After each matchday programme this season, we will publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website. Read Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy's column from Saturday's game against Blackpool below:
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon’s game against Blackpool – thank you for your continued support.
I would also like to welcome all of the supporters, players, staff and officials from Blackpool for today’s match here at St Andrew’s.
Since the last notes against Gillingham, we have been forced into the loan market due to key injuries to the squad. Tennai Watson joined us on loan from Reading and is predominantly a right back, to provide further depth to the full back area with a longer-term injury to Josh Pask but he also provides cover at left back, with Brandon Mason missing the last game. When skipper Liam Kelly picked up an ankle injury at Oxford United last Saturday we wasted no time on Monday’s deadline day in bringing in Liam Walsh from Championship club Bristol City.
The Board felt it essential to support Mark Robins in bringing these players to the Club in addition to our planned recruitment, which had been complete prior to the injuries.
Whilst Tennai and Liam join the first team squad, we continue our policy to recruit young potential talent from non-league football and to that end this week we have brought in Joe Newton from Southern League Premier Division Royston Town to join the Under 23s squad. Joe joins the likes of Sam McCallum and Morgan Williams who have come from a similar background and our Recruitment Department continues to scour this level of the game for talent, as well as players in the EFL, Premier League and on the Continent.
Whilst talking about player matters, this week we have extended the contracts of both Jordan Shipley and David Bremang. ‘Shippers’ development is there for all to see, and we are always keen to have longer term contracts for players that we see as part of our future plans. David’s development over the last 12 months has been impressive as part of the strong Under 23s group that we have, and again David came in from a different route to the traditional one, having been spotted by our recruitment department at a London based footballing academy.
Last week saw the unbelievably sad demise of Bury Football Club - something which in history is very rare during a season, albeit they didn’t start the season. Aldershot were the last Football League club in 1991 to fold during a season, and before that Accrington Stanley in the early 60s.
It is a sad day for football, but most importantly for the community which they represent. I can’t begin to understand the hurt that Bury supporters will be going through at this moment in time. Football Clubs are central and the focus point within their communities, and the importance to their community should never be underestimated.
It’s very disappointing that Bury were allowed to get into this position and with the stringent SCMP rules (Salary Cost Management Protocol) that the EFL instigate and generally enforce, I am struggling to understand quite how it happened?
Let’s hope that like other clubs that have fallen this way, a phoenix club can be formed and represent the community of Bury.
On the other side of the coin, there was good news for Bolton Wanderers with their takeover having been completed and hopefully they can now settle down to rebuild their Club.
Looking ahead, our next home fixture is AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 18th September. We have brought back our Tuesday Night Football offer for this game, with ticket prices reduced to £15 adults, £10 concessions and £5 under 18s for this game.
We know that coming across to St Andrew’s is always a commitment for our fans, and we are grateful for their support, but with midweek matches there are other considerations that come into it. With these reduced prices for the game, we hope even more of the Sky Blue Army will be in attendance for what we hope will be another entertaining match at St Andrew’s.
Enjoy the game.
Dave Boddy