" Thursday 16th December 2010 Update "

I, along with Annis, Clive ( ridofrid ) and Gwyn, attended a meeting tonight with Steve Borley to discuss plans for the initiative that has been set up by this forum in raising funds for our development centres which feed our Academy. We were shown around the House of Sport by Steve and I must say he has done a magnificent job in bringing it to reality. Steve Borley spent £2million of his own money to build the house of sport and it was vital for us to maintain academy status.

In March next year there is to be a tournament run by the Malaysians and will become an annual event at the House of Sport.

It costs CCFC £700k per year to run the academy and they receive only £160k from the Premier League as a subsidy.

Steve highlighted to us that Football in the Community have had their funding slashed this season and the initiative that we are setting up as come at the very right time. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27677

Steve informed us of plans to set up a tournament where companies will sponsor a team to enter and all proceeds will be passed down to the development centres, this will mean thousands of pounds.

The first team have been using the facilities there during the recent bad weather, at least if things ever turn sour at the vale, as it's run very much by the WRU, our first team still have excellent facilities. At the vale the WRU have first option on the indoor pitch over us.

Newport County even used the facilities today.

Training at the club this week has been focusing on defence and Chris Riggott has played a big part in the '1st' team but I understand he has been struggling with the pace of the sessions, for me this goes back to not having a reserve side as it would give players like Chris the opportunity to get up to speed and not in the focus of possibly being thrown into the 1st team because of results.

Craig Bellamy has been a much calmer influence around the training ground and the atmosphere amongst the squad has been better. The players know they have to get results to put a stop to a terrible run of results and stop this campaign turning into a disaster.

For the Watford game on the 28th we have been alloacated 2300 and so far just over 2100 have been sold. There will be no more tickets requested as the club are aware already that no more would be released. We actually lose 10% of our allocation for our persistent standing at games.

Leeds tickets are selling very well and fast so I am asked to urge fans to buy early and do not leave it until after Christmas or the new year as you may be left disappointed.

At the Portsmouth game earlier this season there was an incident which resulted in City fans being arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in a fracas. This week a group of fans were charged but refused to sign the paperwork that would have meant they were agreeing to being banned from future games until they appear in court. The fans were asked to sign the paperwork and enter into an agreement that would stop them going to the games but on the grounds of their liberty and human rights they refused to sign and as a result this particular group are able to attend games at CCS until their court case decides their fate.

As already reported on here and I have since had conversations which confirm it, DJ's agent has been responsible for his name being linked with jobs at Blackburn and a while ago with West Ham and Fulham.

Wayne Routledge is a target of DJ's and the club made contact with Newcastle but with Alan Pardew going there it is unlikely that we will see Routs down at CCS this January. A player that DJ is also interested in is winger Adam Hammill at Barnsley.

It is my understanding that the Welsh FA made a terrible mistake financially when they appointed Gary Speed as the new Welsh manager, as they paid £500k compensation for him and I have had it on good authority that Sheff Utd were already on the look out for a new manager to replace Speed in January as they were dismissing him. Robbie Savage has contacted Speed and already told him he is available to play.

PMG have entered negotiations with the WRU in CCS holding further rugby events, similar to the game the Gwent Dragons played there last week. I am aware that it costs £20,000 to rent the CCS for a one off match plus the cost of the staff. The Millenium Stadium costs in the region of £200,000 including staff for a one off match.

There has been much speculation recently regarding Dave Jones' future and also the length of stay of the Malaysians. Firstly where Dave Jones is concerned he is under pressure to succeed and this came at the start of the season with the players he signed but in recent weeks he has been told by none other that Vincent Tan that the results must be turned around. Yes Dave Jones has to get results in the next 2 games or " the pressure will really be on " I am told.

The Malaysians or being more specific Vincent Tan is not ready to up and leave if things don't work out to go as planned this season, Tan is a businessman and he wants positive results from a business point of view but those who believe he has had enough and is ready to get out and take his money too, are I am glad to say, wrong. For Vincent Tan has made a massive investment recently ( which will come out soon ) which further backs the claim that he is sticking around for a little while yet.

I am told there is a 3 year plan by Tan and in that time he wants and expects this club to be in the Premiership, which starts with and includes this season. Vincent Tan has put well over £15 million to the cause and has know upped his investment significantly with this further investment. Furthermore, Tan has 2 of his children in private education here, one in Brecon and one in Loughborough.

