Sky Blues chief executive Tim Fisher has insisted a High Court judge made the wrong decision after throwing out a judicial review brought by Sisu investigating the conduct of Coventry City Council.
He said: “Given the evidence and submissions we were very surprised by the judgment.
“We believe it is wrong in law and in fact. I have no doubt that this will be heard in the Court of Appeal in front of three very senior judges.”
It’s thought any application for leave to appeal will be heard within the next three weeks.
Mr Fisher now insists “Plan A” is building a new stadium for Coventry City Football Club – but didn’t rule out a return to the Ricoh Arena in the interim.
He said: “Plan A is to build our own stadium. We need to own our own stadium, it needs to be a normal football club with control of all revenues like all our competitors.”
He added: “In February 2013 we negotiated to have a three year run off at the Ricoh Arena while we built our own stadium. But we were told ‘no, that’s not a deal we will consider’.
“As part of those negotiations we looked at a League One rent, and control of all revenues generated as a result of the football club playing a match at the Ricoh Arena. We have to control those revenues. That is critical for Financial Fair Play.
“Nothing has changed. There always was an interim deal to be done.”
Mr Fisher would not say if he would proactively pursue any deal with Ricoh Arena operators ACL, but suggested the company would not be able to offer such a deal.
He said: “ACL has borrowed beyond all reasonable debt, so it’s challenging for them.”
And he claimed: “The debt burden on ACL means that no deal with any sporting franchise could ever happen.”
He also insisted any appeal against the judicial review ruling would not interfere with preparations for the new season.
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-football-club-boss-7348485