I played away all season then won the title at home
Kelly’s heroes shrugged off Brum deal to clinch crown
LIAM KELLY and his Coventry City mates had to celebrate their title triumph at home after an entire season of playing away.
Despite that, the Scot insists nothing can take the shine off the Sky Blues’ achievement after they were crowned League One champions by the EFL.
Kelly finally uncorked the champagne on Tuesday night after league chiefs south of the border brought months of uncertainty to an end by calling the bottom two tiers on a points per game average.
City were five points ahead of Rotherham with a game in hand with 10 matches to go, a record all the more impressive as their home matches had to be played at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s.
Former Kilmarnock midfielder Kelly joined his team mates on a video call to toast their success.
He said: “It was different, but the whole world is a different place at the moment.
“It’s not taken anything away from our achievement. We put ourselves at the top of the league and there was such a gap we are deserved champions.
“We wanted to continue the season, it would have been nice if we could have celebrated it with the fans, but we will celebrate it in a special way with them when the world gets back to normality.
“There were video chats all over the place on Tuesday night and everyone was on it.
“There was nothing in the house I didn’t drink – champagne, beer the lot.
“I can’t deny it’s frustrating not being able to celebrate the way we wanted but hopefully we’ll see some pubs starting to open up later this month.
“If that happens I’m sure we can have a socially distanced pint with each other and with the fans.”
For Kelly it’s a third winners’ medal after he lifted the League Two play-off trophy in 2018 and the Scottish League Cup with Killie in 2012.
That memorable Hampden triumph over Celtic was overshadowed by tragedy when Kelly’s father Jack died of a heart attack after the match.
It’s a painful memory for the
30-year-old but he knows his old man would be proud of his achievements.
He said: “I have three winners’ medals now – the Scottish League Cup with Kilmarnock, the League Two play-offs and now the League One title.
“I only got to really celebrate one of them properly but it’s right up there.
“All my successes are equal in terms of merit, nothing comes higher than the other.
“Some people get to play a whole career and never win anything so it’s fantastic and hopefully there might be a few more.”
Coventry were forced to lodge at St Andrew’s after a deal to return to the Ricoh Arena couldn’t be reached before the season started.
Now Kelly is hoping City can return to their home in time for a push in the Championship as the Sky Blues look to continue their momentum back towards the top flight.
He said: “We only lost three games this season.
“Since December our form has been unbelievable and even when we weren’t playing well we managed to dig out points.
“We achieved this while playing at St Andrew’s all season and sometimes people forget that. Our form has been fantastic and it’s credit to a great bunch of players.
“I’m just glad the EFL have come to the right decision. It’s been applied across Europe, it’s what UEFA has recommended but there was still a concern they might null and void it.
“As we have seen in Scotland with Celtic winning the title and in France with PSG, everyone is on the same page and it is the right decision.
“It’s just taken a bit longer to reach it. It’s a very competitive league. You’ve got Sunderland, Ipswich, Portsmouth, big clubs with big budgets who want to get back into the Championship, who weren’t even in the top four.
“We are a big club too, though. We’re a Premiership club in terms of fan base.
“There’s a lot still needing put in place for Coventry to get back in the top flight but we are going into the Championship to have a right go.”