Sam Hammam is in London and has been for a couple days and flies out tomorrow morning and as yet no deal has been agreed between the club and Langston. Sam is disappointed that it is not settled already and also that they are not even close to a deal at present because there are no talks ongoing. It is looking increasingly likely that no deal will be reached before the end of the year and that is unfortunate news for the club as the opportunity to reduce the debt will be lost. Is Vincent Tan letting it go to the wire in an attempt to reduce the debt further, I guess we will have to wait and see but whatever happens we won't be waiting long.

As I said before during a recent meeting VT said ( regarding DJ's position ) he did not want to "rock the boat ". I am not saying he will not sack DJ but I am told that DJ has got his backing but has been told that he has to turn these results around in no uncertain terms. Let's be honest and up front Tan is a businessman and not a football fan. His son U-juin however has become a big fan of CCFC and loves the place.

DJ knows he has to sort the defence out and he wants a centre half in desperately, but he has been told that players have to be moved on also. Rae, Jarvis, Wildig ( who has bulked up considerably this season ) will all be at least loaned out this January.

It is imperative that we get behind the team and help lift this group back to winning ways, lets not be downbeat, we are second, we are progressing and we are going into a very busy period where with the right results we can set ourselves up for the new year.

Vincent Tans massive investment? Sounds interesting

Cheers Carl

Very positive news

And so many of you were getting worried

Thanks Carl

Last edited by tylerdurdenisabluebird on Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Cheers Carl

bout time carl

Another great article Carl - fantastic to hear VT is still committed and continues to invest, what would we do without him? The news on DJ backs up what I have heard, two wins from the next two games or he will be packing his bags! I was told by a member of staff that training has been poor this week and morale is poor! Did you find out whether rumours of us lining up in a 352 formation on Saturday are correct? I hope theyre not, think that could be disastrous!!

I was one of them who Believed that VT would leave if We dont go up This Season, He has a 3 year plan

cheers carl, does this massive investment mean that even if were not in the top 2 now, we'll still get funds in january?

Diolch yn fawr iawn Carl!!

No Langston deal.Something fishy there.
Maybe Vt has found a way of not paying a penny.

Cheers Carl.

a good update......nice one carl

Great update carl. thanks for taking the time to keep us updated

Massive Investment....does this mean there is definitely money to spend in January or is this still dependant on league position??

As for sorting out the defence, we need a minimum of x2 players - CB and LB please!

Thanks for the update....great news on the 3 year plan

Last edited by Mr Blue Blood on Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Nice one Carl as I thought tan going nowhere - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28921&p=270487&hilit=+going+nowhere#p270487
time to front up now players and manager - let's have some fight.

The House of Sport is very very impressive and we owe Steve Borley a debt of gratitude for the hard work, money and time that he put into this project. This facility is up there with the best in the land and Steve did it in 14 weeks. If parents of promising young players see this facility then they will see the club is professional and serious in bringing the best out of our local talent.

The build up out did the update this time for me.

Great news all round

No Langston deal.Something fishy there.
Maybe Vt has found a way of not paying a penny.

Loopholes

nice read carl cheers, well worth the wait

Carl, .........................why do I get the feeling you're holding something back ...seriously though, (please excuse my ignorance, but why don't they just pay Sam what he's asking, or do they have a trick up their sleeve? )
Cracking update as usual ..

thanks carl.. good to have some great news, sick of hearing negative crap, hearsay and rumours..

thanx carl

Very positive update mate, thank you.

Shouldn't laugh really, but the news about the FAW so funny.

Good news that Bellamy as been a calming influence in training this week I still think Bellamy will come good and will help lead our team to promotion. Also good news that the Malaysians have a three year plan and have no intention of pulling out we need to all get behind them and banish all the negativity as there is no alternative. So starting against Burnley let's all get behind the team and the Manager and hopefully spur them onto 3 points which could be the start of our revival.

great update as usual carl

what i like to hear about is the quality of players we're looking at

what do you think the chances of us actually getting hammil? he is a quality player

Personally I hope the Langston debts get paid tomorrow. That would be a big lift for the club knowing the debt has finally gone.

Fantastic news, happy about Wildig and Jarvis

What a load of bollocks.
Not what Carl has written but
The fact that VT has a 3 year plan.
How?
If he doesn't reach an agreement with Langston or pay them £10 million,
The debt goes up to £24 million on 1/01/11.

I don't buy it and I must same I'm concerned for the future of The City