After each matchday programme this season, we publish the regular column from the Coventry City board on our website. You can read Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy's column our game against Peterborough United below:
Good evening and welcome to tonight’s game as we face Peterborough United in the Sky Bet Championship.
I would like to welcome the players, staff, officials and supporters from Peterborough to the Coventry Building Society Arena.
I would also personally like to welcome their Director of Football Barry Fry, who I have known for many, many years and is a larger than life character which I believe football is sadly lacking these days and needs. I would also like to welcome Bob Symns and thank him and the Club for kindly agreeing to move this fixture from it’s original Saturday date to accommodate one of only two fixture clashes with Wasps league games this season. During my time at the Club, I believe we have always had an excellent relationship with Peterborough United and I thank them for that.
The other game where there was a clash would have been the home fixture with Bristol City, however Wasps have agreed to move their fixture to the Sunday for this clash, ensuring that we play our fixture ahead of the rugby being played.
Last week saw the visit of our owner Joy Seppala, who came to both the home games against Middlesbrough and Cardiff City and was in the area for the launch of the University of Warwick’s new e-sports hub, of which ourselves and Sky Blues in the Community are launch sponsors. Joy spent an enjoyable few days at the Football Club, which included visits to the new Club Shop and Ticket Office and also the Sky Blue Tavern, and she was delighted and excited by the atmosphere at both of the home games that you, the supporters, are creating.
Last Wednesday’s home attendance of over 16,000 was our highest crowd for a midweek league game (apart from the Ricoh Return game v Gillingham in 2014) since 2009, when Newcastle United were the visitors in the Championship, and another milestone for the Club on this exciting journey.
Last Friday night saw what seemed to me from the outside the inevitable announcement that Derby County had filed for administration. This is a very sad situation for the Club, its supporters and the club staff. I have a personal friend on the Derby County staff and feel for all those involved. However, the announcement did not come as a surprise to me and should be seen to the footballing world that sustainability is vital to all Clubs.
The aim since I joined the Sky Blues has always been towards self-sustainability and putting a structure in place to get the best out of your resources. We will always endeavour to follow those principles and cannot live beyond our means chasing a dream. Those solid principles have seen us win promotion from League Two up to the Championship, with the League One title-winning resource being a mid-table budget and last season’s 16th place in the Championship overachieving against our resource and that of the big hitters in the league.
I look forward to another rousing Coventry Building Society Arena atmosphere tonight, enjoy the game – PUSB.
Dave
