Coventry City FC (The Bantams, Sky Blues)

Why did they move from Highfield Road?

They moved from Highfield Road because the then chairman, Bryan Richardson, was a sort of megalomaniac whose ideas far outstripped his ability to deliver. He was running the club single-handed and the rest of the board let him get away with it for far too long. He wanted the national stadium in Coventry and the Arena 2000 project was wildly optimistic as it was never going to be chosen over Wembley as the national stadium. Richardson somehow managed to convince lots of people that Highfield Road was no longer fit for purpose, which was not true for where we were as it had a 24000 capacity and most of it was not that old. Crucially, however, it was in an inner city location and so it was seen as ripe for redevelopment, as had happened with many other stadiums around the country. Bear in mind that councils have little say in such plans, the Department for the Environment pull the strings in the long run. Richardson knew the way the wind was blowing and saw his vanity project. The truth is that we could have remained at Highfield Road to this day and continued to own it but for him. (In my opinion, of course.) When the national stadium went to Wembley, the Arena 2000 plans were gradually eroded to what we see now. But Richardson had sold Highfield Road by then, leaving the club to have to pay rent on it until the Arena was built. Land contamination delayed it for years and by the time the Arena build started in early 2004 the money had disappeared into football's black hole. Richardson had flown by the seat of his pants for years hoping for the money success would bring and it all caught up with him.

Hi all Please bear-in-mind that Sir Jimmy Hill lost a lot of the silver in a USA venture, that flopped as a commercial enterprise.

I guess getting relegated didn't help. This article is interesting (if somewhat confusing as it's not clear just who is telling the truth!). It seems that Richardson brokered the deal with Tesco, but the land was bought by the council and the profit used to part built the stadium. What a mess. I don't see how the council can be blamed here, though. It does annoy me that they have thrown a lot resources at this Arena over the years and neglected other things. There was that whole Casino thing as well.

That's true, Philip. There were a few benefits player-wise with that deal but it didn't end well. There was a lot less money around in those days though. When Richardson's profligacy and mismanagement ended up with our relegation in 2001 it couldn't have happened at a worse time. That was when the really big money was coming into the game and I'm sure Richardson was banking on us hanging on for that. We just missed out really as relegated teams get huge 'parachute' payments now to sustain any such situations. Given what he did for the club over the years though, I'm glad to see that you have awarded JH his long-overdue knighthood.

Do you think if they managed to build a stadium in Coventry, that sisu might sell up after that?

City made a big mistake in letting Dave Sexton go in 1983, causing the exciting team of potential to be dismantled - in purely footballing terms, it was a poor decision as the future looked so bright after a period of struggle and low attendances And City were unfortunate to suffer from the European ban following the Heysel tragedy, which meant they were unable to take their place in the Cup Winners Cup after the 1987 Wembley victory Nevertheless, long-term, Richardson and SISU stand alone in the dock as the definitive reason for the ongoing situation

Not a chance of any new stadium, either in Coventry or anywhere else. Sisu have only ever wanted the Ricoh, but they wanted it for next to nothing. They have missed their chance. The idea of this mythical new one has been nothing more than a distraction, they have no intention of building it. Their exit strategy has gone, the only way we will be rid of them is if a court awards them millions in damages against the council. I think that is very unlikely.

Apart from re-iterating the 'it'll never happen' already put forward as it makes absolutely no commericial sense whatsoever and is nothing more than a delaying tactic, if we were to assume one was it could make it more likely, as a stadium is going to possibly make money whereas the club aren't. As it stands, I reckon SISU/Arvo, despite their constant reassertions of not taking money out, are actually doing quite well out of the club. They have interest on loans and debentures being paid to them and all the money they have put in has been done so in terms of debt repayable to them rather than capital introduced. Some of this debt was converted to equity in order to ensure the football league gave them the 'golden share', but this still provides them with some security. It is interesting that after dodging the question for a long time, the chairman of CCFC at the time, Tim Fisher, finally conceded that a new stadium WOULDN'T be owned by the club anyway, but another holding company who they would pay rent to. Basically the same set up as now but with the rent going to SISU instead of ACL. So if SISU could get someone to be stupid enough to give them a decent wedge of their money back AND take on a club that still didn't own its own ground, yes I think they would sell.

Just heard of the passing of former CCFC secretary Paul Oliver He went on to become Team Manager, and later President, of Warwickshire County Bowling Association, where I got to know him very well RIP Paul

Hoping this is the appropriate place for this post. Apologies if it's not. I paid my first visit to the Ricoh on Saturday for the Wasps v Bath game. I have no interest in CCFC or Wasps so I tend to watch Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, or sometimes take a trip to the Butts for a Cov fixture. Sitting next to a Bath fan we got chatting, as opposing rugby fans do, and he asked me why CCFC hadn't bought the Ricoh, a fantastic stadium. Had to admit had no idea why. Were CCFC actually offered it? Can't see it was a funding problem as the owners are, as I understand it, a London based hedge fund. So the amount paid by Wasps of I believe c £6million would have been small change. I know there were issues between CCFC and the council but were they such that the council didn't want them to own it?

Just googled above. Clearly a lot more to it than I ever imagined!!!

CCFC appoint new Managing Director - report

Could this be the first sensible thing they've done?

Very sad is the news of the death of Marton Fulop at the age of 32 - he kept goal for CCFC in the 2005-06 season RIP Marton