The SCG was invited to attend following a decision by CCFC executives to include fan representation at board meetings...
The chairman and vice chairman of the Coventry City Supporters Consultative Group (SCG), Jonathan Strange and Peter Ward, have attended their first CCFC board meeting.
The SCG was invited to attend following a decision by CCFC executives to include fan representation at future board meetings.
On the agenda was the state of the pitch at the Ricoh Arena, an update on plans for the new stadium and training ground/academy integration and an update on proposed activity in the January transfer window.
Directors of the football club agreed with the SCG that the state of the pitch had been unacceptable and were encouraged by the announcement by Wasps that they have committed to relaying the surface within three weeks.
The new pitch will allow the club to pursue January player targets in line with Steven Pressley’s preferred style of play.
Also discussed was the long-planned stadium move and the proposed integration of CCFC’s training ground and academy.
The SCG representatives were taken through commercial documents concerning the proposed move to a new stadium and brought up to speed on the current status of the training ground/academy integration project.
Chairman Tim Fisher said: “We are delighted to have invited the SCG to board meetings and look forward to working with them in what will be a constructive dialogue on issues concerning the running of the football club, the future development of the club’s training ground and stadium and improvement of fans’ match-day experience.
“The club has spoken to Nick Eastwood at great length about the pitch and we are pleased that Wasps are relaying the playing surface and we will continue to work with them to ensure the pitch is of the highest quality. This is imperative for Steven Pressley and the team and certainly helps to focus our approach in the January transfer window.
“We are excited about building a new stadium that we can finally call our own. We will share our plans with fans, where possible, and look forward to consulting with all of our supporters on our new stadium, when the time comes.”
Jonathan said: “It was clear that the directors genuinely wanted to engage with us. The degree of frankness and openness was impressive and unexpected. The meeting focused around three main topics – stadium plans, the pitch and player recruitment.
“The preferred site for the new stadium was revealed, the frustrations in concluding the deal and the vision of an integrated stadium, training ground and academy discussed at length.
“There is a positive approach to working with Wasps and the need to properly look after the interests of both the football club and its supporters. We were talking about the pitch plans as the Wasps’ press release came out.
“The directors acknowledged the inadequacies of some of the player recruitment. January is going to be a very busy time with up to nine specified players going out and seven coming in, with targets identified. The directors were forthright in their praise of the manager.
“We felt this was the opening chapter in a dialogue, establishing a new level of trust and confidence with supporters, one that will be enhanced as more members become involved.”
Peter added: “I am encouraged by the clear ambition of the board to move the club forward.
“Evidence of a cohesive strategy gives me renewed confidence that the Sky Blues will soon be climbing the league tables, but a degree of patience by fans is required. Given the off the pitch events of the last two seasons it appears a more positive platform is now taking shape to enable a successful football team.
“A key element of course is the support of fans who should get behind Steve Pressley and the team now we are back at the Ricoh for the immediate future.”