunch talks over his Coventry City future

JAMES McPAKE will meet Coventry City bosses for crunch talks over his future, it has been revealed.

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Were Coventry City doomed from the start?

2012-05-20T21:08:24Z

BY NO MEANS am I a hardened gambler, but the fact that one of the few times I've been fortunate enough to be in a position to collect any winnings from the bookies this season (albeit a meagre handful of coins) came as a result of betting on a heavy defeat for the Sky Blues speaks volumes about our year.

The spanking in question came away at Ipswich back in September, but it was a visit to my local bookmakers two months previous that really sticks in my mind.

It was late July, and after a tumultuous Summer Coventry City were rounding off their pre-season preparations. The noise coming from the Sky Blue camp didn't exactly fill one with confidence for the season ahead, but despite our troubles I was not prepared for the damning indictment that I saw before me.

In amongst the menagerie of odds flashing away on the bookmaker's screens were those for relegation from The Championship; a market in which Coventry City were the frontrunners.

Needless to say I found this prediction laughable, but sitting here after the dust of a disastrous campaign has settled it's clear that this forecast did in fact come to fruition, and the autopsy aiming to ascertain exactly how it happened is well and truly underway.

Referees, injuries and plain old misfortune can be blamed until the cows come home, but if bookmakers across the country saw the demise of Coventry City as a near certainty before a ball had even been kicked, should and could decisive action have been taken to prevent us crashing out of English Football's second tier?

For me, the answer is yes and no.

Naturally, something should have been done. Players should have been drafted in to plug the blatant gaps in our squad.

In reality, however, whether or not anything could actually be done is up for debate.

A cash-strapped side with an administrative structure more akin to a certain Mediterranean government than a slick footballing machine is hardly in a position to make significant inroads in the transfer market, so the job Andy Thorn was faced with was simple. Keep us in the division using what you've got.

I'm not cynical enough to suggest that the fact Thorn was able to blame his lack of financial support led to a degree of complacency. He has shouldered his fair share of the blame and is now hopefully focused on next season as opposed to concerning himself with last season's failings.

Looking back, it's no surprise that Coventry City were earmarked for relegation early doors. It just goes to show, the house always wins.

Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-18T10:09:10Z

Martin Cranie on verge of leaving Coventry City

IT'S looking increasingly likely that Martin Cranie will be leaving Coventry City this summer.

Paul Fletcher: How we struck the Ricoh Arena sponsorship deal

The Arena sponsorship agreement at Coventry was an interesting negotiation. We had managed to keep the naming opportunity 'clean' during the first six months of construction by simply referring to the building as 'The Arena' making it easy to later drop-in a sponsor's name.

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Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-17T09:08:59Z

Ricoh Arena deal should have made Coventry City great, says Paul Fletcher

The Ricoh Arena appears to be an attractive and efficient building and a great success story. But is it?

Ricoh Arena shares should be sold to Coventry City "at fair price" says Paul Fletcher

EX-SKY Blues chief Paul Fletcher has urged Coventry City Council and the Higgs Charity to sell their shares in the Ricoh Arena back to the Sky Blues for a "fair and equitable price".

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Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-15T08:55:26Z

Coventry City need "realistic" approach to promotion, says Tim Fisher

TIM Fisher admits that Coventry City has to have a "realistic" approach to gaining promotion straight back to the Championship.

Tim Fisher Q&A: Ricoh Arena deal key to Coventry City survival

IT IS now two weeks since we heard from SISU's Joy Seppala on the challenges facing Coventry City and its owners as the club prepares for life in the third tier of English football for the first time in 48 years.

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Wishing Coventry City were in a better place

2012-05-14T16:40:15Z

WATCHING all the drama and excitement on the final day of the Premiership on Sunday and seeing the tension then the huge smiles on fans faces made me feel really envious.

Most Coventry supporters are totally alien to all that joy of watching our team win a title or get into the play offs or even just gain promotion unless your a fan like me who saw us win the Cup or have success under Jimmy Hill all those years ago.

We have to watch other clubs on the television playing in huge games and I'm pretending to enjoy watching it all when deep down I feel like screaming with frustration and shouting out at the top of my voice " I don't care who wins ! "

There's the play off matches to contend with then Chelsea versus Bayern Munich followed by the usual big let down of England failing miserably in a big tournament when all I want is my beloved Sky Blues to end a season on a high.

I must have drifted off recently whilst watching some match or other because I imagined the Sky Blue Army in there thousands packed in to Wembley to watch us win promotion to the Premier League.

But when I came back to reality it dawned on me that it was just wishful thinking as we are now in the Third Division and if we are lucky we may even get to play our home games at the Ricoh Arena instead of the Memorial Park !

