City Must Own The Ricoh - Coleman

Last updated : 07 July 2009 By Covsupport News Service
Coventry City manager Chris Coleman has said that City must own a share in the Ricoh Arena and that is the bigger picture rather than spending on players.

"The most important thing is that Coventry City have got their own stadium, or at least a stake in it," said Chris Coleman to the CT.

"That's the aim but we are talking about a lot of money, but in the long run I think it will be the best thing to do and we are not ready to do it yet, I believe.

"It is going to take a lot of financing and I understand that.

"I understand that it is a business and sometimes I have to take a step back from it and wait a bit longer to get to where I want to be. "And if that's the case then that's the case.

"I can understand the fans wanting the club to spend but there is a bigger picture. "We don't own our stadium and have to pay to play in it.

"I understand the long-term future of the club is the most important and I did a lot of ducking and diving in the transfer market when I was at Fulham because I had to and I put a lot of money into the club and didn't see a lot of it back because there were certain things that needed doing.

"And if that happens at Coventry I have got to get on with it. "It is frustrating for me but I do understand the long-term future of this club is the most important.

"As the manager I want new players in and it is going to cost money and sometimes you have to be a bit patient."

Whether the long suffering City support will have the same patience is open to debate. Relying on the players they have in a squad which clearly needs to be strengthened and loans could prove to be a dangerous strategy.

In order to bring in bigger crowds to the Ricoh Arena, City need to constantly be playing well and in a very difficult division, this could be a tough ask for Chris Coleman and his side.