Coventry 2017

[CB252 1,376]

Having stood in the car park on March 10th and listened to the solicitor for Brandon Estates declare whom they hold entirely responsible for this sorry mess, I'll be pleasantly surprised if civil action is not forthcoming.

[foamfence 2,917]

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/speedway/fresh-hope-coventry-bees-police-13008211

 

 

To me that reads Sandhu did nothing wrong in removing what was his. Like a game of chess, next move ??

The report says that no offence was committed, So it looks like you're right.

Edited May 9, 2017 by foamfence

[full-throttle 182]

optimistic, was the word used when asked about the situation.

[abbo 229]

Crown Prosecuter decided that there would be no criminal prosecution i.e. No further action in respect of the criminal investigation by Warwickshire Police. Can't see why there would be civil proceedings particularly if there is to be no more Speedway or Stock cars at Brandon it's a shame Brandon Estates don't issue some sort of explanation of their intent with regard to the Stadium and land it occupies.

Edited May 10, 2017 by abbo

[Bee 26 426]

FORMER Coventry Bees owner Avtar Sandhu has released a public statement after Warwickshire Police dropped the Coventry Stadium ‘crime scene’ case earlier this week.

 

Coventry Racing Club were accused of criminal damage and theft following the removal of fixtures and fittings from Coventry Stadium – home of the Coventry Bees Speedway team and Coventry Stox.

 

It was claimed by stadium owners Brandon Estates that the subsequent investigation would take a year to complete, and that it was not clear what the future holds for Brandon Stadium while the investigation takes place.

 

However, now that the investigation is over, members of a campaign group fighting to save Coventry Bees and Coventry Stox are asking the question ‘Why?’ with regards to the return of motorsport at the popular facility.

 

Mr Sandhu’s statement read: “Earlier this year, Coventry Racing Club was accused of criminal damage and theft following the removal of fixtures and fittings from Coventry Stadium.

 

“The accusations were made by Howell and Company, solicitors acting for Brandon Estates and when they reported it to the police, they claimed the stadium was a ‘crime scene’.

 

“They claimed the subsequent police investigation would take the rest of this year to investigate and that as the stadium was a ‘crime scene’, there was no prospect of either speedway or stock car racing being staged at the stadium this year.

 

“The accusations resulted in immense damage to my family’s reputation. In the period since the accusations were made, I have endured enormous criticism from fans of both sports, and knowing the accusations would not be proven, I have maintained a dignified silence.

 

“Earlier this week, I was contacted by the investigating force, Warwickshire Police, who advised me the case was being dropped and there was ‘no case to answer’.

 

I and my team have been vindicated of any crime.

 

“I went to extraordinary lengths to strike a deal which would have resulted in both speedway and stock cars continuing at Brandon in 2017 and beyond and despite agreeing a deal on three separate occasions, on each of those occasions, the other party involved failed to sign a contract.

 

“I was left with no alternative but to remove the fixtures and fittings before we were required to vacate the stadium at the end of our period of lease.

 

“Having removed those fixtures and fittings, I still offered to return them and reinstall them, at my own cost, if an agreement could be reached.

 

“The offer was rejected and Brandon Estates chose instead, to go down the route of calling in the police.

 

“I am desperately disappointed, that despite my best efforts, we are in this situation with speedway and stock car fans deprived of enjoying their sports.

 

“The anger and distress this has caused to myself and my family makes me want to take action against the false allegations but it is not good for Speedway or Stox to prolong this dispute.

 

“For the sake of speedway and stox I have decided to sit back at this time to see if solutions can be found to get both sports back on track.

 

“I want to see a return of racing at Brandon Stadium for a period of time, whilst Brandon Estates pursue their planning application.

 

“I am prepared to work with them in bringing that about whilst simultaneously working with both Rugby and Coventry Councils to find suitable land and gain their support for a planning application that would result in a longer term replacement stadium.

 

“I am committed to bringing both sports back to the Coventry / Rugby area and urge all parties involved to work together to achieve that goal.”

[Coventry_Bee 467]

Let's hope we get somewhere now, buy the Bees back !!

Edited May 11, 2017 by Coventry_Bee

[dj350z 2,266]

It was obvious from the very start that police were not going to get involved with a civil matter like this.Stalemate again!

[False dawn 2,298]

It is increasingly clear that the key stumbling block to getting an agreement was the subletting of the stadium to run stox. Had Coventry Racing Club been a customer of Brandon Estates and not of a "third party", would any of this happened? We could have had stox coexisting with speedway (as we have had for many years) both customers of Brandon Estates.

The prospect of civil action now (which was always going to be the case from day 1) is worrying in the extreme. It has taken half a year for the police to decide this is a civil matter. How long will this drag on through the courts?

The only note of optimism is the attendance of Mr Sandhu at one of the Save Coventry Speedway committee meetings. This doesn't bring together Mr Sandhu with either of the other two key players but at least he is still talking.

We await the promised statement from The Save Coventry Speedway group with interest.

