Sky Blue Trust demands Coventry City owners announce recovery plans or put club up for sale

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A statement from the Trust says that Coventry City is now "in crisis"



The Sky Blue Trust has called for Coventry City owners to ‘put up or sell up’ in the wake of Chris Anderson’s departure.

The club announced this morning that Mr Anderson, the Sky Blues’s managing director and executive vice-chairman, was leaving to return to duties with his football advisory firm.

The news was met with an immediate statement from the supporters’ group who have demanded a “convincing strategy to turn around the fortunes of Coventry City ” from owners Sisu or a decision to sell the club instead.

A statement also called for an “early announcement of a recovery plan for the club, covering issues both on and off the pitch”.

Mr Anderson’s time with the club, which began in November last year, was criticised in the Sky Blue Trust’s statement, which read: “When Anderson replaced Steve Waggott on the club board, the team sat at the top of the League One table with high hopes for promotion to the Championship.

“To have fallen so spectacularly in fortunes during Mr Anderson’s tenure is causing dismay and anger among fans. The club we love is in crisis.”

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Telegraph Opinion: Coventry City should be put up for sale by Sisu

The time has come for Sisu to put Coventry City up for sale.

The departure of executive vice-chairman and managing director Chris Anderson is not going to turn around the fortunes of the Sky Blues.

After less than a year in the post he cannot take much of the blame for the shocking state of this once proud club.

Time is running out on both the rent deal at the Ricoh Arena and the agreement for the Academy to play at the Alan Higgs Centre.

After dropping out of the Championship, a fifth season in League One has brought the Sky Blues to the foot of the table, their lowest ebb since the 1960s.

Fans’ group the Sky Blue Trust wants the owners to come up with an action plan to turn the club around, or put the club up for auction - effectively telling Sisu to put up or sell up.

But after nine miserable years of failure and mediocrity and the departure of another executive after less than a year in the job, is there anyone out there who has any faith in the ability of Sisu to bring success to a club that hasn’t had a top-six finish in any league since 1970?

The rot set in at the Sky Blues long before Sisu took over but the club has sunk to a new low since they plucked it from the jaws of administration in 2007.

Seven managers, one relegation, £60million invested and a season playing in Northampton later, the club’s revenues have more than halved, crowds have dwindled and the owners are at loggerheads with various parties with whom the club needs to collaborate.

We are sure the owners and club directors (of which there have been many) have had good intentions over the last nine years. None of them were actively trying to get to this distressing point in the club’s history so why should fans wait for another strategy when so many have failed?

Saturday’s attendance was 8,813. The fans are voting with their feet.

Football is a results business and failure is not tolerated, just ask any of the managers City have sacked in the last decade.

Thank you for rescuing the club from administration. Thank you for the money you invested - but now is the time to go.

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"I want to know why we are bottom of League One right now” - legend joins calls for Sisu to go



Coventry City legend Bobby Gould has backed the Telegraph’s call for the club’s owners to put the club up for sale.

The former player and manager, who is Coventry born and bred, has said he would meet with Sisu bosses anywhere in the world if it meant sorting out the club’s problems.

Bobby, who went to Caludon Castle School in Wyken, said he is baffled about the club’s rapid decline.

He said: “When I left the club, we were in £2million pounds of debt and ever since that day I don’t think Coventry City have been in a position to pay off their debts in one go.

“I’m mystified as to why the club has dropped away so quickly and why the people of Coventry have been treated so badly.

“I have got the Telegraph since the day I could read. I will back the campaign.

“I am passionate, it is my love and there are more of us who feel exactly the same than they realise.

“I am an ex manager, ex player and supporter and I want to know as an individual why we are at the bottom of League One right now.

“If they want to meet anywhere in the world I would jump on a plane and say what can we do to help.

“I am a Coventry kid and would be nothing without Coventry City.”

As a Coventry kid as well as former player and manager, Bobby’s heart lies within the city, and believes the fans need to be told what is going to happen.

He added: “Sisu have got to realise that this isn’t a toy. They have got to realise it is something we love. Along the way somewhere we have got to have someone telling us what is going on.

“I think that is the most frustrating thing for everyone.

“The history of the club is dwindling day by day, week by week.”

When asked what is next for the club, Bobby said: “Pandemonium.”

He added: “They have to be committed, they have to win. And that’s the bottom line.

“To be bottom of the league with five points, where this time last year we were up there, you have to think what has gone on?”