Cowling vs Sir Bob - war of words between U's owner and MP (From Gazette)
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Row between MP and Colchester United boss
2:19pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By James Cox
A WAR of words has erupted between MP Sir Bob Russell and Colchester United owner, Robbie Cowling.
Sir Bob sparked a heated exchange during a radio interview in which he blamed Mr Cowling for some of the club's troubles and criticised him for not allowing live match commentary on BBC Essex.
Mr Cowling, who recently dismissed U's manager John Ward, responded with a statement on the football club's official site.
Mr Cowling said:
"A few years ago, Bob Russell decided to take a swipe at the way I ran Colchester United and claimed it was just a play thing that I would soon get fed up with and that I was only interested in prawn sandwich eating corporate fans.
"Interestingly, I established at that time that Bob was only attending games if he was receiving a free invite into a prawn sandwich-filled corporate box, and once he was outed as freeloading, prawn sandwich-eating fairweather fan, he stopped coming to games altogether.
"In the meantime, I got on with running the club during four of the most successful seasons in the club's history in terms of league position and Bob found other sources of free lunches.
"Little did I know that he was biding his time so that, after four successful seasons, he could spout a load more nonsense the very first time that Colchester United hit a bad run. So let’s dissect his nonsense.
"In the club’s promotion season from the Conference it averaged 3,381 fans a game and so far this season we have averaged 3,525.
"The following list details the average attendances for the past 28 years and although our gates are currently down by 9 per cent compared to last season, League One gates to date this season are down 10 per cent overall by comparison to last year, so we are very slightly bucking the trend.
SEASON AVERAGE
1984/85 2,225
1985/86 2,253
1986/87 2,753
1987/88 1,776
1988/89 2,871
1989/90 3,139
1990/91 3,196
1991/92 3,381
1992/93 3,768
1993/94 2,833
1994/95 3,201
1995/96 3,299
1996/97 3,422
1997/98 3,267
1998/99 4,303
1999/2000 3,801
2000/01 3,466
2001/02 3,705
2002/03 3,367
2003/04 3,730
2004/05 3,481
2005/06 3,843
2006/07 5,466
2007/08 5,446
2008/09 5,096
2009/10 5,530
2010/11 4,247
2011/12 3,817
"Bob does not have a clue what the break-even point for the Weston Homes Community Stadium is and how could he, because he doesn't have a clue about running a football club."
"Bob is so unfamiliar with Colchester United's recent history that he is unaware that the club’s best ever season was when we finished 10th in the Championship and that was the season after I bought the club...
"Three years after buying the club I honoured the sales contract and offered an agreed price for the remaining shares.
"Because the price was so generous the shareholders who held the largest shares all chose to sell and left me with no other option than to exercise my legal right to mop up the minority of shares that remained so that I could spare the club from unnecessary expense.
"I make no apologies for making sound commercial decisions for the club at a time when so many clubs are close to financial ruin.
"In further response to Bob's points, the BBC offered the club a dramatically reduced fee for live commentary this year and we have improved medical provision for players and fans (working with a local business) and saved nearly 40 per cent in doing so.
"Instead of criticising the way I run my businesses perhaps Bob should be more concerned with the way his political party is being run.
"It was reported on the news that only 16 per cent of the public trust what Nick Clegg tells them and, if I ever get to a stage where only 16 per cent of Colchester United fans trust what I say, then I promise Bob Russell that I will actively seek to sell the club."
Full report and Sir Bob Russell's reaction in Thursday's Gazette.
Comments(38)
Say It As It Is OK?
says...
4:54pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Sdapeze
says...
5:45pm Wed 26 Sep 12
RB, Lexden
says...
6:49pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Russell 0
A brilliant demolition job
and very funny,too.
fnagwaa
says...
7:34pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Graham Parker
says...
7:40pm Wed 26 Sep 12
lollardknight
says...
