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Coventry 2017


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Now it seems Brandon Estates maybe willing to sell its even more important we keep going for as long as possible. That's how you keep applying pressure, Brandon Estates wouldn't be willing to sell if everyone had given up.

So with the spite Sandhu showed by vandalising the stadium he has succeeded in bringing an end to Brandon stadium.

 

Words can't discribe what I think of him.

Even if he didn't take his stuff from the stadium we would still be in the same position. Brandon Stadium needs stox running at the venue but Brandon Estates won't allow Sandhu to operate.

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Thought he said they'd sell now? Well he could buy it now then, he's full bull !

 

The way I read it was that he'd have snapped his hand off at the 2M+ offer so maybe he couldn't afford it now as the price is far higher?

A glimmer of hope though as if they are actually willing to sell then a buyer must be found. Maybe a consortium, a group with a bit of vision that could put the stadium to good use with various other activities taking place throughout the year? If the council genuinely want the stadium to survive, could they attract a new owner with reduced rates and relaxed planning? Just a thought.

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the fact that the value of the land (lets ignore the stadium its worth zero) means the covenant on the land is very strong and cannot be broken, at least like Cradley for five years.

Only hope is a stox/speedway getting the funds. lets assume 4000 stox fans (never been) 2000 bees fans, thats just £500 each (assuming £3m), so it could be done.

 

Reality is that even if the above could be achieved a move from brandon would still be required, the cost of running such an old stadium must now be huge.

 

however a supports group could break the covenant on the land and then release the vast true value of the site.

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Mick wanted to meet the fans last night but you are never going to get the full story when you only hear one side of a three sided argument. I'm sure there were people present in the room (or keeping an eye on the situation from afar) who do know the facts & the truth. It's a shame they can't or won't speak out and take Mick and the others to task.

 

According to Mick the only chance of Bees survival is for Brandon Estates to find a buyer. To return to Brandon for 2018 that's got to happen well before the next AGM in November and the Bees survive for a whole season. Time is already running out.........again!

 

The situation could not really be made any worse by somebody in the know (including the BSPA) getting involved, making the situation clear and public and trying to find a solution. There is so much smoke & mirrors & silence from the three parties that those without access (the fans) have no idea who to blame. Well they do, some blame Horton, some blame Sandhu, some blame Brandon Estates and even claim that they are Sandhu. The only fact is that between the three of them they have just about killed any hope of speedway or stock cars at Brandon.

 

Sadly the Bees are now in the same boat as Coventry City FC. The fans love the team but despair of the owners and their antics!

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Fair play for Mick Horton for at least coming to face the fans and explain the current situation. At times it did get out of hand and with David Rowe in attendance it maybe could have done with his experience as nobody was in control and questions were fired from all sides of the room where others couldn't hear.

 

Here is my view and points that have not been mentioned so far.

 

The past-

Sandhu sold the stadium to somebody he knows, this was for 2.2 or 2.7 million. Negotiations broke down between Sandhu & Horton and different to Jeremy Heavers side of the story as mick stated the terms were not acceptable for either side. Mick mentioned it got personal with family involved and that makes it even more puzzling and childish. No option was given to Mick to purchase the stadium for the value it was sold at, had he been given the option he would have snapped his hand off. The fixtures and fittings saga continues.

 

Mick and councillor stokes received an email from Brandon estates around 6th Nov asking them to meet at Brandon after his return from holiday, mick states he was shocked at what he witnessed and was shown round with Mr stokes and Brandon and with what he saw Mick refused to sign the lease and Brandon estates gave mick an option to pull out, however Jeff Davies claimed he has photos from 31st Dec that show Brandon is not in a bad state so that didn't really add up.

 

 

 

Current-

Brandon estates are not talking with Sandhu, so since January we are no closer at all to moving back to Brandon. For people he knew something has drastically gone wrong and be it planned or not is questionable.

 

Brandon estates are willing to listen to talk to people, they are not saying they will sell it but are willing to listen, 2 parties have already been in contact but mick thinks nothing has come of either of these adding to the fact Brandon estates will want options on the site it makes it very difficult. When Brandon Estates purchased the land with agreement with rugby council was a stay of execution for the bees and stox for 3 years and rugby council would enter them on a local plan but that's as far as they would go as there are no guarantees after that but it was on the condition that they support the bees. Where that leaves Brandon estates and that deal remains to be seen.

