Coventry Telegraph

NEW FEARS OVER ARENA

SKY BLUES ‘LOOK AT ALTERNATIV­E VENUES’ AS STADIUM OWNERS NEED TO FIND FUNDING BY MONDAY DEADLINE

- By JAKE BAYLISS Football Reporter

COVENTRY City are reportedly “looking at alternativ­e venues” after Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) were given a deadline to avoid administra­tion.

The company owns the Coventry Building Society Arena and were not included in the administra­tion of Wasps Holdings Limited earlier this month.

However, ACL filed a separate notice of intention to appoint administra­tors, giving the stadium owners two weeks to find new investors to avoid going into administra­tion.

That deadline is set to be Monday, October 31 and has led to concerns over the football club’s future at the CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues confirmed on Thursday that this afternoon’s Championsh­ip game against Blackpool will go ahead as planned but there are doubts over Tuesday night’s fixture against Blackburn Rovers.

BBC CWR has reported that City remain “in talks” with ACL and Coventry City Council over the team’s future at the ground.

However, there are fears that the Sky Blues could be “locked out” of the stadium if ACL’S financial issues are not resolved or a new buyer for the stadium does not come forward.

It is stated that “other options are being considered” for Tuesday’s home match with Lancashire visitors Blackburn.

Coventry spent two seasons from 2019-2021 playing home fixtures at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s following a ground-sharing dispute with Wasps and had a Carabao Cup game moved to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium earlier this season due to issues with the Arena pitch.

The Sky Blues confirmed they had received “written guarantees” from ACL that today’s game will go ahead.

A club statement on Thursday said: “We remain in constant dialogue with Arena Coventry Limited and Coventry City Council regarding the current situation.

“We know that the current situation regarding the Arena and its operating company is a concern for fans, as it is for the club, and we will continue to communicat­e with supporters as and when we’re able to do so, and look forward to welcoming supporters on Saturday.”

 ?? ?? Stadium owners ACL now reportedly face the threat of going into administra­tion
Stadium owners ACL now reportedly face the threat of going into administra­tion

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