Jealousy is a bad thing but when you see Blackpool and West Ham about to play the richest match in Football I bet I'm not the only City fan who thinks when will our loyal supporters get to see our club compete in a match like that ?

The title of this blog is wishing we were in a better place but unless things change dramatically very soon we will just have to keep on watching and reading about the success of other clubs instead of our own.

Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-14T09:52:54Z

Andy Thorn set to take UEFA coaching course

ANDY Thorn was back at school today as he embarked on an intensive two-week coaching course to gain his UEFA B licence.

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Why SISU buying into the Arena might be good for Coventry City?

2012-05-13T18:48:54Z

Like them or loathe them SISU own our beloved club.

Their current talks with the Council, and one would assume the Alan Higgs Charity about getting a half share in the Arena Company Ltd and the associated land around it, seems to me to be a positive move.

There are a number of reasons why I believe this.

Firstly we will be able to reduce our yearly rent.

Secondly we will benefit from the profitability of the Arena, any income at present is welcome. The Arena has a turnover of around £17 Million with only 20% linked to the football club and makes a small profit.

Thirdly as the fair play rules are in place, our income will be increased and therefore the proportion we could/can spend on our playing budget will be greater.

Fourthly it makes Coventry City a better option to any potential buyer or investor. Currently Coventry City is a brand with no major assets (other than the players). With ownership of half the Arena Company, then it is far more attractive to potential buyers or investors.

I know that some people think I am backing SISU with the above comments. However the truth is that I don't want them here anymore than the vast majority of the fans do.

I do however fear for the future of the club, getting more revenue into the club is a must if it is to survive.

There are a number of interesting questions thrown up by it all. Firstly where are SISU getting the money from? Secondly why have they taken them so long to do this and thirdly is this why they are delaying publishing the budget and thus keeping the embargo in place?

Next Season Budget?

2012-05-10T18:51:05Z

IT is interesting reading the article in the Telegraph this week, about CCFC having still not recorded their accounts for last season, and the likely impact that will have on any Transfers into the club.

THE FACTS (1)
1, Until the accounts are filed, the club are stuck in a teansfer embargo, preventing them from signing any new players!
2, The club are in dispute with Coventry City Council, regarding the cost of renting the Ricoh for next season and cannot file accounts until this issue is resolved!
3, The council do not want to lower the rent, so we have reached an impasse!

THE FACTS (2)
1, During a recent telephone interview on a "Local Radio Station" I was informed that the club had provided the manager with a budget for players for next season?
2, The manager has identified the players he wants to bring in to the club and is working on bringing them in?

Which is the truth?

Does anyone really know?

If the owners were going to spend money on the club, why didn't they do so last season, to enable us to be more finacially stable? The income from TV rights is a lot less in League 1 than it is in the Championship..................

Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-10T09:06:33Z

Coventry City: Chinese investors consider backing Gary Hoffman

WEALTHY Chinese businessmen are considering investing in Coventry City.

James McPake: I wasn't fit enough to help Coventry City

WHEN James McPake was sent off at Ibrox on his Hibernian debut - a 4-0 thumping by Rangers - it appeared to underline the defender's need to get games to get back up to speed for Coventry City.

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Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-09T08:45:26Z

James McPake in dark over future as Hibs line up £100,000 offer

COVENTRY CITY defender James McPake is expected to make his loan to Hibernian permanent this summer - although the Scottish star insists he's never looked for a move away from the Ricoh Arena.

Gossip: Coventry City linked with AFC Wimbledon midfielder

RELEGATED Coventry City want to bolster their midfield with AFC Wimbledon's highly-rated Sammy Moore, it has been claimed.

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Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-08T07:56:11Z

Cody McDonald will be League One's top goalscorer, says Andy Thorn

ANDY Thorn may be lining up a couple of strikers to boost Coventry City's bid to bounce straight back to the Championship but he's convinced he's already got next season's top scorer on his books.

Coventry City will be fitter and stronger than ever next season - Andy Thorn

COVENTRY CITY will begin their League One campaign "fitter and stronger than ever before", according to Sky Blues boss Andy Thorn.

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Latest Coventry City news from the Coventry Telegraph

2012-05-04T08:34:28Z

Goodbye Sammy Clingan: Coventry City fans happy with captain exit

COVENTRY CITY fans have welcomed the news that club captain Sammy Clingan is set to quit the club.

Andy Thorn's stark warning to Coventry City stars after Freddy Eastwood fitness fiasco

ANDY Thorn has laid down the law on fitness, telling his Coventry City players that he will not tolerate anyone returning for the pre-season out of shape.

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