The stadium owners are willing to listen to offers but at a site with planning permission where the value of £1 million per acre would put a possiable price of £25 million on the site, however with no planning permission it unclear what the current value would be but a healthy profit on the 2.? They paid for it Brandon Estates were currently looking a 10-15 year plan for planning permission etc.

 

Mick was advised from Rugby council, Brandon estates and Sandhu not to say anything so that's why nothing was said over the winter.

 

Leicester- It looks like we with luck it may be for the season although the original deal is for 8 meetings as it was expected we would return to Brandon. part of the deal is that we must match there prices. Coach travel was mentioned and looking into a meet point of Brandon is going to be looked at by Mick so people don't have to pay parking in town and come back into town late on a Friday. A car share scheme will also be looked at to help fans get to Leicester, the season ticket is fantastic value and makes it cheaper than most championship clubs.

 

Sandhu has no input into Bees financially.

 

The question was asked if the BSPA had been in touch with Brandon estates as in like the Belle Vue situation, this has not happened but something that maybe looked into. Quite strange that this avenue had not been looked at when the BSPA got involved during the time when we had a deadline date a few weeks back.

 

Fans need to support the move, to give the club further life. The travelling of the fans was most important, a move to Birmingham would have also meant a mid week race night. Mick is very grateful to Leicester.

 

Future-

Rugby council are very supportive of a new stadium, they can't give us land but if we find a suitable location they will do all they can to support, advice and grants. IF Brandon estates were to get planning permission they would have to enter into a section 106 where they set aside upto £1.5 million pounds to go towards a new sporting stadium. However we have had 3 years already and nothing's happened in finding a suitable site.

Mick for the good of the club would sell it to Sandhu or anybody who had the best interests and a plan for the club. Mick has taken on board the feedback to keep the fans more updated.

Councillor Stokes has been very supportive and continues to facilitate meetings and doing what he can.

 

The is also leaves the stox community in a mess. Are Brandon estates that committed to the site if they are willing to listen to other parties, no other property investor would I doubt touch it and so would take a sports/events consortium look at it with the view to invest as the stadium on its own is not a big enough asset for the price. Even at £2.7 million you won't see a return so the asking price say £5million is great business for Brandon estates if the option for housing in future is part of the deal but awful for anybody buying it as the stadium needs work and more income 5/7 days a week.

 

Like the above post, you will get different stories from all parties and none will match.

Edited by Coventry_Bee
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Fair play for Mick Horton for at least coming to face the fans and explain the current situation. At times it did get out of hand and with David Rowe in attendance it maybe could have done with his experience as nobody was in control and questions were fired from all sides of the room where others couldn't hear.

 

Here is my view and points that have not been mentioned so far.

 

The past-

Sandhu sold the stadium to somebody he knows, this was for 2.2 or 2.7 million. Negotiations broke down between Sandhu & Horton and different to Jeremy Heavers side of the story as mick stated the terms were not acceptable for either side. Mick mentioned it got personal with family involved and that makes it even more puzzling and childish. No option was given to Mick to purchase the stadium for the value it was sold at, had he been given the option he would have snapped his hand off. The fixtures and fittings saga continues.

 

Mick and councillor stokes received an email from Brandon estates around 6th Nov asking them to meet at Brandon after his return from holiday, mick states he was shocked at what he witnessed and was shown round with Mr stokes and Brandon and with what he saw Mick refused to sign the lease and Brandon estates gave mick an option to pull out, however Jeff Davies claimed he has photos from 31st Dec that show Brandon is not in a bad state so that didn't really add up.

 

 

 

Current-

Brandon estates are not talking with Sandhu, so since January we are no closer at all to moving back to Brandon.

