Sub
Well-Known Member
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-legendary-striker-ian-4308386
LOOK: Legendary Coventry City striker wants fresh start for club under new owners
13 Jun 2013 10:30
Ian Wallace fears his beloved Sky Blues will slump into a downward spiral if they leave the Ricoh
Share on printShare on email
Ian Wallace in his playing days at Coventry City
Legendary striker Ian Wallace wants Coventry City to make a fresh start under new owners.
Adored by the fans in his late 1970s pomp when he struck up an awesome goal-scoring partnership with Mick Ferguson, the 57-year-old Scot believes City need to be run by people with passion for the club and fears that if his beloved Sky Blues leave the Ricoh Arena they will slump into a downward spiral.
“I think it needs someone to come in who has got Coventry City at heart,” said Wallace who lives north of the border in Clydebank but is still a regular visitor to the club that launched his career.
View gallery
View gallery
“There are too many people in the game – and I’m being controversial here – who are not there because of the club, and it doesn’t matter what club they’re at, they are there because of their own means. People who are in football but not for football reasons and Coventry City deserve better than what they are just now, for sure.
“They need someone with the club at heart and with backing of people with money behind them.
“Joe Elliott is 100 per cent Coventry City and he’ll put his heart and soul into the club.”
Elliott and former director Gary Hoffman are currently fronting a bid by property tycoon Preston Haskell IV to buy CCFC Ltd, the company currently in administration.
As for the plans by the current owners for the club to leave the city, Wallace said: “I don’t think it would be a good move to leave, I really don’t. Any fan would say if you are leaving your home it’s like going to a second home and that’s never the same.
“Coventry City’s home is the Ricoh and that’s where the fans want to stay and build a fanbase there to get more season tickets and a better team to go up a division. I think if they move to another ground it will be a downward spiral to be honest.”
Wallace, who scored an outstanding 58 goals in 130 games for City, never tires of returning to his former club – as he did for last week’s Former Players’ Association golf day – which he holds dearer than all his others. “People ask me why I don’t go back to Forest,” said the Scot who still does a spot of scouting.
“I go back now and again but my heart’s not really there. My heart is with Coventry City and I say that whenever I go back to Forest and they appreciate my honesty.
“I left Coventry in 1980 to go to Nottingham and on to better things but Coventry gave me my start in my career. It’s a family club and when I look back to the days I played there the camaraderie and the players and everything about the club was fantastic, and that’s why I keep coming back because it makes me feel good.
“Coventry are in dire straits at this moment in time and it’s such a sad situation – as long as they survive, that’s the main thing.
“It’s all about supporters. Behind the scenes will hopefully get sorted, whatever ground or division they are in.
“The Ricoh is second to none – I tell all my pals that they have a great facility. The club have got everything, all the facilities and potential. They have a good manager and team and all they need is the backing of the money men to do the right thing.”
On a personal level, Wallace is in reasonable health, revealing: “I’ve got two replacement ankles and a replacement knee but I’m getting there.
“I take my sons to watch Rangers and I go to Celtic as well. At 57 I am enjoying my later years and even though I am still a young man in my head where I think I’m 21, my body feels like 60 or 70.”
On the pitch Wallace feels Steven Pressley will do a good job if given the tools to succeed.
“He’s hungry to prove himself and I am sure he’ll be good for Coventry City,” he said. “He’s done his badges and is a very thorough person, I believe, and he wants to do the right thing. He’s a winner and enthusiastic and he’s not sitting back like some of the older managers.
“Whether he is successful only time will tell because it’s a hard job at this moment with a lack of players and money, but I think his qualities will come out.”
Keep City in Coventry
LOOK: Legendary Coventry City striker wants fresh start for club under new owners
13 Jun 2013 10:30
Ian Wallace fears his beloved Sky Blues will slump into a downward spiral if they leave the Ricoh
Share on printShare on email
Ian Wallace in his playing days at Coventry City
Legendary striker Ian Wallace wants Coventry City to make a fresh start under new owners.
Adored by the fans in his late 1970s pomp when he struck up an awesome goal-scoring partnership with Mick Ferguson, the 57-year-old Scot believes City need to be run by people with passion for the club and fears that if his beloved Sky Blues leave the Ricoh Arena they will slump into a downward spiral.
“I think it needs someone to come in who has got Coventry City at heart,” said Wallace who lives north of the border in Clydebank but is still a regular visitor to the club that launched his career.
-
"
-
"
-
"
-
"
View gallery
“There are too many people in the game – and I’m being controversial here – who are not there because of the club, and it doesn’t matter what club they’re at, they are there because of their own means. People who are in football but not for football reasons and Coventry City deserve better than what they are just now, for sure.
“They need someone with the club at heart and with backing of people with money behind them.
“Joe Elliott is 100 per cent Coventry City and he’ll put his heart and soul into the club.”
Elliott and former director Gary Hoffman are currently fronting a bid by property tycoon Preston Haskell IV to buy CCFC Ltd, the company currently in administration.
As for the plans by the current owners for the club to leave the city, Wallace said: “I don’t think it would be a good move to leave, I really don’t. Any fan would say if you are leaving your home it’s like going to a second home and that’s never the same.
“Coventry City’s home is the Ricoh and that’s where the fans want to stay and build a fanbase there to get more season tickets and a better team to go up a division. I think if they move to another ground it will be a downward spiral to be honest.”
Wallace, who scored an outstanding 58 goals in 130 games for City, never tires of returning to his former club – as he did for last week’s Former Players’ Association golf day – which he holds dearer than all his others. “People ask me why I don’t go back to Forest,” said the Scot who still does a spot of scouting.
“I go back now and again but my heart’s not really there. My heart is with Coventry City and I say that whenever I go back to Forest and they appreciate my honesty.
“I left Coventry in 1980 to go to Nottingham and on to better things but Coventry gave me my start in my career. It’s a family club and when I look back to the days I played there the camaraderie and the players and everything about the club was fantastic, and that’s why I keep coming back because it makes me feel good.
“Coventry are in dire straits at this moment in time and it’s such a sad situation – as long as they survive, that’s the main thing.
“It’s all about supporters. Behind the scenes will hopefully get sorted, whatever ground or division they are in.
“The Ricoh is second to none – I tell all my pals that they have a great facility. The club have got everything, all the facilities and potential. They have a good manager and team and all they need is the backing of the money men to do the right thing.”
On a personal level, Wallace is in reasonable health, revealing: “I’ve got two replacement ankles and a replacement knee but I’m getting there.
“I take my sons to watch Rangers and I go to Celtic as well. At 57 I am enjoying my later years and even though I am still a young man in my head where I think I’m 21, my body feels like 60 or 70.”
On the pitch Wallace feels Steven Pressley will do a good job if given the tools to succeed.
“He’s hungry to prove himself and I am sure he’ll be good for Coventry City,” he said. “He’s done his badges and is a very thorough person, I believe, and he wants to do the right thing. He’s a winner and enthusiastic and he’s not sitting back like some of the older managers.
“Whether he is successful only time will tell because it’s a hard job at this moment with a lack of players and money, but I think his qualities will come out.”
Keep City in Coventry
