The battle lines have been drawn. It’s the fans of Coventry City vs The Owners and so far the advantage seems to be with the fans. By default the owners have all the power, but the fans are claiming it back.
The demise of Coventry City from Premier League regulars to League One crisis-club has been a fairly swift one. And, as far as the fans are concerned, it’s a demise that current owners SISU should take the brunt of the criticism for. As the economic climate has changed numerous clubs have felt the pinch with the sky blues far from immune to the credit crunch.
The most recent sacrifice has been the loss of their home, the Ricoh Arena. No longer able to afford the rent (despite reportedly being offered a 60% discount), Coventry City were forced to up sticks and play their football elsewhere. Unfortunately, ‘elsewhere’ meant away from Coventry.
Last Sunday, Coventry played their first ‘home’ game of the season at Northampton Town’s Sixfield Stadium, a full 35 miles from the Ricoh Arena. This seems to have been the final straw for many supporters. The catalyst for mutterings of discontent to escalate into full blown protest and boycott.
Only 2,200 fans attended the game, down from Coventry’s average attendance of over 10,000 last season. And of that 2,200 over 1,200 were travelling Bristol City fans. The scene is now an angry one, outside the stadium fans and protesters clashed in furious exchanges of views. Groups with differing opinions but ultimately the same team in their hearts. Chants of “we’re supposed to be at home” fill the air.
To the few who watched the game, the team comes first. The 11 players on the field need all the support they can get and the protest just disrupts them. But to many the allure of watching their team play football wasn’t enough to silence their protests.
Meanwhile, with the team playing this league fixture against Bristol City, a charity game featuring a Coventry City Legends XI attracted over 8,000 fans to the Ricoh Arena. The interest in Coventry City was clearly there but the boycott of the team was already in full effect.
This quote from a Coventry City fan, as reported on Sky Sports News, summed up their plight perfectly for me:
(Picture a man decked out in Coventry City merchandise with a look of bewilderment on his face and a tear in his eye)
“I shouldn’t be here, I should be following my team, which I’ve done for years. But I’m here, on a charity day. Why? WHY? I’m sorry”.
As much as they all deep down wanted an afternoon watching their beloved Coventry City the thought of ploughing any more money into the pockets of SISU was too much to overcome.
Kudos to the fans of Coventry City for making a stand. I understand why many ignored the protests and wanted to support their team and I’m sure that their efforts were appreciated by the players. But the real praise should go to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Coventry City fans with a passion for watching their team and cheering them on as much as possible, giving up that passion to vote with their feet. It’s not a peaceful march that can be ignored by the most stubborn of chairmen. It’s a direct hit to the wallets of the owners. 10,000 fans per game down to 2,000. No businessman can ignore that kind of drop in revenue.
I have no affiliation to Coventry City FC or any personal affinity with the club. If this protest had not made the news then their result this weekend would probably not have even been on my radar. But I personally hope that the clubs owners take heed of the warning giving by the clubs fans and move on. Due to the actions of SISU the supporters felt the need to stay away from their club, missing a scintillating 5-4 win over Bristol City in the process.
Their ownership has sullied this club for the people that matter the most. No, not the shareholders, I am referring to the heart of the club, the fans. If they are capable of getting the club back to a position where it can be supported by its fans then fine, otherwise, move on.
Coventry City, proving that no matter who invests the money, the fans run their club.