SISU and the Pie in The Sky (Blues)

April 2005 and I was amongst the Derby fans witnessing us getting walloped 6-2 by Coventry City at the last ever game at Highfield Road. The Sky Blues turned it on big style in the farewell fixture at the old stadium.

Highfield Road was a good ground to visit it had atmosphere and was a tidy stadium. The atmosphere was electric that day and the home fans even applauded us Rams fans who stayed for the full ninety minutes. It was of course a good season overall for us as George Burley led us into the play-offs.

Coventry moved into the Ricoh Arena the following season and once again we were on the end of another spanking. Despite taking an early lead and going in level at the interval, we got hammered 6-1 this time.

Who would have thought that Coventry City, a club that has boasted players like Willie Carr, Darren Huckerby, Chris Cattlin, Cyrille Regis, Bill Glazier, Ian Wallace etc would today be fighting for their very existence.

Playing home games over thirty miles away in Northampton, owned by SISU ( Or a company linked with them), they find themselves homeless and deducted another ten point after having their cva rejected!

The owners do say that they have a three year plan to return to the city in a new stadium. Is this the same owners that have let them go to the dogs. Going to the dogs may well be taken literally too! One of the locations that is on the short list is Brandon Stadium. This is the home of Coventry Bees Speedway Team, Stock Car Racing and Greyhound Racing.

It's quite a barmy choice to be honest! Miles from the city and will alienate fans of The Bees who also support the Sky Blues. Make no mistake it's virtually impossible to house all of these sports in the same stadium.

What those outside of Coventry wonder is why some sort of agreement over the rent at the Ricoh cant be found.

Should the new stadium ever be built, what happens to the Ricoh Arena? It's a smart up to date stadium that is a natural setting for Premier League Football.

SISU came close to owning Derby County a few years ago and the happenings at Coventry paint a picture of what might have happened had Peter Gadsby and co had not bought us.

I really feel for those Sky Blue fans who have supported their club through thick and thin! They deserve better and I hope that a messiah is found before their club is listening to the final nail being hammered into their coffin.

Pictured below are Highfield Road, The Ricoh Arena, and Brandon Stadium.