Coventry City given two months to find home stadium for next season or face expulsion from Football League
The Sky Blues have not secured a deal to remain at the Ricoh Arena and face being kicked out of the Football League if they fail to secure a home ground by 25 April
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Your support makes all the difference.Coventry City have been given two months to confirm their home ground for next season, or face expulsion from the English Football League.
The EFL has demanded an update on the League One club’s plan for next season by 5 March, giving Coventry under two weeks to reach a breakthrough with the stadium’s owners Wasps, the Premiership Rugby side.
Should Coventry fail to make progress by that date, and extraordinary meeting will be held on 25 April to decide whether they should be removed from the Football League system.
Coventry’s rental agreement at the Ricoh Arena expires at the end of the season, having reached the deal with Wasps after they bought the stadium in 2014 as part of their relocation from High Wycombe’s Adams Park. However, Coventry’s owners Sisu remain in a legal battle with the rugby outfit over that sale.
A statement issued by the EFL on Friday read: “The EFL board has formally written to Coventry City with a final request for clarity in regard to where the Club will stage its home matches for the 2019/20 season.
“In previous correspondence, the board has been very clear about the need for Coventry City to provide absolute confirmation early in the second half of the current season. The club will still be given every opportunity to develop and present an appropriate resolution throughout the process, but the EFL is yet to receive any indication of where Coventry City intend to play next season.
“The club has until 5 March 2019 to provide a further update to the board, addressing the outstanding matter and should a satisfactory solution not be found over the next two months, an Extraordinary General Meeting of clubs will be convened to consider Coventry City’s expulsion from the League. This would be held on the 25 April in order to provide clarity regarding the club’s future membership in advance of relegation and promotion issues being resolved during the run-in to the end of the season.
“The EFL considers it untenable for a member club to seek to continue competing in its league competition if it is unable to stage its home matches. However, it understands, that despite the complex challenges facing Coventry City at this current time, it is the club’s preference to extend their stay at the Ricoh Arena for future seasons and the EFL would view this as a sensible and suitable solution to the matter.”
Outgoing EFL chief executive, Shaun Harvey, added: “The matter of Coventry City’s efforts to secure a home venue for 2019/20 season and beyond has been a serious concern for all parties for a significant period of time and the objective of the EFL, as it has always been, is to secure an appropriate solution for the long-term future of the club as they are a much valued member of our competition.
“The course of action taken this week is with reluctance, but the League has to ensure the integrity of our competitions is maintained and all clubs meet the obligations that come with being a member of the EFL.
“We remain in regular dialogue with the club and will provide all practical available assistance in line with EFL Regulations.”
Coventry quickly confirmed receipt of the EFL’s letter, and issued a plea to Ricoh Arena owners Wasps to reach a deal that will ensure they remain at the ground next season as it is their “only option”.
“Coventry City Football Club wants to do a deal with Wasps Rugby Club as soon as possible, to resolve this impasse so that the dates above are not encountered,” the Coventry City statement added.
Our only option is to continue to play at our home, the Ricoh Arena
“All parties now need to work together for good of Coventry City Football Club, its supporters, the Ricoh Arena, the City of Coventry and our community – the continued future of the Football Club needs to be everyone’s focus to prevent more heartache and worry.
“No one should be in any doubt of the significance of Coventry City to Coventry – not in the past, now or in the future.
“The Westminster meeting in early March called by the Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport, inviting all of the key parties is an opportunity to resolve this issue. However, our offers to meet with both Coventry City Council, as freehold owner and the democratically elected local authority, and Wasps RFC, as landlord, still remain open - in the hope that a deal can be agreed before the Westminster meeting is necessary.”
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