City boss Steven Pressley says he will be focusing on the football and not the recent points deduction
Coventry City manager Steven Pressley wants his side to put the off the field issues to one side and focus on their football.
Speaking just a few hours before the club kicks off the League One season at Crawley Town, Pressley said his players would give everything for the supporters following the points penalty incurred after it emerged CCFC Ltd would be put into liquidation.
He said: "It has been a hard summer for everybody connected to the club, and that culminated in yesterday's events and a ten point deduction.
"Of course I didn't want to be delivering news to the players that we would be starting on minus ten points on the eve of the season. We all hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"But the decision is made and we respect that, but know at least there is clarity and we know where we are. We spoke to all the players yesterday and of course there was a huge sense of frustration and disappointment, that's because although we have been under transfer embargo we have managed to create a real sense of unity and optimism within the group about the new season. But we must not feel sorry for ourselves, life is all about setbacks and it is how you deal and react to them that separates the true winners.
"There are several key ingredients that are essential for us to come through this adversity, one of those being character. Throughout the pre-season the players have shown a terrific level of this and that is certainly going to be required in abundance over the coming months. Another essential ingredient is our supporters' backing, because although these have been such trying times for them they have remained very much behind the team and only together can we prevail.
"I am sure there will a great following at Crawley today and our whole focus is on getting the season off to the right start on the pitch. That is where our firm focus has to be today and for the rest of the season."