Coventry Telegraph back page: January 27

[dutchman]

SISU had to stump up £9million before a ball had been kicked when they took over Coventry City in 2007.

That instant bill included tax arrears of nearly £5m. And although City’s net transfer outlay over the past four years is less than £2m, the crippling costs of running a football club that doesn’t own its stadium has pushed their total investment past £30m.

Sky Blues chief executive Tim Fisher reveals the figures today in his second exclusive Coventry Telegraph article designed to tell the fans what’s been going on behind the scenes at the Ricoh Arena.

He insists that suspicions Sisu have been ‘bleeding City dry’ are completely unfounded and stresses that the club only receives a fraction of the transfer fee up front when they sell any of their star players.

“The constant accusation of asset stripping is totally untrue,” he says, “and, indeed, unfair when you take into account that Sisu has continued to fund the club.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, Sisu has not taken any dividends or capital repayments from the club. It is only because of the constant funding and financing by the owner that Coventry City remains a going concern.”