CEO pours cold water on ground rumours

COVENTRY City say they are “unlikely” to be returning to the Ricoh Arena and city that bears the club’s name this season.

Sky Blues chief executive Dave Boddy admits that the football club are now planning to stay at their chosen groundshare venue, St Andrew’s, for the remainder of the 2019/20 campaign, dashing the hopes of thousands of fans, including some 6,000 plus who have opted to stay away from the club’s temporary Birmingham home.

Rumours have been rife for months that Mark Robins and his promotion chasing team would return to the Ricoh during the course of the season but, speaking in his programme column From The Boardroom today, ahead of City’s game against MK Dons – their 17th game in Birmingham City – Boddy said: “There has 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 effective way of watching all the remaining Sky Blues league games in the second half of the season, plus match packages which are still available too.”

City have enjoyed an average following of just under 6,000 at ‘home’ games in Birmingham - half of last season’s 12,000 average at the Ricoh Arena.

Many believe that with the current success of the team and attractive style of football that home gates would be more than 15,000 if the club was back in Coventry.

Certainly, missing out on so much ticket revenue is a huge blow to the football club’s finances.

Wasps are also missing out on significant funds from rent from the Sky Blues.

Robins and his players, however, have flourished in the face of adversity, making St Andrew’s a fortress where they have won eight of their 12 League One games to date, losing just once, and enjoying the benefit of an excellent playing surface.

We sought further clarification this week on Wasps’ stance regarding their terms for a return to the Ricoh, in particular the issue of a so-called ‘indemnity clause’ which has been the source of some confusion. No official comment has been made by either side but it’s clear that nothing has changed regarding the conditions for a return, and that an indemnity clause does exist and is seen as the major stumbling block between the two parties.

Sisu signed an agreement last Spring not to pursue legal action against Wasps regarding the sale and lease of the stadium to pave the way for talks to go ahead to agree a new deal to stay at the Ricoh. But Wasps are understood to have insisted they go a step further by agreeing to an indemnity clause which proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back and something the hedge fund owners refuse to sign.

Neither side currently wish to discuss any finer details due to having signed an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).