Boddy: No Talks Between The Football Club, Wasps Or City Council

Last updated : 17 February 2019 By CNS Sport

Coventry City CEO David Boddy said in his programme notes for the Sky Blues game against Walsall that there have been no talks with either Wasps or Coventry City Council about the Sky Blues extending their tenure at the Ricoh Arena.

The Wyre Piddle hailing and club killing Boddy, whom many feel that the Sky Blues would be far better off without, wrote: “Unfortunately there have been no talks between the football club and either Wasps or Coventry City Council.

 

 

“Coventry City Council, however, did meet with the Sky Blues Trust last week.

While it is right that they hear one of the voices of the many supporter groups that the club has, it is disappointing that they still refuse to meet with myself.

“I have written to Council Leader George Duggins and Chief Executive Martin Reeves to request a meeting yet have been refused the opportunity to speak to them.

“A major institution in the city is in jeopardy yet the City Council leaders refuse to meet the chief executive of that institution.

“I feel it is particularly important that the football club meets with Coventry City Council following comments made this week about the reassurances Wasps gave the council when they moved to Coventry.

“At the time the council leader, Ann Lucas, said in a statement: ‘This deal would not have happened if it threatened the future of the Sky Blues or Coventry Rugby Club.’ 

“At the end of last year current council leader George Duggins claimed that this guarantee, which was part of the minutes when the council voted for the Wasps deal, was only intended to last four years.

“Earlier this week Nick Eastwood, Wasps’ CEO, said ‘We effectively made a commitment to the council when we purchased the Ricoh that the Sky Blues would be at the stadium for as long as they wish.’

“These are contradictory statements from different parties relating to this guarantee of security for the football club at the Ricoh Arena, the stadium that would not be there today without the football club being the driving force for the regeneration in 1997, and it would be good to be able to speak to the council so they can clarify this for the football club, the supporters and the citizens of Coventry who elected their representatives to take this decision in 2014.

“My invitation to sit down and speak to them, any time and any place, remains open.

“I have, however, had the pleasure to talk with some local MPs recently, namely Colleen Fletcher and Marcus Jones, and we have talked in depth about issues facing the club at the moment and the opinions of their constituents on the matter.

“While it is beyond me, we also spoke about the legal action that the owners are taking in the name of the football club.

“This is clearly another vital part of this situation, and that has been expressed by many parties I have spoken to.

“The legal process is ongoing, and we await an update on proceedings.”

 

 

 

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