“Work for one common goal in good faith, history will judge you”
Coventry City supporters’ group Sky Blue Trust has urged those involved in the row over the Ricoh Arena to work together towards a common goal in ensuring the club has a home next season.
The club has just four games remaining at the Ricoh Arena before their rent runs out at the stadium and they become homeless.
The situation with the Sky Blues, as laid out by JOE in a series of interviews with supporters and the Sky Blue Trust last month, means that they are faced with the serious threat of homelessness should a dispute between its owners, SISU, the city council and Wasps, the rugby union club which acquired the stadium – purpose-built for Coventry City – in 2014.
SISU has persisted with legal action against the parties involved, most recently protesting the council’s decision to sell half of the stadium’s operating company to Wasps, who for their part made it known that they wouldn’t consider extending the current agreement which allows the football club to play at the Ricoh while SISU persist with legal action.
A statement released by SISU on March 13, the club will end legal action if, and only if, the council helps them build a stadium for the Coventry City in Coventry and that Wasps allow them to stay at the Ricoh Arena until the stadium is built.
A spokesman for the Sky Blue Trust said: “Following various statements this week it is now clear that nothing is going to change unless ALL parties involved in this saga are prepared to start acting in the best interest of Coventry City Football Club .
“We therefore feel strongly that it is time to stop the “blame game” and get on with the business of saving OUR club.
“We welcome Sisu’s willingness to withdraw their legal action although their conditions are far from straightforward.
“We don’t believe that a new stadium is either needed or feasible.
“After six years of rhetoric about such a stadium we remain sceptical and believe that all parties should focus on a return to the Ricoh with CCFC working in partnership with Wasps .
“However if that’s their intention we would urge Sisu to keep their word and to work with the council and Wasps to bring this to fruition.
“We therefore urge Sisu to show they mean business by starting the process of withdrawing the legals.
“Similarly we urge Wasps to show they mean business by sitting round the table to discuss a short term deal whilst the new proposed stadium is being constructed.
“After all what do they have to lose by agreeing a deal in principle conditional upon the legals being dropped.
“We also urge Coventry City Council to work with Sisu in finding them suitable land, if available, in line with the local plan within Coventry and to assist with the planning process.
“We now call for all those involved to cease the stubborn refusal to co-operate and urge all parties to set aside their historic antipathies and work together on a long term solution for the club and its long suffering supporters.
“Be that a new stadium or long term deal at the Ricoh, the future of this great club is in all of your hands – don’t let us down. Work for one common goal in good faith, history will judge you.”
