A USA-based businessman has unveiled an idea to try to get the Sky Blues back to Coventry.
Martin Kelman, a Dallas-based soccer agent and entrepreneur, wants to raise funds which, he says, could pave the way for
Coventry City to return to the Ricoh Arena.
The chief operating officer at online investment platform Crowdboarders intends to use his business to raise between £2million and £3m and negotiate a commitment for the Sky Blues to return to its previous home.
A long-running dispute between the football club and stadium bosses has seen the club move to play ‘home’ games 35 miles away in Northampton - resulting in record low home attendances for the Sky Blues.
Mr Kelman’s idea would first focus on securing the funds raised used to pay for a rent deal at the Ricoh Arena with any additional revenue invested in the club.
As an incentive, and to demonstrate the number of fans who would return to watch the Sky Blues if they returned to the city, investors would receive a season ticket at the Ricoh Arena for £100.
The 48-year-old ex-military man has a professional background working with telecommunications giants such as Nokia, Ericsson and T-mobile.
He plans to formally launch his idea in the next few weeks and believes it can help to end the deadlock and bring the Sky Blues home.
“I am a lifelong City fan, I grew up in Eastern Green, I moved to Birmingham when I was about ten but remained a Sky Blues supporter,” he said.
“Making some kind of bid is something I have been considering for about two years. I don’t need to do this - but I feel like it is the right time to do it.
“I have some people in the US who are interested in investing and some people over here. I will be looking to launch the campaign soon.
“Because I own the platform, no money will be taken out - we can put it all into the club. There’s no time limit either, it can be a constant drip.”
Mr Kelman, who claims his business was recently valued at £10million, says he has already made contact with the council about
bringing in investors to help develop the area around the Ricoh Arena.
He has also attempted to contact directors at Ricoh Arena operators ACL to see if he can help to negotiate a rent deal between stadium bosses and the club.
He said: “Sometimes in business you reach a situation where nobody is talking and it all ends up in court.
“I don’t want Sisu out, I want to try and work with them and come in at the front end.
“We want to work with Sisu, but they can’t be at the front door anymore. It’s creating tension and that is filtering onto the pitch.
“I have tried to meet Paul Harris (ACL director). Ultimately we just need to know what ACL is looking for in terms of rent.
“What we don’t want is Sisu’s debts. They have created them - we haven’t.”
Mr Kelman added that he accepted there would be some skepticism about his plan, but insisted he had the best interests of the club at heart.
“I went to the Peterborough and Swindon games and what this situation is doing to the fans is just terrible,” he said.
“I want to do things right. We want to get the club stabilised, we don’t want to lose ten points again.
“I live in the States and I want to bring back the right people to put money into this.
“We don’t want to do something hostile unless we have to. If we have enough people committing to come back to the Ricoh Arena, then that is a good enough incentive.”
He added: “People will always jump up and say ‘I don’t believe it’, but if the people are with me and we can create the momentum then Sisu will have to listen.”
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/sky-blues-fan-hatches-3m-7017005