8:36pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Also if the Council and MP's had got a move on with the U's new ground back in the 2000's we would have been in the Championship in our new stadium.....but as usual loads of talking and sod all action.Get involved with what your employed to do and keep your nose out of things that don't warrant your involvement.
Boris
says...
10:23pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Sdapeze wrote:Good idea. Robbie Cowling could afford to buy the stadium, especially as CBC would doubtless sell at a friendly price. Anyway it would produce the money to build a proper bus station on the Britannia car park to replace Lyn Barton's doomed abomination.
Let's sell the stadium to the highest bidder and generate some much needed cash for the town rather than for the footballing elite.
.
Later on, Cowling could sell the whole Cuckoo Farm site for redevelopment and build a new, smaller stadium at Tiptree which would be the new home of CUFC.
notabot
says...
10:24pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Sdapeze wrote:drove past the resident owned stadium today.
Let's sell the stadium to the highest bidder and generate some much needed cash for the town rather than for the footballing elite.
my 4 year old grandson said
"cricket"
while looking at the stadium..
out of the mouths of babes eh...
might be more entertaining!
Boris
says...
10:27pm Wed 26 Sep 12
fnagwaa wrote:Well said, fnagwaa and RB. Cowling's tirade is based on pure invention, but it is a real hoot. How will Bob Russell reply to that?
I must admit, although I don't agree with the way the club is being run and the fact that we've lost sight of who we really are at the moment this article made me laugh out loud and for that Mr Cowling I salute you.
2012_Jimbob
says...
10:54pm Wed 26 Sep 12
There were no prawn sandwiches just the vile tasting pies and hot bovril.
I think Robbie Cowling is right to have a chomp back but lets not get too smug. To a man the current squad at Colchester United are at best a bunch of mediocre underachievers and the attendances at a 10,000 seater stadium are nothing to be proud of for either Cowling or the people of Colchester.
Would it hurt to put the prices down a bit, get some bums on seats and see who stays when the prices go back up a little.
£20 - £25 quid for an adult is around the same price you would pay at Ipswich who are in a higher league.
Boris
says...
11:54pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Bob thought that as the town's MP he had the right to give his opinions on such matters as the selling off of the club's trophies, photos etc. Cowling didn't take kindly to the idea of someone with 25 shares telling the owner of 1,700,000 shares what should be done.
FearNaught
says...
12:34am Thu 27 Sep 12
2012_Jimbob
says...
2:55am Thu 27 Sep 12
Boris wrote:Yep it's all coming back. I don't think mr cowling takes kindly to anyone telling him what to do. Perhaps as a man of his means there is some merit to this thinking. However a number of people would argue that with the new stadium and the passing of many characters from the old club set up the family feel to the club went to be replaced by a commercial business type feel to the match day experience.
Thanks, Jimbob. You have confirmed what I knew, which was that Bob had been a season ticket holder for many years, and he probably would still be so to-day if Cowling had not compulsorily bought out his token shareholding. I too was a CUFC shareholder and I remember Bob appearing at annual meetings held in the CUSA bar at Layer Road.
Bob thought that as the town's MP he had the right to give his opinions on such matters as the selling off of the club's trophies, photos etc. Cowling didn't take kindly to the idea of someone with 25 shares telling the owner of 1,700,000 shares what should be done.
In a town like Colchester with attendances as they are it is very important to keep your supporters happy and make them feel loved. I'm not saying the club is not doing this now but certainly in the transition period between the old and new grounds there was a lot of love lost.
No one can deny that cowling has bought some level of stability to the club. Unfortunately for the us they will have talented managers come and go and have varying levels of success before moving on to more attractive and lucrative offerings. I think longer term the transport and amenity situation around the ground should attract more to match days. At the moment it is out on a limb and a fairly unattractive prospect on a Saturday afternoon,
GreensteadResident
says...
8:43am Thu 27 Sep 12
Cowling runs a a near bottom of the league overpriced football club and Russell and his LimpDems run a dirty filthy crime ridden town.