[Woz01 3,589]

Nice of Sandhu coming out and confirming that he still has intentions of getting both sport back in Coventry. What we need as fans is the truth as to why we find ourselves in this position. So many rumours and claims around it's difficult for fans to believe any of it. Get around the table sort your differences and lets get back racing in 2018 with a vision for the future whether that future be at Brandon or elsewhere.

Edited May 11, 2017 by woz01

[Coventry_Bee 467]

You are right they do all need to sit down and sort this sorry mess out. Like it or not they all need each other, we need Brandon estates to let us in, Brandon estates need the council and the council are desperate to keep speedway and stox going.

 

If it was say a 5-8 year plan, we stay at Brandon whilst planning is looked at and fine details with rugby borough council, in this time surly a location that suits can be found and built. Brandon estates get income from the site and we get our sports back. The only problem is the locals, they still rightly so oppose the idea of houses and the lack of infrastructure to sustain the amount on houses spoken about.

 

Mr Sandhu has rightly so come out of this with no charges, Brandon Estates have been let off in my view as he would be more within his rights to be upset at what he and his family have had to listen and read on this saga, same goes for Jeremy Heaver. The statement he put out still points at the fact of unsigned deals. Deals agreed too and we know who is responsible and I don't think Sandhu and Heaver will forget in a hurry either. The bees needs to be back in the control of Sandhu, along with the stox so there is no third party playing games. The committee group has a long term aim and I think whoever takes over the bees the committee should stay in place as the figures on board have the very best interest of Coventry speedway and stox at heart.

 

It's far from sorted but something Brandon Estates were sure to take so long has been thrown out maybe 7 months earlier than they imagined, still no word from them either not that I expected them to. They are the silent assassins quick enough to speak with the telegraph when it suited. Sandhu is ready to put it to one side and re-enter discussions, will they be willing? The least they can do in my opinion.

[Woz01 3,589]

Will Brandon Estates negotiate with Sandhu now, I hope so.

[False dawn 2,298]

The worrying fact is that stox at Brandon make money, but speedway does not. Mr Sandhu ran speedway because he loved it, he ran stox because it made money. He ran both because together they made sense. He doesn't have the right to run speedway anymore (I assume he sold that to Mick Horton for £200K).

We need everyone to come to the party.

[speedibee 3,091]

The worrying fact is that stox at Brandon make money, but speedway does not. Mr Sandhu ran speedway because he loved it, he ran stox because it made money. He ran both because together they made sense. He doesn't have the right to run speedway anymore (I assume he sold that to Mick Horton for £200K).

We need everyone to come to the party.

I can see why Sandhu wants to get his snout back in the trough , but he is now the biggest obstacle to getting back into Brandon , as you say Stox are profitable so getting someone to promote it at its spiritual home is no problem , Sandhu spat his dummy and stole the lights and seats in yet another childish tantrum , but now he wants back in ,you have to question why , if he really loved speedway and Stox why did he sell the place in the first place , brandon estates offered to sell it for what they paid ,so if he is genuine all he has to do is buy the place back , I have read his press release and IMHO i have never read a bigger load of BullShyt in my life , why would he think Brandon estates would want his help to deal with planning permission , they don't even want to talk to him , and he was hardly succesful at seeing through planning permission for himself otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation because brandon would have been built on by the speedway lover himself 5 years ago, he promised to leave no stone unturned in the search for a new home , can you recall a single thing he did about it ? or a single site he actually made any effort to look at ? if he will keep his nose out , a new stox promoter and Horton can thrash out a deal which will see the stadium up and running again , with him Brandon Estates wont even talk about it , next move forward IMHO tell Sandhu to butt out and get talking to brandon estates , I dont mind standing up and watching speedway in the daytime until the money is found for lights and seats

Will Brandon Estates negotiate with Sandhu now, I hope so.

what has changed that would make them negotiate with Sandhu anymore than they would have last month ?

[False dawn 2,298]

..... if he will keep his nose out , a new stox promoter and Horton can thrash out a deal which will see the stadium up and running again.....

You may be 100% in your analysis.

Unfortunately, I believe Mr Sandhu owns the rights to stox just as Mick Horton owns the rights to speedway (bought for £200K?). If you want to see an agreement forged without Mr Sandhu, you need someone to buy his stox rights. That could be worth a pretty penny.

[Coventry_Bee 467]

Who on earth would want Horton anywhere near the speedway, I'd imagine if you asked riders over the past 10 years who was the better owner, I'd take a good guess who the clear favourite would be.

 

It was well documented it wasn't Sandhu who sold Brandon, it's also been very clear from the police that Sandhu did not run off with lights and shale but took what was his. Facts are facts and the truth is we have no idea what talks are on going regarding a new location or going back to Brandon. Far too much unpleasant feeling has been made public and all of it should have been done behind closed doors.

 

 

Brandon Estates should have just struck the same deal with Sandhu as they had for the 2016 season.

 

 

The quote below from Sandhu's statement makes me think he is giving Brandon Estates the opportunity to try and meet half way or at some point and if no solution is attempted then he might think again. Might be reading too much in to it but he and his family have took a battering.

 

 

"For the sake of speedway and stox I have decided to sit back at this time to see if solutions can be found to get both sports back on track."

Edited May 11, 2017 by Coventry_Bee