After each matchday programme this season, we publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website. Read Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy's column from Saturday's league game against MK Dons below:
Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon’s match, as we face MK Dons here at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the fans, players, staff and officials from MK Dons who join us for today’s game.
I would like to open my first column of 2020 by taking this opportunity to wish all of our supporters, sponsors and everyone associated with the Football Club a happy and prosperous New Year.
The Christmas period for the Sky Blues was a quieter period than normal with obviously no Boxing Day game due to the sad demise of Bury FC. The three games that we have played over the festive period since our last home game against Lincoln City, all away from home, have seen us produce three terrific displays and results.
Back-to-back 4-1 away victories and Matty Godden hat-tricks saw us move into 3rd place in the league and set us up nicely for the remainder of the season.
Our 2-2 draw at Bristol Rovers last Sunday in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup was a really entertaining cup tie, with the drama and action that you would associate with the competition. Coming away with a replay and being in the hat for the Fourth Round draw was a satisfactory conclusion. The replay is here on Tuesday evening and I would encourage Sky Blues fans to come out again in numbers and help us through to the Fourth Round.
The Fourth Round draw has thrown up a potentially intriguing tie, should we beat The Gas on Tuesday. To be drawn at ‘home’ to Birmingham City in Monday night’s draw was quite incredible and my phone was in meltdown on Monday evening – the common consensus being ‘You couldn’t make it up!’
Whilst there have been a lot of media interest and speculation about the potential tie, our focus is on the Bristol Rovers match firstly. Because of the tight turnaround for any potential game and the logistical requirements involved, we have however had preliminary discussions about arrangements for the game with The Blues should we be victorious.
There has also been much speculation over the festive period about an ‘imminent’ return to the Ricoh Arena. Unfortunately, the speculation has no basis and is unfounded, and, while we would like to return to Coventry as soon as possible, it is unlikely that we will be in a position to return to the Ricoh during the 19/20 season.
To that effect all matches for the remainder of the season at St Andrew’s are on sale, as are Half Season Tickets, which still remain the most cost effective way of watching all of the remaining Sky Blues league games in the second half of the season, plus Match Packages which are still available too.
With the January transfer window open, there is also lots of speculation about activity. At the time of writing, we have had no interest or inquiries from anybody about anybody.
Thank you for your support – enjoy the game. PUSB.
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive
Coventry City Football Club