Both of them should shut up.
RB, Lexden
says...
11:20am Thu 27 Sep 12
takes kindly to anyone telling him what to do."
Well,if you were a self-made multi millionaire would you welcome unsolicited advice from - of all people - an MP and particularly from an MP who
has never run a business?.
DelA
says...
11:47am Thu 27 Sep 12
Having been a supporter since 1964 I can see why Sir Bob is having a pop at Mr cowling, who according to him Colchester united never existed until we moved to the WHCS.The local, family day experience that everyone enjoyed has gone since Mr Cowling's take over, even if they were 'orrible pie's, tea and who could forget the toilets. But it was friendly and we knew the staff, some of who had 2 or 3 generations of the same family working there.How many are left?? It is Mr Cowling is with the "Prawn sandwich brigade" as he has looked after them instead of ordinary fans.Look how the CUSA were treated who did and still do excellent work for the club, if it wasn't for them how many would we have at some midweek away matches.
When Mr cowling took over we thought "wow a man with money coming and buying our club, we are on the up" it has not happened, the reverse in fact.Mr Cowling took over with the best team ever to play at Layer rd, but it sadly broke up, results and managers up to now have failed to emulate that success.
WHCS has not got the vibe of Layer rd, where SIr Bob and I sometimes stood on the Barside cheering on the U's, with Sir Bob helping out the club for no reward.
Mr Cowling is causing a lot of trouble in Tiptree with trying to bully and get his own way, he agreed and accepted the planning rules and within one week broke them.I agree with the locals and hope they win and their council back them.
I hope that Sir Bob attends matches in the future as if it wasn't for him and Mr Heard, Mr Cowling wouldn't have a club to own.
2012_Jimbob
says...
1:58pm Thu 27 Sep 12
RB, Lexden wrote:It depends on whether the advice was constructive. I think the positive involvement of a local mp in local businesses is a good thing and would be embraced by many business owners. Perhaps this is a personal spat between the 2 of them or perhaps both feel they are acting in best interests of the club
Jimbob writes : "I don't think Mr Cowling
takes kindly to anyone telling him what to do."
Well,if you were a self-made multi millionaire would you welcome unsolicited advice from - of all people - an MP and particularly from an MP who
has never run a business?.
Either way the ultimate decisions are down to cowling and he can't be a complete dunce with the money he has made himself.
TheCaptain
says...
9:53am Fri 28 Sep 12
Get real.
And of course the same people will whinge that the club doesn't spend enough.
25414nora
says...
10:38am Fri 28 Sep 12
TheCaptain wrote:Quite right Captain..
I can never understand why people bang on about how expensive it is to go. The cheapest tickets are £18 or £19. This cheaper that lots of other Div 1 and Div 2 sides and only £1 more than Braintree.
Get real.
And of course the same people will whinge that the club doesn't spend enough.
Arsenal v Chelsea this Saturday.....
Cheapest ticket £62......
Colchester utd v Hartlepool £19.
pensioners get a further consession.
Alternately, if the the moaners are that skint they can wander down to the local
Rec....they can watch football..
Absolutely Free..
TheCaptain
says...
10:46am Fri 28 Sep 12
Weston Homes S1 Adult £18.00
Weston Homes S1 Senior £13.00
Weston Homes S1 Under 21 £14.00
Weston Homes S1 Under 18 £10.00
DelA
says...
11:02am Fri 28 Sep 12
TheCaptain
says...
1:05pm Fri 28 Sep 12
But the point is that both prices stand up in comparison to the teams in our division and lower
We're not singing anymore!!!
says...
1:15pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Lots of people moaning about the prices, prawn sandwiches and how the club is run.
Ultimately RC bought the club and can therefore do what he likes with it. I don't agree with all the decisions that are made but that's life. He's putting his money where his mouth is and has done what others have not, and that is invest in Colchester United.
