New twist in Ricoh battle
COVENTRY City owners Sisu have been refused permission to appeal the decision of top judges not to allow a judicial review into the sale of the Ricoh Arena.
Sisu-related companies were back before the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision and try and get the case in front of the Supreme Court - the highest court in the land.
But Sir Brian Leveson, President of the Queen’s Bench Division, Lord Justice McCombe and Lord Justice Irwin threw out the application at the Court of Appeal in London today.
It may still not be the end of the long-running legal battle though.
Sisu now has the opportunity to go directly to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal.
Sisu has been contacted for a comment but has so far not responded to requests from the Telegraph for information.
Responding to the news, Cllr George Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council and Cllr Gary Ridley, Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party at Coventry City Council called once again for the legal process to end.
In a joint statement they said: “We hope that this will be the last stage of the litigation and that Sisu will accept this as the end of all legal action so that further unnecessary costs are avoided for all parties involved.”
Friday’s judgement was the second time lawyers for Sisu had their calls for a judicial review dismissed by judges.
Back in 2017, Lord Justice Singh threw out the case, saying the council had obtained an independent value for the Ricoh.
And Lord Justice McCombe dismissed the appeal again on Friday, October 12, saying the Sky Blue’s case “was based essentially on a comparison between ‘apples and pears.’”
It all boils down to the sale of the stadium to Wasps Rugby Club in 2014.
Sisu says the Ricoh was undervalued by around £30m by the council.
The deal saw the rugby club granted a 250-year lease on the stadium, which lawyers for Sisu argued had greatly increased the firm’s value.
They said this meant they had been disadvantaged in buying the Ricoh on similar terms, and so fought for a judicial review. Council leaders have previously called on Sisu not to “play Russian roulette” with the club’s future and end the longrunning legal battle.
At the moment, Coventry City will be homeless at the end of the season when a one-year agreement for them to play at the Ricoh Ends.
Sky Blues’ Chairman Tim Fisher previously said he hoped negotiations to play at the Ricoh would start soon and that the scenario was “plan A”, adding that “there has never been anything other than plan A”.
Mr Fisher did seem to contradict that by also telling Sky Sports that “there will always be a plan B and a plan C”.
Leader of the council, George Duggins, said earlier this week that the club risked alienating important partners in the city. Wasps has previously said it will not enter into discussions with the club over playing at the stadium while legal action continues.