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 Luton Town below:
Good afternoon and welcome to the Coventry Building Society Arena for today’s game as we face Luton Town in the Sky Bet Championship.
I would like to also welcome the players, staff, supporters and officials who join us this afternoon from Luton.
Luton Town were a side who were promoted during the same season as us in League Two and that we have faced on a number of occasions over the last few years as both Clubs have climbed through the divisions. There have been some really good, competitive games over that period, and we look forward to the same again this afternoon.
Last week saw the transfer window conclude. It is always a busy time, with a lot of media and social media speculation about players and their futures.
We were able to add players to the squad in areas that were identified by Mark Robins, and we are delighted to have welcomed these players to Coventry City, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Luke McNally and Sean Maguire all arriving at Ryton. Young defender Riccardo Di Trolio also arrived, returning back to St Albans City on loan until the end of the season.
Elsewhere, others who it was felt needed opportunities for minutes elsewhere or a move to aid their development have been able to find new clubs.
Meanwhile, we cannot deny that there was interest in some of our current squad from other teams. However, it has been important for us to be able to keep the players that we want to and to ensure that the business done in this window is in the best interests of Coventry City Football Club, and in helping us to achieve our aims for this season and beyond.
Also last week, our Online Store was able to re-open. It had been unavailable since our retail partner went into administration on 23rd November, which was obviously a big blow to us. A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes, firstly to purchase stock from administrators and then to get the Club Shop at the Arena back open just before Christmas.
Since then, we have been working to fulfil outstanding orders which we unfulfilled by our retail partner and then get the online store up and running. This has involved making new agreements with the fulfilment company and warehouse to ensure that orders are efficiently picked and delivered to fans, as well as ensuring we have stock available for fans to purchase.
Obviously a big part of this is the playing kit. Over the last few years, due to a huge amount of work internally and externally, we have produced a range of kits that have been hugely popular – both in their designs and also the sales they have generated. I appreciate fans will be keen to hear what the future holds in this area, and we look forward to sharing positive news on this soon.
Thank you for your support as always – enjoy the game. PUSB
Dave Boddy
Chief Executive