Football is no longer how most people remember it. It has evolved and moved with the times. It's not just about a football match, it's a business . If we want to achieve the best and compete against others then we have to do what everyone else is doing.
It's easy to moan but how many people have actually given RC a chance ?
Let's face it MP's are just posh versions of reality show contestants. The majority are cheating, lying scumbags. Who will say whatever they think you want to hear or whatever will give them the most publicity.
Like I said before, I'm not a fan of RC and I'm unlikely ever to be. But I do have to respect that he fights for what he believes is the best for Colchester United.
We're not singing anymore!!!
says...
1:24pm Fri 28 Sep 12
TheCaptain wrote:Also, look at the prices of Premiership Teams. I bet it would cost a minimum of twice the amount that we're charged for Colchester United (and that's being generous) on a like-for-like seat. Albeit, the standard of football is higher.
Yes it more to on the side. I'm near the middle of the East stand. £24 I think. But the point is that both prices stand up in comparison to the teams in our division and lower
it's not nice for the average working person to pay but that is the world of football now.
angryman!!!
says...
5:43pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Anyway ref rc and mp, I'm surprised they don't get on both love as much attention as possible,and a love for terrible hair cuts but I'm with rc on this.
Bob Russell likes to moan at anything and everything that he's not involved in, if he cared about this club so much in all his years of politics why didn't he do more to get the ground built earlier that way we could have had it in championship and stayed up!
jut1972
says...
9:31am Sat 29 Sep 12
Reginald47
says...
10:33am Sat 29 Sep 12
A slap-up three-course meal with champagne possibly!
DelA
says...
11:01am Sat 29 Sep 12
wellnow
says...
6:35pm Sun 30 Sep 12
Fatboyr10
says...
9:05pm Sun 30 Sep 12
UP THE U'S
6079 Smith W
says...
9:06pm Sun 30 Sep 12
I can't stand Robbie Cowling (nor the town's MP for that matter), these money men have ruined the game I love and given it over to the prawn cocktail brigade. However, even I have to admit this is a general trend, and while Cowling epitomises everything bad about modern football, it makes no sense to attack him personally for the ridiculous prices. It's happened everywhere, even non-league.
romantic
says...
5:29pm Mon 1 Oct 12
6079 Smith W wrote:Yep, pretty much agree with you there, although if you were paying a pound a pint in Manchester in the mid 80s, you must have frequented one of the posher pubs! I was often there at that time, and it was around 70 to 80p (although to be fair, it was more down here). So if anything it should be a little less.
Football is too expensive these days - full stop. In the mid 80s I can remember standing at Old Trafford for a mere £2.50. And for a real price comparison for the pockets of us workers, back then a pint cost about a pound. So top flight football should today cost about £9, and a fair price for the U's would be about £6.
I can't stand Robbie Cowling (nor the town's MP for that matter), these money men have ruined the game I love and given it over to the prawn cocktail brigade. However, even I have to admit this is a general trend, and while Cowling epitomises everything bad about modern football, it makes no sense to attack him personally for the ridiculous prices. It's happened everywhere, even non-league.
But it is a money game now, and Col U is no worse for that than most other clubs. The result is that there is the hardcore of those who go to every game, but their numbers are dwindling. I used to go to Layer Road for most games for quite a few years, but now just go now and then. That´s not just down to price, but it doesn´t help.
But as you say, it shouldn´t turn into some personal insult on Cowling.
6079 Smith W
says...
6:27pm Mon 1 Oct 12
romantic wrote:Yes, prices at the U's are far too much, but, as others have pointed out, there's nothing exceptional about them when compared to other clubs. As said, it's a general trend. If we really want to point the finger of blame at an individual (and I think we should), then the individual concerned is one responsible for so many other ills in our society. Murdoch's millions killed the beautiful game.
