Coventry City lose Supreme Court battle over stadium sale

Embattled League One side Coventry City’s woes continue after it was announced that they have lost their appeal over the ownership of Ricoh Stadium.

Sky Blue Sports & Leisure Ltd, owned by Sisu, were attempting to prevent the sale of the stadium to the rugby club Wasps by Coventry City Council.

They had wanted permission from the Supreme Court to reverse the 2014 decision not to allow a judicial review of the sale. They said that Coventry City Council had undervalued the Ricoh Stadium by £28m when it was sold to the Wasps.

The Sky Blues will be without a home at the end of the season, although Wasps have said they will once again enter talks with City over a stadium share.

Wasps chief executive Nick Eastwood told the BBC: “We have noted the Supreme Court’s ruling. We sincerely hope that this marks a watershed in this long-running saga.

“We would urge the owners of Coventry City to take this opportunity and cease this legal action, allowing them finally to come to the table to discuss the club’s future at the Ricoh Arena – something all parties are keen to see happen.”

In a joint statement, Coventry City Council leader George Duggins and Gary Ridley, leader of the opposition Conservative group, said: “We are delighted with the judgment from the highest court in the land which once again justifies why we have robustly defended all claims brought by Sisu-related companies over recent years.

“The continuing litigation is achieving nothing apart from alienating them from the partners in the city who they should be working with to secure a successful and sustainable future for Coventry City FC here in this city.”

The football club has previously said it is looking at two other stadium-sharing offers.