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 from our game against Queens Park Rangers below:
Good afternoon and welcome to the Coventry Building Society Arena for today’s game, as we face Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship.
I would also like to welcome the players, staff, officials and supporters who join us from QPR for the match this afternoon.
As we go into the World Cup break, the future of the Arena remains unclear. Since writing my notes for Tuesday’s excellent home victory over Wigan Athletic, it has been reported that Mike Ashley’s Fraser Group has an exclusivity period to buy the Coventry Building Society Arena. This period of time ends on 17th November, when a decision will be made in the courts as to the future of Arena Coventry Limited.
The Football Club has had brief initial discussions with the Fraser Group regarding the future of the Arena and their interest in it, and they have given us assurances that the Sky Blues continuing to play at the Arena is very much part of their plans, should they purchase the Arena.
The situation is very fluid and outside of our control, but obviously of great importance to the Football Club and our supporters. We will endeavor to keep our fans updated as much as it is possible for us to do so over the coming weeks and months.
As we approach the World Cup break, we can reflect on a start to the season that has certainly been memorable – for good and for not so good reasons. It has been brilliant to see the performances we have put in now earning points, with three games won in a row and a number of clean sheets to boot – including a club record run of away clean sheets.
We have faced some difficult and complex challenges over the last few months, but we have been able to work through these and keep together as a Club and as a fanbase.
You, our supporters, have remained steadfastly behind the Football Club as you always have been, and the atmosphere on matchdays both home and away has been fantastic. The support you provide gives a real boost to me personally and all of the players and the staff on matchdays and on non-matchdays at our community appearances, and your impact and loyalty should never be underestimated or taken for granted. It makes us all very proud to see and hear you on matchdays, whether it is here at the Coventry Building Society Arena, or up and down the country, with so many of you travelling many miles to support the team. It is support that does not go unnoticed by other Clubs either, and they recognise also the impact you have on matchdays.
While I know many will miss watch the Sky Blues during the World Cup break, I’m sure you are looking forward already to our return to league action in on 10th December at Reading.
Thanks for your continued support, enjoy the game.