Ricoh Arena’s owners lodge complaint over groundshare

RICOH Arena owner Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) has made an official complaint to the Football League over its decision to allow Coventry City to groundshare with Northampton Town.

The league agreed to the move on 8 July when the club’s new owners, Otium Entertainment Group, asked for permission to play City’s home games at the Sixfields Stadium for the next three years.

But ACL says Otium had no right to request the move, as its takeover of City has not been completed.

ACL also asserts the Football League failed to act fairly in agreeing to the request, did not consult with ACL, and did not fully consider its own criteria for permitting clubs to move grounds.

Now ACL is asking for the Football League to refer the case to the Football Association.

ACL is keen to keep the club at the Ricoh Arena and is offering a reduced rental rate of £150,000 in League One, rising to £400,000 if the club returns to the Championship.

Coventry City start the 2013-14 season away at Crawley Town on Saturday, with their first home game at Northampton Town’s 7,500-seat ground on August 11.