US multimillionaire Preston Haskell agrees US multimillionaire Preston Haskell agrees Ricoh Arena deal as he prepares Coventry Ricoh Arena deal as he prepares Coventry City takeover. #CCFC #LUFC City takeover. #CCFC #LUFC An American multimillionaire has agreed a An American multimillionaire has agreed a deal to purchase a half share of Coventry deal to purchase a half share of Coventry City's stadium with a view to buying the City's stadium with a view to buying the League One club out of an impending League One club out of an impending administration. Preston Haskell has promised administration. Preston Haskell has promised to invest heavily in Coventry's playing squad to invest heavily in Coventry's playing squad and overhaul the club's operations as a and overhaul the club's operations as a means of ending more than decade long means of ending more than decade long absence from England's top tier. absence from England's top tier.
Haskell's plans for Coventry include the Haskell's plans for Coventry include the return of suspended life president Joe Elliott return of suspended life president Joe Elliott as chairman. He also intends to bring The Sky as chairman. He also intends to bring The Sky Blue Trust onto a restructured board by Blue Trust onto a restructured board by offering the supporters trust a 20% stake in offering the supporters trust a 20% stake in their club. their club.
The Ricoh Arena is currently joint owned by The Ricoh Arena is currently joint owned by the city council and The Alan Edward Higgs the city council and The Alan Edward Higgs Charity. Haskell has agreed to buy the latter Charity. Haskell has agreed to buy the latter group's share in Arena Coventry Limited on group's share in Arena Coventry Limited on condition that its management is handed to condition that its management is handed to him and he is allowed to bring Coventry City him and he is allowed to bring Coventry City out of an administration process initiated last out of an administration process initiated last week. week.
"What I want is to see Coventry City back "What I want is to see Coventry City back where it belongs at the top level of the where it belongs at the top level of the English game,” Haskell told The Sunday English game,” Haskell told The Sunday Times. “To return this club back to the Times. “To return this club back to the Premier League will take investment in the Premier League will take investment in the team and a proper management structure, team and a proper management structure, both of which I can provide. both of which I can provide.
"Coventry has a fantastic fan base - over "Coventry has a fantastic fan base - over 30,000 attended a Johnstone' Paint Trophy 30,000 attended a Johnstone' Paint Trophy game this season - and I want to bring that game this season - and I want to bring that support back into the club by inviting the support back into the club by inviting the supporters trust to take 20% of its shares. I supporters trust to take 20% of its shares. I also want to bring Joe Elliott back as also want to bring Joe Elliott back as Coventry's chairman. He's a man who bleeds Coventry's chairman. He's a man who bleeds Sky Blue and who is furious about what the Sky Blue and who is furious about what the current owners have done to his club. current owners have done to his club.
"I have an agreement in principle to purchase "I have an agreement in principle to purchase the Higgs Trust 50% share of the Ricoh and the Higgs Trust 50% share of the Ricoh and take over its management. The agreement is take over its management. The agreement is on condition that I am allowed to purchase on condition that I am allowed to purchase Coventry City once the administration Coventry City once the administration process is completed.” process is completed.”
ACL is seeking administration of the football ACL is seeking administration of the football club over £1.3m unpaid rent to force a club over £1.3m unpaid rent to force a change of ownership. On Thursday the change of ownership. On Thursday the Mayfair-based hedge fund Sisu Capital placed Mayfair-based hedge fund Sisu Capital placed the club's “non-operating subsidiary” the club's “non-operating subsidiary” Coventry City Football Club Limited into Coventry City Football Club Limited into voluntary administration. Sisu then moved voluntary administration. Sisu then moved Coventry's staff out of the Ricoh Arena and Coventry's staff out of the Ricoh Arena and are preparing to play home games are preparing to play home games elsewhere. elsewhere.
Sisu bought Coventry in 2007 when it was a Sisu bought Coventry in 2007 when it was a Championship side and the club was Championship side and the club was relegated last season amidst supporter relegated last season amidst supporter discontent at its management. The hedge discontent at its management. The hedge fund is run by Joy Seppala, whose career fund is run by Joy Seppala, whose career includes a stint at disgraced US banking firm includes a stint at disgraced US banking firm Drexel Burnham Lambert.