Ray Stadia 1,071 Posted January 4, 2023 19 minutes ago, Deano said: same guy? https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/6ZD_el_iJwOR-sVHMGXhnVfJjCg/appointments Looks like it, both born October 1967! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted January 4, 2023 9 hours ago, RoundTheBoards said: You're correct. The Ochiltree family (Midland Sports Stadiums Ltd) owned Brandon and Blackbird Road. They sold Leicester to Barratts for housing in 1984. They sold Coventry Stadium to Avtar Sandhu (Coventry Stadium Ltd/ Coventry Greyhounds Club Ltd / Coventry Racing Club Ltd) in 2002 Around 2013 there were rumours that Coventry City FC were buying the stadium, but also HMRC put a block on Sandhu selling the stadium as they claimed Sandhu bought it with the help of a criminal business partner who had been convicted of money laundering and organised crime. Sandhu eventually sold the stadium in 2016 to a Jersey company Brandon Estates Ltd. (I have no idea who is behind Brandon Estates Ltd - someone must know) Mick Horton was trying to lease the stadium for Speedway from them to continue in 2017. I think Sandhu tried to lease back the running of Greyhounds too. This fell through and Sandhu apparently broke into the stadium and allegedly stole fixtures and fittings. Brandon Estates Ltd contacted the police and claimed no one could now run Speedway or Greyhounds at their stadium as it was an active crime scene. That's how I remember it. I don’t think the CO was more than a director of MSS at the time that Blackbird Road was sold, ie he didn’t own MSS, that was the Sandersons. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naffer 442 Posted January 5, 2023 14 hours ago, Midland Red said: I don’t think the CO was more than a director of MSS at the time that Blackbird Road was sold, ie he didn’t own MSS, that was the Sandersons. That’s 100% correct. Anyways Happy new year up the Bees Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert Handbag 10 Posted January 5, 2023 If John Downer is behind this (and I stand to be corrected) he seems to be local to Coventry, based in Solihull - according to public record at Companies House. If it is the same John Downer, here is an article about him https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Risk+taking+is+necessary+for+anyone+hoping+to+be+successful+in...-a076840456 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted January 5, 2023 19 hours ago, Midland Red said: I don’t think the CO was more than a director of MSS at the time that Blackbird Road was sold, ie he didn’t own MSS, that was the Sandersons. ...still rankled with then Leicester Promoter, Martin Rogers, as Ochiltree was regarded as the "figurehead" and suffered with a lack of communication as regards the sudden closure of Blackbird Road. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Stadia 1,071 Posted January 5, 2023 3 hours ago, Gert Handbag said: If John Downer is behind this (and I stand to be corrected) he seems to be local to Coventry, based in Solihull - according to public record at Companies House. If it is the same John Downer, here is an article about him https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Risk+taking+is+necessary+for+anyone+hoping+to+be+successful+in...-a076840456 I think the Companies House listing, says John Downer is a 25% beneficial owner (not sure what beneficial owner is, unless it's another term for shareholder), so I wonder who the remaining 75% are? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1 valve 558 Posted January 6, 2023 On 1/5/2023 at 4:49 PM, Ray Stadia said: I think the Companies House listing, says John Downer is a 25% beneficial owner (not sure what beneficial owner is, unless it's another term for shareholder), so I wonder who the remaining 75% are? A beneficial owner is a person who enjoys the benefits of ownership even though the title to some form of property is in another name. It also means any individual or group of individuals who, either directly or indirectly, has the power to vote or influence the transaction decisions usually by owning 25% or more of voting rights related shares. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Stadia 1,071 Posted January 6, 2023 1 hour ago, 1 valve said: A beneficial owner is a person who enjoys the benefits of ownership even though the title to some form of property is in another name. It also means any individual or group of individuals who, either directly or indirectly, has the power to vote or influence the transaction decisions usually by owning 25% or more of voting rights related shares. Following your posting (1 valve), carrying out a bit of research myself, it seems to relate to overseas entities and as Brandon Estates is Jersey based, beneficial owners are important for money laundering purposes and probably HMRC as well. I would say John Downer simply owns 25%, which is significant, but I would say he doesn't control the company. Being an offshore enity, I'm sure it makes Brandon Estates more of a tangled web! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Speedtiger 327 Posted January 6, 2023 When you see the depressed financial state of British speedway I would think the last thing on Brandon Estates agenda is developing a speedway/sports stadium!! The fact is property developers are purely looking a maximising the profit on investment and speedway just doesn’t stack up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deano 1,318 Posted January 6, 2023 (edited) On 1/5/2023 at 1:24 PM, Gert Handbag said: If John Downer is behind this (and I stand to be corrected) he seems to be local to Coventry, based in Solihull - according to public record at Companies House. If it is the same John Downer, here is an article about him https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Risk+taking+is+necessary+for+anyone+hoping+to+be+successful+in...-a076840456 https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03308648/officers Definitely the same guy, that company in the article is in administration... and guess who is the director. Edited January 6, 2023 by Deano 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamondboy 677 Posted January 6, 2023 10 minutes ago, Deano said: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03308648/officers Definitely the same guy, that company in the article is in administration... and guess who is the director. The biggest criminals are the administrators, look at their charges in the report. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deano 1,318 Posted January 6, 2023 1 minute ago, Diamondboy said: The biggest criminals are the administrators, look at their charges in the report. I know 67!!! Have you google mapped his business address? He's certainly done alright in life if it's his. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pauljb 16 Posted April 27, 2023 Just read a report on Coventry live about another incursion at brandon, apparently about 30 caravans turned up on tuesday and are currently sat on the car park. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Stadia 1,071 Posted April 27, 2023 3 hours ago, pauljb said: Just read a report on Coventry live about another incursion at brandon, apparently about 30 caravans turned up on tuesday and are currently sat on the car park. And we have to say 'travellers' now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris116 756 Posted April 27, 2023 23 minutes ago, Ray Stadia said: And we have to say 'travellers' now! Perhaps they could travel somewhere else and park legally for once! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
