AHEAD OF THE GAME: Mike Ashley lays ground work for cut-price bid for Coventry City after being named as preferred bidder for their stadium... while senior FA staff prepare for self-imposed lockdown before World Cup Ex-Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is the preferred bidder for Coventry's stadium The Coventry Building Society Arena could see Ashley buy the club on the cheap If he was the stadium's landlord, he would be in a strong position to buy the club By MATT HUGHES FOR THE DAILY MAIL PUBLISHED: 22:30, 4 November 2022 | UPDATED: 23:36, 4 November 2022 Mike Ashley is planning a deal to buy Coventry City on the cheap after being named as the preferred bidder for their ground, the Coventry Building Society Arena, on Friday. The former Newcastle United owner is ready to do a deal that will enable the Sky Blues to continue playing at the troubled stadium, but as the landlord he will have a significant element of control over Coventry's commercial activities, putting him in a strong position to negotiate a future purchase of the Championship club at a knockdown rate. With a hotel, casino and conference centre on site, the CBS Arena is a profitable business already, while Ashley is also in talks with Coventry City Council about adding another hotel and car park. Ashley's move to snap up the CBS Arena follows his failed takeover bid at Derby County earlier this year, in which he entered protracted talks to buy the club without securing the stadium. please log in to view this image +4 View gallery Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is interested in purchasing Coventry City please log in to view this image +4 View gallery Ashley was named on Friday as the preferred bidder for the stadium and that could facilitate a future move to go ahead and purchase the Championship side if he becomes the landlord
They’ve now being made aware that its retail partner Elite Sports Group have entered administration. Not having much luck. https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2022/no...iscussions-regarding-club-shop--online-store/
The bloke may look a bit daft but he's a genius when it comes to business. He'll get Coventry up on their feet using a fraction of the profit he got from selling the mags and then sell Coventry on for a profit. He doesn't give a **** about football, but he knows a good business opportunity when he sees one
Do you reckon that's possible with Coventry? Profits in football are rare, Coventry aren't exactly a big name are they?
He'll buy them for pennies, if not, for free. He has the stadium which is a multi-million pound asset. Keep them in the division, invest a week bit to get them stable. Sell the club with the stadium and take a profit
I tell myself there isn't a profit in football, just a way to chuck money away. But what you describe is very similar to what those two clowns did with our club. Ashley was fortunate with the Mags, he ran them very well so wasn't really losing money anyway but he happened to be actively selling and probably the biggest club in the Premier league who was actively for sale at the time some Arabs with more money than sense were looking to conduct some big money (small money for them) sportswashing. Lets face it if the Saudis weren't trying to buy an image he would still be holding out for his profit with the Mags. I'm reckon plenty have enquired and baulked at the price previously.
Mike Ashley was more than fortunate - on his watch they instigated a model whereby they recruit young lads from France and sell them on for big sums. Cabaye, Sissoko, Cisse etc etc. It didn't all just fall in his lap, he had a strategy - unfortunately those poor bairns up the road couldn't stand to see the Barcelona of the North finishing 13th every year and started protesting
No I don't mean in his running of the club. Should be lauded as one of the greatest football chairman going imo run them very well as you say above. Unfortunately the media all bought in to the Mag propaganda machine of we should be competing for trophies and signings with the top 4 every season it's what we are used to, what we deserve and what we are about! Biggest load of ****e ever! I mean he is fortunate that someone come along who wanted to spend a boat load of cash to buy them and then build facilities and buy players etc... Imo they weren't exactly an attractive buy for anyone wanting to come along and run the club to break even or even a make a profit it was always going to be someone wanting to buy success and able to chuck billion or so at a football club. We have seen 2 owners capable of that in the last 30 years so was always going to be fortunate for the circumstances to be right for another one to come along and buy from him?
Yeah fair enough. They were a perfect opportunity for sportswashing, that's all. A stadium that's falling apart (after the cry babies protested against a new build), a training ground that is no better than a council sports centre and a trophy room that has an empty cabinet, a certificate on the wall and a black and white carpet as it's only saleable assets. No real investor would have been interested and whilst these allegedly murdering saudis are happy to throw money at the club to further their own image, there's no real chance of success. The top 6 aren't simply going to lie down and accept it. Guarantee that the likes of "bruno" and the Swedish striker will be away to bugger clubs at the first whiff of interest.......
Aye this. I think without that lot wanting to sportwash Bruce would have seen them relegated. Ashley then potentially sells to break even or a small loss. One thing you forgot about sportswashing is the mags dillusion that they deserve to be winning leagues means they were more accepting of the sportswashing. And accepting of it is underpaying it they were wearing tea towels man and waving Saudi Flags man!
Genius! Mike Ashley has evicted them from the stadium. Ruthless ****er. They'll either sell to him for pennies now, or find a way to pay **** loads of rent. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63858805
They'll come out of this unscathed, they always do, how they've not been docked points etc over the years in beyond me. Jimmy hill still working his magic beyond the grave.
