After each matchday programme, we will be publishing the 'From the Boardroom' article on our website. For Saturday's game against Doncaster Rovers, Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy wrote the column and his article is published below:
"Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to everybody connected with Doncaster Rovers FC for this SkyBet League One at the Ricoh Arena. People tell me that Doncaster are a very entertaining team to watch, so hopefully we should be in for a cracking game today.
I have no doubt that you will have seen recently the result of the latest judgement in the Court case between the owners of the Football Club, Sisu and the Council and Wasps. As I have previously said, the Football Club, its senior staff, CEO and Chairman have no direct involvement in the court case, neither do we have knowledge related to or input into the proceedings. Importantly, the club does not bear any costs in relation to this court case, and that all costs are incurred by the club’s owners.
We recently publicly confirmed that it’s our intention to agree a new deal to play matches at the Ricoh Arena beyond the end of the current season.
The Ricoh Arena is currently the only suitable option available for the club to play home matches in Coventry and it is our intention to work with the stadium owners, Wasps, to achieve our aim of a new deal, which we also believe will be to their benefit, as well as to the benefit of the people and communities of Coventry & Warwickshire.
Failure to reach agreement to play at the stadium next season will mean the Club’s place in the English Football League is at risk.
The players want to stay at the Ricoh Arena, the staff want to stay at the Ricoh Arena, our former players and our community wants to stay at the Ricoh Arena, Sponsors and local businesses want us to stay at the Ricoh Arena. We believe our elected councillors and MPs want us to stay at the Ricoh Arena. Most importantly, our fans us to stay at the Ricoh Arena.
It was only in May of this year, we saw just how important this club is to this community. We all remember the 36,000 fans who went down to Wembley for the Play-Off Final, the 50,000 plus Coventrians who lined the streets, and the Civic Reception given to us in St Mary’s Guildhall.
Coventry City Football Club means a huge amount to the people of Coventry.
Coventry City is one of this city’s most famous institutions. We have a proud history of over 135 years which has touched generation after generation of families within the community it serves.
This is not about Court Cases, this is about the immediate future of Coventry City Football Club and making sure that it continues to play matches, not just in Coventry, but at the Ricoh Arena - the stadium that was built as the home of Coventry City.
Let’s all stand and work together, everyone who cares about the future of this Football Club, to keep it that way.
PUSB"
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club