Coventry City’s Football League future ‘at risk’ as stadium issues return

Coventry City has warned its place in the Football League is “at risk” if it is unable to agree an extension to its agreement to play its matches at the Ricoh Arena.

The League One club agreed a one-year extension in February with stadium owner Wasps.

The relationship has been strained by ongoing legal action relating to the sale of the ground by Coventry City Council to Wasps.

The rugby union club bought the stadium in 2014, after Coventry City had spent a season playing its home games in Northampton.

Since then there has been uncertainty about where the football club’s long-term home will be, although this is its fifth season at the Ricoh Arena.

Coventry City wrote to Wasps two weeks ago asking for talks to begin about an extension.

In a statement, the club said that since February it has “seen relations and co-operation between our companies improve greatly on a day-to-day level”.

It said: “Without agreement of a stadium to play at next season, the Club’s place in the English Football League is at risk. The Ricoh Arena is currently the only suitable option available for the club to play home matches in Coventry.

“We are committed to working with the stadium owners Wasps to achieve our aim of a new deal, which we believe will be of benefit to them too.

“We have seen attendances rise this season and have worked hard to increase CCFC non-matchday events at the Ricoh Arena, and we therefore hope that Coventry City can continue to be a valuable tenant to Wasps.”

Later today the Court of Appeal will issue its judgement on whether there should be a judicial review of the City Council’s desicion to sell the stadium. The football club’s owners have maintained the property was significantly undervalued.

However Coventry City sought to separate the issues of legal action and tenancy.

It added: “This is not about our owners and not about court cases – we are not aware of the judgement which will be made on Friday. It is instead about the immediate future of Coventry City Football Club.”