By John Wilkinson, Coventry Telegraph
December 16 2009
COVENTRY will be back playing at the Butts Park Arena on Friday night.
The crisis-hit club, who went into administration two weeks ago, have been given the go-ahead to play the Championship fixture against Cornish Pirates at their usual home (kick-off 7.45pm).
And Cov are urging as many fans as possible to turn up and add their support during a crucial period in the battle to keep the 135-year-old club alive.
“Our next two home games, on Friday and against Doncaster on January 2, are vital to the future of the club,” said operations director Michael Doyle. “We know it is a busy time of year for everyone but we are urging as many of the supporters, well-wishers and people of the city who want to see the club continue to get along if they can and help us get through.
“I know there are a lot of people who feel the club has been poorly run and managed in the past but all the people here now have just one aim and that is to see Cov continue and to go forward living within its means and to make sure all our financial resources are directed the right way.”
Doyle added: “I joined the club in June and before coming I did my research.
“It didn’t take me long to realise that Cov is a club with a special place in the world of rugby and a history and heritage second to none. That hasn’t gone
“The strength of the club comes from its fan base and over recent years that has diminished, so we have to find a way to get people back and return to the attendance figures of 4,000 or 4,500 there were before.
“That is the challenge for us, but to all those out there I can only say that there has never been a time like now when your support has been needed
“We have got a potential fresh start, so please put your confidence in the people who are doing their level best and in the players who have shown such loyalty and commitment. We need you to come and join us on the journey.”
Fund-raising efforts to pay players and staff their November salaries continue, but rugby diredctor Phil Maynard has confirmed that - along with flanker Jamie Miller, who has joined Bristol - props Scott Roberts and Kevin Davis and hooker Joe Merrigan have left the club.
City council and club representatives met with the RFU on Monday to discuss Cov’s future while urgent efforts to attract new investors are continuing.
The Ricoh Arena stepped in at short notice to host Cov’s previous home game against Bedford on December 4 while licensing issues were resolved and the club’s right to carry on playing at Butts Park was established.
*Contributions to the players’ fund can be made through the Yorkshire Bank, sort code 05-02-46, account number 76964418.
someone parachuted in from god knows where will always be a problem to us.
lets get behind the lads we have left on friday. pm is in a cant lose scenario, may as well play expansive rugby....we'll be in the bottom teams play offs if/ when we lose the 15 points anyway.
banned and using a banned word....that means a life time ban for alan collins.........who really cares about what someone who has not even been here five minutes
this ongoing feud between a certain family/friends and certain people at CRFC is really tedious for your average cov supporter. it seems to dominate this message board. It must also be a turn-off for outsiders and reflect badly on the club.
the vast majority of cov supporters are not interested in your dispute.
Absolutley right SK, but I reckon you should not read the comments and not comment if you are one of those average supporters that think its tedious, its completely your choice. What I am amazed at though is how you know the vast majority of supporters dont care. You are probably right, but how the heck do you know that.
By the way SK who are you? just curious thats all.
SK, lighten up mate, no ongoing feud. Some muppet at the club with ideas above his station.
We are just making light fun of it, so stop being a spongo and lighten up!
ooops sorry Mark I said Spongo again, does that extend my ban to 2 lifetimes??
I am an occasional attendee at the butts. I have supported cov on and off for about 40 years.I have zero connection with anybody at the club. I am not familiar with the parties involved other than what I read on this site. There seems to be a handful of posters who seem to know each other banging the same drum. It has no interest to the rest of us (this is obviously just my opinion not a scientifically researched fact).
If those who are running the club at the moment are going around randomly banning lifelong supporters then perhaps others should show more of an interest??
Maybe, just maybe, we wouldnt be in the state we are in now if more people had of heeded the warning signs under AG's regime earlier? Just a thought to ponder on....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:16:21:43:37 by Nige H.
To be honest , i would like some positive posts on here as well, the same old ones get boring after about 100 times, i think we have the general idea about the bond money and so forth - come on cov -
Green isn't running the club anymore - lets at least try and help these people who are giving their freetime to save the club and raise moneyto keep the club going!
- we can leave all these old issues for a later date - when we run out of fund raising ideas!
COME ON COV - lets support the club - get behind the players and staff that have stuck by the club in these difficult times - COME ON COV
Sorry steve.. The bond and what has happened with it, is vital to the whole debate.. There is such a feeling of lethargy in some quaters its unbelievable.!!.
A 'just let em get on with it' attitude, which personally i feel very fustrated with.
We can still get behind the fund raising, but be unhappy about how things have/are being handled at the moment.
nige h,
that's my point - it does not interest me; it seems to be an ongoing problem between the people running the club and a few supporters - something that could/should be sorted out privately.
rjc,
as to my identity, this is an anonymous forum. As I said, I have nothing to do with anybody involved in your dispute. I am the Joe Bloggs of Coventry rugby.
Cov Steve, at the risk of another boring repetative post. What get behind the people who aligned themselves to Green, giving him some sort of weird credibility?. The people who have helped him bust the club. Dont think so! RJC dont worry about provocative posts, as I said youll be going down there a lot longer that the people who are psoting on here at moment. Including myself I suppose! Your a real Cov supporter, theyll just go with whoever is holding the purse strings. Not for much longer we hope. The purse has been emptied!
Nige H
what exactly dou you want to happen? Green is history. His employee (whatever his name is ) had a bit of childish spat with you (or whoever) on the board, so what ? you're not really barred, are you ? I think that it's all a waste of energy and bandwidth
But i just think if we all cared a little bit more about how 'the club' and those who represent it behaved, then perhaps instances like this wont happen again, and again. but because supporters 'arent bohtherd'. then people keep getting away with behavoiur such as this, then these things keep happening.
Its a bit like turning a blind eye to the school bully. If it doesnt affect me, why should i care? So the bully just keeps on bullying.
Just want to point out im not saying there was bullying, its just an analogy. :-)
Lets just hope that you or any other supporters dont find themselves in similar situations.
Oh and by the way, because of this 'ban', there will be no one looking after the ballboys or doing the PA system on friday night!!
OK lads you are never going to agree (I'm not taking sides) so should we call it quits. Those of us not involved understand fully the viewpoint of both sides.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:17:15:31:29 by Roger Fox.
Logged in thinking this was at last a positive thread relating to getting people into the club (fill these seats to save coventry was the title), alas its reverted back to the politics
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:17:18:03:29 by War Horse.
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