arthur cross Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 They have another two years on the lease, but his plans were long term. He clearly doesn't want to invest any more money in it when they are going to get booted out ..Can't blame him. With well-known pro-gambler Harry Findlay as a figurehead, Coventry's latest greyhound incarnation has been all about stomaching financial losses for a few years in the hope of their central geographical location helping them secure the Greyhound Derby (if Wimbledon was to close) or being the flagship-track of a truly nationwide jackpot-bet for greyhound racing along the lines of horse racing's Scoop-6 based mostly on Channel-4's coverage every Saturday-afternoon (Findlay is widely-respected as the king of any syndicates devoting huge energy and time to make a profit from massive Scoop-6 entries covering thousands of permutations compared to the average punter risking just a few quid). While either that Derby or Jackpot ambition was still clearly on the horizon as the way to recover these current losses, they could justify the losses ... but they've clearly (and very swiftly) decided that if they can't guarantee staging those ambitions even if they won either or both of them, it's not worth chucking the current losses into what's now a financial drain instead of a rainbow. Best chance of finding out any more about this very sudden exit might to watch tonight's Racing Post Greyhound TV from 7.15pm on Sky/212 or Freesat/401 because Coventry was one of their featured tracks (on Wednesday & Sunday nights) for well over a year until last summer ... however, it was dropped from the RPGTV roster amid speculation that the various bookie-firms who sponsor that channel weren't happy about their profits being damaged by the larger than normal amount of winning favourites in the races shown from Coventry. It's surely a different financial situation for Mick Horton (and Coventry speedway in general) as he's not had a similarly lucrative financial horizon to aim at ... what's mattered more for the Bees is just keeping the finances ticking over. So while the stadium still exists and the Bees' lease to rent it srill exists, the speedway should be able to start its season as planned in a few weeks' time ... remember, the dogs haven't been chucked out of the stadium, it's their bosses who've voluntarily baled out of their lease to swerve more current losses they now feel they have no reasonable hope of recovering. But where today's decision appears to me to be dreadful for speedway is that the greyhounds have been using the stadium much more often (at least twice, often three or more times a week all year round) so their exit leaves the site much less busy and, therefore, much easier for any developers to justify the stadium's demolition if they apply to the local council to do that. At least the current saga involving Galliard Homes and Oxford City Council appears to have proved that stadium owners need local council permission to demolish existing stadium buildings, never mind building any alternative uses ... so at least the bulldozers can't be driven straight in. But with Birmingham surely unable with their once-a-week local noise restrictions to accommodate to much (if any) of any emergency hosting of Coventry home meetings and Monmore already doubly-committed to the Wolves and Heathens, would Leicester be the most likely saviour of any Bees' home action if Brandon closes completely mid-season ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 I remember during the troubles with BSPA and the saga with Poole Mr Sandhu addressed supporters in the infer stand bar and agreed that the stadium was up for sale and that if it sold he would undertake to build a new speedway track for the Bees in this area. We will have to wait with fingers crossed!. Yeah... and I was assured i'd be the first signing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 What about the Stock cars ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remembertheracers Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 All hail the great Mr Sandhu The late John Berry predicted this scenario in Backtrack a few years ago. And, to be fair, the place has been for sale for very many years back to the Ochiltree family. A bad day for Coventry and for speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coventry_Bee Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 It's going to happen sooner or later and the stadium would get into a state of serious repair and tlc. However with the heart ruling the head Brandon is the home of the Bees and I really hope we stick it out as long as we can. I hope Mr Sandhu has put things in place to protect speedway as he said he would. Is he a man of his word and be remembered as the owner who gave us great teams in 2005, 2007 and 2010 to name a few or will he be remembered as the man who sold us down the river? I have my idea. I still can't see it being easy to get housing on a big scale on that land but what do I know. Fingers crossed for a positive statement from Sandhu or do we start the new season with yet again speedway taking a back seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YerRopes Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Speedway and Stock Cars will most probably be safe for this season whilst any relevant planning permission is sought...as for 2015 and beyond, well, fingers crossed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 We dont even know who the owners are yet, they might want to redevelop the stadium for all we know. Planning will take a long time for houses if thats what they want to do as Sandhu knows himself as its one of the reason for him to sell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 No, all hail Matt Ford who drove Sandhu out of the sport and as many said at the time could well have caused the demise of one of the sports biggest clubs. Oh rubbish Bwitcher, how the hell did Matt Ford drive Sandhu out of the sport? Surely, Sandhu is big enough and ugly enough to know his own mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTFC LION Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 could I ask a question? Would it be difficult to get planning permission while speedway and stocks are still running at the site?? I ask because a few years back some people bought a local pub in a small village, they wanted to knock it down and build houses on the land. If I remember correctly they were not allowed to do it straight away, they had to close the pub for a few years, then seek planning for houses, it was something to do with change of use on the land? Would this not also apply to Brandon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kester Posted February 21, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Oh rubbish Bwitcher, how the hell did Matt Ford drive Sandhu out of the sport? Surely, Sandhu is big enough and ugly enough to know his own mind. He formulated some rules to shaft Cove...............oh why bother, you really haven't a clue. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 It might help, it may not, to know that developers own most of the land surrounding urban conurbations. The whole green stuff surrounding Sutton coldfield, farmed by farmers for centuries have been owned by developers and speculators since brick built houses were invented. The land is leased off until eventually planning concent is given. It could go one of two ways, Oxford or be permanently leased like lots of other land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 He formulated some rules to shaft Cove...............oh why bother, you really haven't a clue. And by the sounds of it, neither have you.. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve0 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Oh look who's here sticking the knife in? This is a discussion forum and I have opinion - not that anything I said can be taken literally as sticking any knife in! BTW - what has it to do with you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 This is a discussion forum and I have opinion - not that anything I said can be taken literally as sticking any knife in! BTW - what has it to do with you? What has what go to do with me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 This is a discussion forum and I have opinion - not that anything I said can be taken literally as sticking any knife in! BTW - what has it to do with you? They don't call him Jim Bowie for nought 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 They don't call him Jim Bowie for nought Who's Jim Bowie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Who's Jim Bowie? Dave's brother 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 What about the Stock cars ? Speedway and Stock Cars will most probably be safe for this season whilst any relevant planning permission is sought...as for 2015 and beyond, well, fingers crossed.. The stock car people are as concerned about happenings as are those in speedway and greyhound racing. http://www.rollingstart.co.uk/brandon/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Brown Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 All hail the great Mr Sandhu The strange thing reading the statement is that is says Sandhu has done ALL he can to support the dogs. If he owns the stadium surely if he done ALL he can that would not mean giving no guarantees of a future lease. Does it not mean he has done as much as he is prepared to do without it getting in the way of developing the stadium for huge profit Subtle difference in those two statements 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 He use to like a bit of Bully 🎯 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.