SKY BLUES SHOULD HEED THE MESSAGE

THE depth of disdain for Sisu, Coventry’s hated owners, was further illustrated this week with a stinging rebuttal from the city’s rugby club.

Informed that the Sky Blues might seek to play at their Butts Park home next season, Coventry RFC chairman Jon Sharp effectively told them to get lost.

“We will not deal with them as long as they are owned by Sisu,” he said. “We have spent many years re-establishing our status in the city. I’m not prepared to risk that by associating with City’s owners.”

Later, Sharp expanded on his reasoning. “We rely on a good relationship with Coventry City Council and are talking to them about how to develop this ground,” he added. “But how can we do that supporting someone who is suing them? It does not make business sense, never mind from a moral point of view.”

It is yet further evidence of the petty, self-destructive and patently negligent battle that Sisu and their totem, Joy Seppala, are engaged in.

The row dates back to 2014, when Coventry City Council sold the Ricoh Arena to Wasps.

Sisu argued that the stadium had been under-valued by £30m and that the football club had been denied an opportunity to bid for it.

Since then, Sisu have been defeated in the High Court, refused an appeal by the Supreme Court and, in July, lost their bid for a judicial review.

You’d think that would be enough, but no. Like a sallowfaced gambler desperately demanding one more spin, Seppala staggered into the Court of Appeal and, in September, won the right to a fresh hearing.

What a complete and utter waste of three years. If Sisu had put even half the time and money they’ve spent fighting a lost cause into funding Coventry City, they might now have a Championship club, the goodwill of the city and a supportive council.

Now? Even if Seppala secures the damages she craves, Coventry will still be homeless next season. They’ll still be in League Two. The club will still be a sorry shadow of its former self and worthless on the open market.

Seppala claims she is fighting on behalf of Coventry. As far as anyone can see, this Dickensian legal tussle only goes to show she couldn’t care less.