Ricoh return moves closer as Coventry City pay off unpaid rent bill

A RETURN to playing its fixtures at the Ricoh Arena has moved a step closer for Coventry City after it paid £471,192 in unpaid rent to stadium owners ACL.

Earlier this month the Football League ordered Coventry to pay the stadium’s operator, ACL, by 14 August and the club confirmed yesterday it had forwarded payment via the Football League.

The outstanding debt was seen as the largest obstacle to a return to its former home ground.

ACL had said any discussions about a possible return to the Ricoh Arena would not be possible until the issue was settled.

The ground owner has also insisted all further legal action against it by Coventry City’s owner Sisu must be dropped in order to allow talks to take place.

The Sky Blues have played all their home games at Northampton’s ground, about 35 miles away, since August 2013.

Fans protested against the club’s continued exile during the Sky Blues’ Capital One Cup defeat to Cardiff City earlier this week.