And while we're waiting for the outcome of the STHF.... Speculation about Wasps' finances rumbles on, but there is another spectre at the feast. Coventry RFC are top of Nat 1 by 9 points (11 wins from 11 with 9 TBPs) and are averaging an attendance of 1600 in a division where 500 is a good crowd. Should they get promoted, and with due respect to Bishop's Stortford and Loughborough Students, the visits of Worcester/London Irish or Bedford might stretch the capacity of the Butts stadium (3-4000). The head will say "watch Wasps at the Ricoh in the AP", but the hearts of Coventry rugby folk might take them to watch Cov in the Championship. Home-town clubs have a local history which franchises can't match, so Wasps attendances could suffer just at the time when they need to be consolidating.

Generally, is there room for a Prem and a Championship club in one city?

You are of course spot on, I support Blackheath in that division.... Coventry are by far and away the best side.

It isn't just being called 'Coventry' as the ground name suggests having a history with great clubs such as Barkers Butts in the area can't be replicated. It is very authentic.

I really hope they do grow and overtake Wasps. Of course this will all be money dependent. I remember in the old days they used to come to Northampton with pretty vocal support, some geezer had a megaphone if my memory serves me right.

There was talk about groundsharing with CCFC but I have lost touch on whether those Sisu spivs are still in control or whether supporters group has tabled a bid.

As a cov old boy who was taught by some of coventry's best players and had the pleasure of a propping lesson with Keith Fairbrother, and whose grandparents were the god parents of one of cov's finest, David Duckham, i sincerely hope that they get back to their glory days.

Wasps being there is nothing short of a slap in the face to coventry RFC and all its fans, and i have absolutely no issues if wasps end up on the scrap heap because of what they tried to do in coventry.

maybe then need to scuttle back off to london or brighton or somewhere not in the midlands!

Have had it on fairly decent authority that cov fans really don't mind wasps being their neighbours. Prem rugby on the their doorstep and can go down their when no rugby or crazy away trips. May change if ever play in the same division of course

Was it any different at High Wycombe?

I don’t see the issue without Wasps, Tring. It’s hardly as if Prem Rugby was even remotely an option a couple of years ago and they still have a small ground.

I doubt whether many locals would have attended Cov instead. Just hope that Cov get more dosh whilst moving up the leagues.

Tring saint,whilst I may accept your views I do not agree with them.Wasps oming to Cov was great.
You get good rugby,great food,fantastic beer and all at a very reasonable price!!(please note saints board)
As regards the Butts Park Arena,where Cov play,facilities are quite good prices OK.
There is loads of room for 2 clubs in Cov.
One is one side of the city and one the other side.

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Covbryan
As regards the Butts Park Arena,where Cov play,facilities are quite good prices OK.
There is loads of room for 2 clubs in Cov. One is one side of the city and one the other side.

well, one is on the northern outskirts, the other not far outside the centre, and they're competing for the same bunch of rugby fans. Has any other town ever had a Prem and a Champ club vying for support? Can't see it myself, especially as the Sky Blues still a competing attraction. Wasps might need those missing thousands just to survive.

I'm a bit out of touch now, but there seemed to be scope for another stand and development at the Butts which would double capacity to 6-8000, allowing attendances better than some Prem clubs.

I wish no harm to Wasps, a fine club with its own history. But it isn't a Coventry club and would be better off back in its heartland of the London area. I would say that its arrival in Coventry may have kick-started a renewed interest in rugby but that Cov will benefit in the long run - IF they get promoted, and IF they establish themselves in the Championship (a couple of big IFs).

Wasps at the Ricoh is a strong attraction, but Coventry kids in their 60s will remember a pack which specialized in pushover tries, with Bert Godwin and Phil Judd at its core. Those in their 50s will recall 4 local lads forming the England backs who beat the All Blacks in Auckland (Duckham, Preece, Rossborough and Evans). There's the head/ heart conundrum in a nutshell!

Bristol to Bath is 12-13 miles. Bris manage to get 8-9-10 thousand without a problem and Bath is mostly full I think.

Coventry RFC v a franchise currently based in Coventry. No choice is there?

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Dumpling (all statements in my opinion only)
Bristol to Bath is 12-13 miles. Bris manage to get 8-9-10 thousand without a problem and Bath is mostly full I think.

that's probably the nearest to the "2 clubs" scenario, but Bath and Bristol combined have twice the population of Coventry.

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skybluesaint

Quote:

Dumpling (all statements in my opinion only)
Bristol to Bath is 12-13 miles. Bris manage to get 8-9-10 thousand without a problem and Bath is mostly full I think.

that's probably the nearest to the "2 clubs" scenario, but Bath and Bristol combined have twice the population of Coventry.

Back in the day - when Bris and Cov were having great matches - Bath were a lesser side and only merited a part of the Bris first team playing! How times have changed. Bris then let paid amateurism and then professionalism arrive without reacting to the changes and were left behind. A lesson for Saints?

Would love to see CRFC do well.