After each matchday programme, we publish the 'From the Boardroom' article on our website. For Sunday's game against Bristol Rovers, Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy wrote the column and his article is published below:
"Good afternoon and welcome to the Ricoh Arena as we play Bristol Rovers in SkyBet League One this afternoon.
I would like to welcome the fans, players, staff and officials who join us today from Bristol Rovers.
Today is our Kick It Out match, where we show our support for the work of the Kick It Out campaign and also Football v Homophobia. This season marks the 25th anniversary of the start of the Kick It Out campaign, and they have done much to move football forward in terms of inclusion and anti-discrimination. We thank them for their work, reiterate our support to them and commit to making our matches an inclusive environment for everyone to support their team.
Today also sees Sky Blues in the Community and CCFC attend the EFL Awards, where we are up for the national Community Club of the Year award, having already won the Midlands regional prize.
This is great news for the Club, everyone who works, volunteers or participates at Sky Blues in the Community and everyone in our wider community. A massive amount of credit and thanks goes to Dave Busst and every member of his dedicated team.
In terms of numbers overall, there were over 19,800 participants in SBitC projects during 2018. That amounted to more than 330,000 hours of contact time, across 33 projects – across themes of sport, health, education and inclusion. £954,000 of money was invested into the community via the work of Sky Blues in the Community.
2018 saw Sky Blues in the Community reach a record number of participants and projects delivered across the community, and we all wish them the best for tonight’s awards and for 2019. Without doubt, they are having a massive and life changing impact on this community and its people.
This Wednesday sees another non-matchday event in our calendar, following our successful series of ‘An Evening’ with events. We will be holding a Race Day at Warwick Racecourse, which has sold very well. Players and staff will be in attendance, while racing speakers and tipsters will join us in the marquee too, including Grand National & Gold Cup winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill. We look forward to a great day.
This week, many fans will have seen a further update regarding the stadium situation for next season. We are now required to present an update to the EFL Board on 11th April regarding the stadium situation and options for fulfilling our fixtures next season.
The EFL Board has set the date of Thursday 25th April for an Extraordinary General Meeting to consider Coventry City’s expulsion from the League. To meet the 21 days’ notice requirements, the EFL are required to formally convene the meeting today and have therefore written to clubs.
If the matter cannot be resolved before the 25th April, the decision to expel the Coventry City rests with EFL Member Clubs at that meeting. However, if a resolution can be found ahead of then, that would mean the vote would not take place.
Agreeing a deal at the Ricoh Arena for next season remains our main priority and intention, and we hope that all parties can come to agreement for the good of the Club, community and most importantly supporters. After all, to be the home of Coventry City Football Club is what it was built for.
At present, while Wasps choose not to discuss a new deal while legal action is ongoing and while SISU choose to continue their legal action with Coventry City Council, the impasse continues.
However we are in advanced talks with other clubs about groundsharing next season, to enable the Club to fulfil fixtures if necessary, and are now working on commercial terms with clubs.
This is not the situation we would want, nor that our fans would want – we want to remain at the Ricoh Arena, and remain playing in Coventry. However, a groundshare would enable the survival of the Club in the EFL next season and make sure our fans have a team to support.
There has this week been talk about new stadium plans from the Owners. These are obviously long-term plans and would require a long planning process working with the Council, and obviously infrastructure investment etc at any chosen site/area, but would create huge opportunities for the Club and economic and job opportunities for the area of any new stadium.
My focus and that of everyone at the Club currently remains on providing a solution for next season, as time is running out.
We want a resolution, we want the Club and the City to move forward – together."
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club