dongonzalos
Well-Known Member
League One side say they will work with Wasps rather than oppose move, which could now be rubber-stamped as early as next week
Coventry Rugby Football Club are prepared to work with Wasps for the mutual benefit of both clubs if the Aviva Premiership side’s bid to make the Ricoh Arena their permanent home is given the green light by the city’s council on Tuesday night, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The decision by the League One side, who were once one of the leading powers in the English game in the 1970s and 1980s, to work with Wasps rather than oppose the move is likely to remove the last obstacle to it becoming a reality in time for the start of next season.
The £30 million move by Wasps to take a majority shareholding in the stadium to make it their permanent home is expected to be endorsed by the city council, who are co-owners of the company that owns the venue, the Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) along with the Alan Higgs Trust charity.
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Wasps are desperate to secure their long-term future by moving away from Adams Park, where the former Sudbury club have been based since 2002, into stadium they own rather than rent.
If the buy-out is ratified, the move is also expected to be swiftly rubber-stamped by rugby’s Professional Game Board, possibly as early as next week. Opposition is only expected if Wasps look to move their academy from their Acton base in London as it could encroach on the catchment areas of the academies of Premiership rivals Worcester, Northampton and Leicester.
The current heads of agreement governing academies between the Premiership clubs and the Rugby Football Union is due to expire in 2016.
Peter Rossborough, the former England full-back who is president of Coventry RFC, said the club had been left “incredibly frustrated” at the lack of consultation about the proposed takeover with the city council but that they were prepared to make it work with Wasps.
“We have tried very hard to get to see the city council and talk to people about this and they said they had asked Wasps to speak to us so we are very frustrated,” Rossborough said.
“I have got no complaint about Wasps however. They have spoken to us and have been businesslike but also gentlemen so we have got no problem with them.
“We are still trying to find out what the position is and I know Coventry City Football Club share are concerns and we are concerned for them as well as after two years away we want them back in the Ricoh for good so we hope they will be accommodated if anything happens.
“We are disappointed about this but we are not stupid as a club and we are quite aware that if Wasps come here then we will work very closely and very collaboratively with them. The meetings we have had with them show that we can get on with them as individuals and people and I am sure we can get on working together as well.”
That partnership could see Wasps’ academies players play for Coventry’s first XV while Rossborough also benefits for his club in terms of having access to the Premiership side’s coaching expertise and sports science as well collaborate on their respective community operations.
Wasps must win over sections of their own supporters as well, however, as more than 1,700 supporters had last night signed an online petition against moving the club further away from its London base.
Coventry Rugby Football Club are prepared to work with Wasps for the mutual benefit of both clubs if the Aviva Premiership side’s bid to make the Ricoh Arena their permanent home is given the green light by the city’s council on Tuesday night, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The decision by the League One side, who were once one of the leading powers in the English game in the 1970s and 1980s, to work with Wasps rather than oppose the move is likely to remove the last obstacle to it becoming a reality in time for the start of next season.
The £30 million move by Wasps to take a majority shareholding in the stadium to make it their permanent home is expected to be endorsed by the city council, who are co-owners of the company that owns the venue, the Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) along with the Alan Higgs Trust charity.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wasps are desperate to secure their long-term future by moving away from Adams Park, where the former Sudbury club have been based since 2002, into stadium they own rather than rent.
If the buy-out is ratified, the move is also expected to be swiftly rubber-stamped by rugby’s Professional Game Board, possibly as early as next week. Opposition is only expected if Wasps look to move their academy from their Acton base in London as it could encroach on the catchment areas of the academies of Premiership rivals Worcester, Northampton and Leicester.
The current heads of agreement governing academies between the Premiership clubs and the Rugby Football Union is due to expire in 2016.
Peter Rossborough, the former England full-back who is president of Coventry RFC, said the club had been left “incredibly frustrated” at the lack of consultation about the proposed takeover with the city council but that they were prepared to make it work with Wasps.
“We have tried very hard to get to see the city council and talk to people about this and they said they had asked Wasps to speak to us so we are very frustrated,” Rossborough said.
“I have got no complaint about Wasps however. They have spoken to us and have been businesslike but also gentlemen so we have got no problem with them.
“We are still trying to find out what the position is and I know Coventry City Football Club share are concerns and we are concerned for them as well as after two years away we want them back in the Ricoh for good so we hope they will be accommodated if anything happens.
“We are disappointed about this but we are not stupid as a club and we are quite aware that if Wasps come here then we will work very closely and very collaboratively with them. The meetings we have had with them show that we can get on with them as individuals and people and I am sure we can get on working together as well.”
That partnership could see Wasps’ academies players play for Coventry’s first XV while Rossborough also benefits for his club in terms of having access to the Premiership side’s coaching expertise and sports science as well collaborate on their respective community operations.
Wasps must win over sections of their own supporters as well, however, as more than 1,700 supporters had last night signed an online petition against moving the club further away from its London base.
