MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 11:51:55| >> :600:146912:146912:

Coventry to continue ground-share with Birmingham next season

Coventry to continue ground-share with Birmingham next season
© Reuters
The Sky Blues have been promoted back to the Championship.

Coventry have confirmed an extension of their existing ground-sharing arrangement at Birmingham's St Andrew's stadium for the 2020/21 season.

The Sky Blues, who have been promoted back to the Championship, said negotiations with Wasps, the landlords of the Ricoh Arena, had broken down.

In a statement, the club blamed clauses introduced to the licence agreement by Wasps for creating a situation which would have "jeopardised" the club's future.

The club said: "Following months of negotiations and despite being very close to agreeing commercial conditions, the same issues that prevented a deal last season have again prevented a deal for the upcoming season.

"[T]he clauses introduced (to the licence agreement) by Wasps, for themselves and for a third-party, then added conditions that would unreasonably restrict the club... and jeopardise its very future."

Coventry revealed this week that they have reached an agreement with the University of Warwick to provide land on which they can build a new stadium.

Coventry City v Birmingham City – FA Cup – Fourth Round – St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium
Coventry will play at St Andrew's for at least one more year (Tim Goode/PA)

But in the meantime they paid tribute to both the EFL and Birmingham for facilitating the deal that will see them remain at St Andrew's for another season.

The statement added: "We would again like to thank the EFL for their understanding, help and patience with this matter, and extending Monday's deadline until today to try to help us resolve the issues.

"We would like to thank Birmingham City and their staff for their continued support in this situation. They were excellent to us last season, and we have no doubt that they will continue to be.

"We of course do not want to be there but have been forced again to take this action to ensure fixtures next season can be fulfilled."

ID:407838: cacheID:407838:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5188:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Coventry City manager Mark Robins pictured on January 14, 2020
Read Next:
Coventry, Rotherham promoted to Championship as League One season ended
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!