Brandon estates are willing to listen to talk to people, they are not saying they will sell it but are willing to listen 2 parties have already been in contact but mick thinks nothing has come of either of these adding to the fact Brandon estates will want options on the site it makes it very difficult. When Brandon Estates purchased the land with agreement with rugby council was a stay of execution for the bees and stox for 3 years and rugby council would enter them on a local plan but that's as far as they would go as there are no guarantees after that but it was on the condition that they support the bees. Where that leaves Brandon estates and that deal remains to be seen.

The stadium owners are willing to listen to offers but at a site with planning permission where the value of £1 million per acre would put a possiable price of £25 million on the site, however with no planning permission it unclear what the current value would be but a healthy profit on the 2.? They paid for it Brandon Estates were currently looking a 10-15 year plan for planning permission etc.

 

Mick was advised from Rugby council, Brandon estates and Sandhu not to say anything so that's why nothing was said over the winter.

 

Leicester- It looks like we with luck it may be for the season although the original deal is for 8 meetings as it was expected we would return to Brandon. part of the deal is that we must match there prices. Coach travel was mentioned and looking into a meet point of Brandon is going to be looked at by Mick so people don't have to pay parking in town and come back into town late on a Friday. A car share scheme will also be looked at to help fans get to Leicester, the season ticket is fantastic value and makes it cheaper than most championship clubs.

 

Sandhu has no input into Bees financially.

 

The question was asked if the BSPA had been in touch with Brandon estates as in like the Belle Vue situation, this has not happened but something that maybe looked into. Quite strange that this avenue had not been looked at when the BSPA got involved during the time when we had a deadline date a few weeks back.

 

Fans need to support the move, to give the club further life. The travelling of the fans was most important, a move to Birmingham would have also meant a mid week race night. Mick is very grateful to Leicester.

 

Future-

Rugby council are very supportive of a new stadium, they can give us land but if we find a suitable location they will do all they can to support, advice and grants. IF Brandon estates were to get planning permission they would have to enter into a section 106 where they set aside upto £1.5 million pounds to go towards a new sporting stadium. However we have had 3 years already and nothing's happened.

Mick for the good of the club would sell it to Sandhu or anybody who had the best interests and a plan for the club. Mick has taken on board the feedback to keep the fans more updated.

Councillor Stokes has been very supportive and continues to facilitate meetings and doing what he can.

 

The is also leaves the stox community in a mess.

 

Like the above post, you will get different stories from all parties and none will match.

Always said if Brandon Estates do get houses on the site (still doubtful) they'd have to put money towards a new site. Thing is I think if this was enforced it would only be within the Rugby Council area? Time for us fans to start looking as I don't think anyone else can be trusted.

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On a slightly worrying note. I was passing the stadium yesterday and saw that the doors to the hanger building, hanging off their hinges. I took a photo and wrote to the Bees website but have not received a response. I'm not sure who is responsible for / interested in stadium security currently.

Edited by False dawn
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Thought he said they'd sell now? Well he could buy it now then, he's full bull !

Thought the same!

 

 

The way I read it was that he'd have snapped his hand off at the 2M+ offer so maybe he couldn't afford it now as the price is far higher?

A glimmer of hope though as if they are actually willing to sell then a buyer must be found. Maybe a consortium, a group with a bit of vision that could put the stadium to good use with various other activities taking place throughout the year? If the council genuinely want the stadium to survive, could they attract a new owner with reduced rates and relaxed planning? Just a thought.

Why would the value of it gone up? The price of commercial building/land has dropped in recent years.

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Thought the same!

 

Why would the value of it gone up? The price of commercial building/land has dropped in recent years.

 

I was thinking that maybe the original offer of 2m+ was a bargain and because he didn't take the offer, the longer he waits the more it's going to cost? I'm not into commercial property/land dealing, maybe you can tell?

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The value of land is largely dependent on its future development potential. If recent events have increased the likelihood of the land being commercially developed then it will have increased in value.

Surely if Sandhu sold it after failing to develop it and now Brandon Estates are selling it's not likely to be built on or one of them would have managed it by now.

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On a slightly worrying note. I was passing the stadium yesterday and saw that the doors to the hanger building, hanging off their hinges. I took a photo and wrote to the Bees website but have not received a response. I'm not sure who is responsible for / interested in stadium security currently.

I think the answer to that is nobody. Even the security dog Hank has given up.

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