Coventry RFC new era
By John Wilkinson, Coventry Telegraph
January 28 2010
NEW-look Coventry are working hard to overcome challenges to a secure and prosperous future both on and off the rugby field. While the playing arm concentrates on preserving Cov’s place in the second tier of English rugby, a committed board of directors has the job of winning back the support and confidence of the city to ensure that the Championship club can go forward as a viable proposition.
January 28 2010
NEW-look Coventry are working hard to overcome challenges to a secure and prosperous future both on and off the rugby field. While the playing arm concentrates on preserving Cov’s place in the second tier of English rugby, a committed board of directors has the job of winning back the support and confidence of the city to ensure that the Championship club can go forward as a viable proposition.
Their task is to overcome the legacy of a decade and a half of single ownership which, coinciding with the growth of the professional game, plunged the club – founded in 1874 and once the jewel in England’s crown – into administration on three separate occasions and twice in the last 18 months.
It took swift action from the people now charged with leading the recovery to save the day when previous owner Andrew Green attempted to put the club into liquidation at the start of December.
And, having succeeded in attracting a philanthropic investment from Dorset-based businessman Jon Bowles to allow the club to come out of administration, they are now addressing the need for further investment from the local business community.
“The first battle was won, but the hard work is only just beginning,” said club president Peter Rossborough, the former Coventry and England full-back who is one of nine members of the new Coventry RFC board.
“The club almost paid the ultimate price for mistakes of the past and we have to make sure that it never happens again.
“The new board aim to make sure that no one person can again have sole power over major decisions, and also ensure that development plans off and on the field are both realistic and achievable.
“We have to stabilise the finances of the club so that there is a firm foundation for the future, and to do that we need to have the city behind us as a whole.
“It is time to draw a line under the past and we need to return to the old values that made the club so great.”
Board members will address an open meeting which all supporters and interested parties are invited to attend at the Butts Park Arena next Monday, February 1 (6pm for 6.30pm).
Who's Who
PETER ROSSBOROUGH: A former captain of Coventry, he played close to 400 games for the club and won seven England caps. He went on to coach at England A level and guided England to a World Cup Sevens title. Rossborough was headmaster of Ashlawn School, Rugby, for 21 years before retiring last year.
JOHN MAGUIRE: Maguire studied construction management at Sheffield Hallam University prior to managing and owning a successful Coventry-based construction business. Co-founder of The Centurions club back in Cov’s days at Coundon Road.
ANDREW CARPENTER: Carpenter’s first memories of Cov go back to the 60s when he watched George Cole kick goals despite wearing shorts which covered his knees. A qualified chartered secretary, he has spent 25 years in the motor industry and now works for Jaguar Land Rover.
BOB CURTIS: Born and bred in the area, Curtis has been successful in the wholesale industry. Was one of those responsible for the formation of the original Centurions club at Coundon Road.
CHRIS GREGORY: He has over 20 years of corporate finance experience, and is a founding partner of Orbis Partners LLP and a former partner at Deloitte in Birmingham. Has completed over 200 deals in the last 20 years in which he has acted as lead adviser.
NICK NEWBOLD: Coventry born and bred, Newbold is managing director of HIA International, a successful insurance broker. He played rugby for Old Wheatleyans for over 25 years and is a big supporter of all sports
JIM ASHBY: Born in Coundon, he was an apprentice metallurgist at Jaguar after which joined Standard Triumph. Then emigrated to the United States where he became vice-president of a large precision foundry. Returning to Coventry, he started a new company supplying material testing equipment to laboratories.
MIKE THOMSON: Thomson pursued his early career working in the automotive industry. He began in purchasing at Jaguar before a career that culminated in his appointment as global vice-president of sales for a $6.5 billion turnover company. Moving from the automotive world, Thomson is now managing partner of his own investment company.
BARRY ROBINSON: A real Coventry kid who took up accountancy. Started with the local firm Daffern & Co and has worked for leading businesses, including GEC and IBM. Recently he has worked within an industrial group.