6079 Smith W wrote:Yep, pretty much agree with you there, although if you were paying a pound a pint in Manchester in the mid 80s, you must have frequented one of the posher pubs! I was often there at that time, and it was around 70 to 80p (although to be fair, it was more down here). So if anything it should be a little less.
Football is too expensive these days - full stop. In the mid 80s I can remember standing at Old Trafford for a mere £2.50. And for a real price comparison for the pockets of us workers, back then a pint cost about a pound. So top flight football should today cost about £9, and a fair price for the U's would be about £6.
I can't stand Robbie Cowling (nor the town's MP for that matter), these money men have ruined the game I love and given it over to the prawn cocktail brigade. However, even I have to admit this is a general trend, and while Cowling epitomises everything bad about modern football, it makes no sense to attack him personally for the ridiculous prices. It's happened everywhere, even non-league.
But it is a money game now, and Col U is no worse for that than most other clubs. The result is that there is the hardcore of those who go to every game, but their numbers are dwindling. I used to go to Layer Road for most games for quite a few years, but now just go now and then. That´s not just down to price, but it doesn´t help.
But as you say, it shouldn´t turn into some personal insult on Cowling.
Yes, was talking southern prices on beer. I was still under age back then, and grabbing a sneaky pint where I could (with older mates going to the bar for me). I had yet to walk into a pub in Manchester, so that surprise at how much cheaper the beer was up north was yet to happen to me. Unfortunately, I do know Manchester city centre pub prices are not that different to down here these days, having spent a week up there last year.
Bobby Walker
says...
9:22pm Mon 1 Oct 12
It's all a bit of an overreaction to respond like this in public. I don't know why Bob Russell hasn't been coming to home games but I suppose it might be to do with this battle of the egos between these two?
As for the prices, football started becoming showbiz and ultra-fashionable in the 90s, so the big money moved in and normal supporters were priced out.
6079 Smith W
says...
9:39pm Mon 1 Oct 12
Bobby Walker wrote:''90s...' Who moved in then?
It's entertaining, but Cowling is factually incorrect. Like him or not, most people know Bob Russell has supported Col U for many years.
It's all a bit of an overreaction to respond like this in public. I don't know why Bob Russell hasn't been coming to home games but I suppose it might be to do with this battle of the egos between these two?
As for the prices, football started becoming showbiz and ultra-fashionable in the 90s, so the big money moved in and normal supporters were priced out.
Bobby Walker
says...
10:21pm Mon 1 Oct 12
6079 Smith W wrote:Since 1992, premiership wages have risen on average 20% per year. The average top-flight salary in 1992 was £75,000, now it is over a million pounds.
Bobby Walker wrote:''90s...' Who moved in then?
It's entertaining, but Cowling is factually incorrect. Like him or not, most people know Bob Russell has supported Col U for many years.
It's all a bit of an overreaction to respond like this in public. I don't know why Bob Russell hasn't been coming to home games but I suppose it might be to do with this battle of the egos between these two?
As for the prices, football started becoming showbiz and ultra-fashionable in the 90s, so the big money moved in and normal supporters were priced out.
6079 Smith W
says...
6:59pm Tue 2 Oct 12
Bobby Walker wrote:Interesting stats, which is worth looking at alongside this: Sky paid £304 million over five years, for its original Premiership deal. The current deal was worth £2.3 billion, over three years.
6079 Smith W wrote:Since 1992, premiership wages have risen on average 20% per year. The average top-flight salary in 1992 was £75,000, now it is over a million pounds.
Bobby Walker wrote:''90s...' Who moved in then?
It's entertaining, but Cowling is factually incorrect. Like him or not, most people know Bob Russell has supported Col U for many years.
It's all a bit of an overreaction to respond like this in public. I don't know why Bob Russell hasn't been coming to home games but I suppose it might be to do with this battle of the egos between these two?
As for the prices, football started becoming showbiz and ultra-fashionable in the 90s, so the big money moved in and normal supporters were priced out.
lettypolley says...
4:37pm Wed 26 Sep 12