Coventry City ‘still some distance away’ from confirming home ground plans as new deadline is set

Coventry City have told the EFL board they are yet to secure a stadium to play their home games in next season.

The club met the board at a meeting on Wednesday after being told last month it could face expulsion from the Football League if they do not confirm where they plan to host matches next season.

Coventry City’s tenancy at the Ricoh Arena runs out this summer, and the club’s owners are locked in a legal battle about the sale of the Ricoh Arena to Premiership rugby union club Wasps in 2014. Wasps has consistently said it will not extend Coventry City’s tenancy if legal action is ongoing.

Coventry City says it plans to remain at the Ricoh Arena in 2019-20 – but the EFL has given a new deadline of April 2, by which arrangements must be sorted.

EFL chief executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “We have today reviewed the position of Coventry City, and while we are still some distance away from having absolute confirmation, the EFL will continue to work with the club to progress every possible avenue in order to reach an appropriate resolution.”

The EFL said in a statement: “The club is not yet in a position to provide absolute clarity of its plans, but is continuing to work with the relevant parties, as they attempt to meet the EFL’s ultimate objective of ensuring they continue to play in the city of Coventry on a long term basis.

“At this stage, Coventry City still face the prospect of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Clubs being convened to consider their expulsion from the League on 25 April if they are unable to satisfy the requirements in line with EFL Regulations. EFL Clubs would need to be notified no later than 2 April 2019 of an EGM and, in the interim period, Coventry City will be given every opportunity to develop and present a suitable solution.

“The EFL understands that it is the Club’s preference to extend their stay at the Ricoh Arena for future seasons and would view this as a sensible and suitable solution to the matter.”

Coventry first moved to the Ricoh Arena in 2005 after selling their former home at Highfield Road. They then returned to the Ricoh Arena in 2014 after just over a year ground-sharing 33 miles away with Northampton Town.

But they have been told by the EFL that they must play their home games within six miles of the city centre.

The legal case involving City’s owners Sisu is based on their claim that Coventry City Council undervalued the Ricoh Arena by £27m when the ground was sold to Wasps.