The club's owners have written an open address to Coventry City fans...
I’d like to start by apologising to each and every CCFC fan. None of you deserve the dismal result of relegation.
This season has been one of extremes - the unbeaten run in the Checkatrade Trophy culminating in a tremendous day at Wembley; the Academy continuing its phenomenal success and being crowned champions of the PDL. These two extraordinary events paradoxically occurring in the same season the first-team are relegated defies belief.
I was overcome with emotion when the club made the Checkatrade Final, and I can only try and appreciate how it feels to have the club you love and have supported for so long be relegated to the fourth tier.
There have been numerous mistakes made this season. Firstly, player recruitment in the summer was not good enough; the appointment of Russell Slade who, albeit a good man and successful League One manager, was not a good fit for the club given its current predicament and focus on youth players.
This was something we tried swiftly to address. We have brought Mark Robins back to the club because we believe he is someone who can successfully rebuild CCFC. I am sure you all see some of those improvements in the short time he has been here. This summer will be one of change and reform as the club has already stated.
Our plan and aim has to be promotion next season; a return to League One and then upwards from there. I understand it is a time of great uncertainty as a CCFC fan, and this is not a position I like any more than you. But we are working hard behind the scenes to secure facilities that will allow the club to retain and develop its treasured Academy, and we hope to be in a position to provide a further update by the summer.
We all understand the economic and emotional importance of having a stadium the club can call its home. We are working to achieve this. In an increasingly competitive football climate, it is imperative that we can grow the club to put as much talent on the pitch as possible. We want to give Mark all the support he needs to get out of League Two, with immediate effect.
Lastly, we need to ensure that the club has a CEO with whom the fans can communicate, liaise and bemoan to, when necessary; a leader who can engage with the Sky Blue community at large. We are in the process of recruiting this individual.
As owners, we must take responsibility for the club’s position. Looking back on this season, I wish we could restart. However, as a great man once said: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
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STATEMENT: Open letter from CCFC Owners
