EFL clarify Coventry City's groundshare position at St Andrew'sThe English Football League have clarified their stance on Coventry City’s ‘temporary’ groundshare away from their home city.
The Sky Blues secured a move to Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s stadium this summer after failing to agree terms with Premiership rugby club Wasps for a fresh deal to stay at the Ricoh Arena.
Fans were told at the time that the EFL had granted permission for the football club to move 22 miles away to play their ‘home’ games in League One, believing that to be for one season only.
However, following the inaugural meeting of the recently formed Coventry City Supporters’ Forum – made up of all of the established supporters clubs and groups to represent the widest possible range of fans – it emerged that the club have the option to stay away from the city for up to three years.
The minutes of the meeting revealed that the club owner Sisu have re-engaged a land agent to identify possible sites to build a new stadium, revealing that, to-date, several possible sites have been identified.
But the minutes also revealed the bombshell: “The EFL have currently given CCFC the ability to play outside of Coventry for up to three seasons if necessary, but the EFL will allow CCFC to return to Coventry at any point.”
Asked for clarification of the situation as the EFL see it, a spokesman told CoventryLive: “As confirmed previously, the EFL Board has given Coventry City permission to play its home fixtures at the Trillion Trophy Stadium in season 2019/20.
“There is the potential for this arrangement to be extended for up to a further two seasons subject to the EFL Board being satisfied that the Club are making suitable progress towards finding a long term solution that will see it return to the city of Coventry.
“Discussions remain ongoing in this respect.”