Coventry City’s EFL spot ‘severely at risk’ if ground agreement not reached
The chief executive of Coventry City has warned that the club’s place in the English Football League will be put “severely at risk” if they do not manage to reach an agreement to remain at the Ricoh Arena next season.
The club’s rental agreement with Wasps, the stadium owners, only lasts until the end of the 2018-19 season and its landlords will not discuss any new deal until the football club’s owners, Sisu, end their ongoing legal action against the rugby union club.
Dave Boddy’s warning comes a month after the Court of Appeal dismissed Coventry City FC’s bid for a judicial review into the sale of the Ricoh Arena by Coventry City Council in 2014.
Wasps relocated to the city and bought the stadium in the aftermath of a spectacular falling-out between the football club and city council which resulted in Coventry City playing its home games in Northampton.
There has been protracted legal action and frosty relationships since, as the football club’s owner Sisu, which says Coventry City Council undervalued the stadium by £27m, pursued its claim.
Boddy said: “As I write these notes, we await the decision of the club’s owners regarding the court case and if they will choose to appeal the most recent judgement.
“The EFL have made very clear in writing to us that a groundshare outside of Coventry is not and will not be an option– even if it was, it is not an option we are interested in. We want to stay at the Ricoh Arena.”
A final decision on whether Sisu will take any further action is expected next week.
“There unfortunately have been no negotiations to date with Wasps,” Boddy said. “But I have met with several Wasps directors who have told me the position of Wasps regarding the court case with the owners. I have made clear that the football club is not involved with the legal proceedings, and our desire to stay at the Ricoh Arena and create a stronger relationship.
“Coventry City Football Club comes first above everything else, I’m sure you will agree. It is imperative that a deal is agreed and that we stay at the Ricoh Arena. For the avoidance of doubt to everyone in Coventry and Warwickshire who cares about the football club, failure to reach agreement to play at the Ricoh next season will mean that the club’s place in the English Football League is severely at risk.”
