The Political Economy of Football V2

Coventry City owner Joy Seppala has met with supporters, giving them updates on the Ricoh Arena and plans for a proposed new stadium, reports Coventry Live. The Sisu boss made the unprecedented move to speak to members of the fans’ forum, Sky Blues Talk during her visit to Coventry last week. An update was also given about attempts to get back to Coventry and the Ricoh Arena – Ms Seppala insisting she was 'hopeful' of being back at the stadium next season – and on-going plans for a new stadium, for which six possible sites have been short-listed, as well as details of the size and style of the facility. Coventry City chairman Rick Fisher has stated that a failure to return to the Ricoh may 'cast significant doubt' on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The club has moved into profit a year on from posting a £2.5 million loss. Accounts, mostly taking in the year before the club moved to having its home games at St Andrew's in Birmingham, show a ...

Coventry City have been given a deadline of March 5th to say where they will be play their home games next season. If they cannot provide an answer, an extraordinary general meeting may be convened to consider their future in the Football League: Football League want an answer Coventry City and Wasps rugby club remain at loggerheads over agreeing a new tenancy at the Ricoh Arena after Coventry's hedge fund owners Sisu saw their call for a judicial review into the 2014 sale of the Ricoh rejected in October. Sisu claimed Coventry City Council undervalued the stadium by £27m and, in November, stated their intention to appeal the rejection. Wasps have previously stated they will not discuss a new tenancy while legal proceedings continue.

Kieran Maguire doesn't hold back when he describes the plight of Coventry City, the first inaugural Premier League team to be relegated to League Two. He states: 'Their finances over the last decade, under a series of opportunists, asset strippers, charlatans and scumbags, have suffered a similar decline.' His full analysis can be found here: Too much too young Coventry City don't own the Ricoh Arena and are very much at the mercy of rugby team Wasps who have only given them a twelve month extension of their tenancy and take most of the match day income. Wasps have marketed themselves very cleverly in the area. The prices they charge are very reasonable. My next door neighbour and his wife go frequently and find it a friendlier atmosphere than a football game. During the week Wasps players can be seen in the coffee shops of up market Leamington Spa. The bigger issue is what one can do to protect fans against feckless owners? Blackpool fans have called for an ...