MX23RW : Monday, January 6 22:51:59| >> :120:44071:44071:

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:
Written by
P A
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 UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


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!