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Stumbleupon| 28 Jan, 2010 22:21 | Report |
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Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged) Unregistered User |
Coventry RFC new era
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:07:10:22:54 by Laugh Out Loud.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:07:10:22:54 by Laugh Out Loud.
Reply•Quote
| 28 Jan, 2010 23:57 | Report |
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covkid53 (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Jul, 2008 Location: Posts: 370 |
Re: Coventry RFC new era
it is essential we have local people involved in the club. I have said it before, our history means nothing to anyone but ourselves.
We try and use this history in wider circles to gain support or sympathy, but after the second or third time of asking it just doesnt cut the mustard.
When I see the list of people I have to say that I feel it is about time too.
maintaining our position is very important, the premiership is not. there is a lot of financial problems boiling up and I think there will be other clubs in worse trouble than we are, on the way.
Thanks Peter, keep up the good work.
We try and use this history in wider circles to gain support or sympathy, but after the second or third time of asking it just doesnt cut the mustard.
When I see the list of people I have to say that I feel it is about time too.
maintaining our position is very important, the premiership is not. there is a lot of financial problems boiling up and I think there will be other clubs in worse trouble than we are, on the way.
Thanks Peter, keep up the good work.
Reply•Quote
| 29 Jan, 2010 07:54 | Report |
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Nige H (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Apr, 2007 Location: Posts: 1020 |
| 29 Jan, 2010 15:17 | Report |
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toby mcknight (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Dec, 2009 Location: Posts: 73 |
Re: Coventry RFC new era
Pity didn't they consider a bit more openess when Green was using them to con everbody! Remains to be seen about openeness. Inside gets it spot on with his post. Without having elected officials it will never be considered open. Im just gonna support Aggy and the team, and keep a very open mind about the rest.
Reply•Quote
| 29 Jan, 2010 21:58 | Report |
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nimrod (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Dec, 2009 Location: Posts: 95 |
Re: Coventry RFC new era
Fully agree Toby. Hope you get back OK. I had another listen to the Ruck n Maul recording of last week.
It was interesting to listen to "Pierre" Rossborough. He was saying that they intend to pledge, charge or offer the "Leases" (that they haven't got) as collateral against loans, or soft loans or fund raising.
It would appear that if that's the Board's intention, then we would be mortgaging our assets against these loan monies, which are going to be used to fund our week to week trading losses (currently £60K per month).
Clearly this would be extremely dangerous and risky, Of course there is nothing wrong with borrowing to cover the highs and lows of cash flow and overdraft, however, to borrow to fund trading losses is surely a recipe for disaster. Please can this be claarified at Monday's meeting by "Pierre", as it was his quote that put this matter in the public domain.
I am unable to attend, otherwise I would ask the question myself. Meanwhile lets hope for a win on Saturday. They can do it!!
It was interesting to listen to "Pierre" Rossborough. He was saying that they intend to pledge, charge or offer the "Leases" (that they haven't got) as collateral against loans, or soft loans or fund raising.
It would appear that if that's the Board's intention, then we would be mortgaging our assets against these loan monies, which are going to be used to fund our week to week trading losses (currently £60K per month).
Clearly this would be extremely dangerous and risky, Of course there is nothing wrong with borrowing to cover the highs and lows of cash flow and overdraft, however, to borrow to fund trading losses is surely a recipe for disaster. Please can this be claarified at Monday's meeting by "Pierre", as it was his quote that put this matter in the public domain.
I am unable to attend, otherwise I would ask the question myself. Meanwhile lets hope for a win on Saturday. They can do it!!
Reply•Quote
| 30 Jan, 2010 00:47 | Report |
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Cov in Somerset (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Apr, 2007 Location: Posts: 54 |
| 30 Jan, 2010 02:26 | Report |
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Cov in Somerset (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Apr, 2007 Location: Posts: 54 |
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