As in life many things are open to interpretation and the world of football that is Coventry City is no different.
The recent departure of Peter Reid was one such case with many thinking that it was due to mounting fan pressure. “Reid Out“ chants were heard as long ago as the 4-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, and were steadily gathering momentum until the defeat against the Scouser’s former club Leeds when the message was delivered loud and clear.
In an act of self defence and to protect his future chances of employment, Peter Reid’s take on it was that it was for the benefit of the players who were capable of achieving more than a place of 20th in the Championship table and that the chants had not got to him at all.
There has also been much furore regarding the man who appointed Reid, Chairman Mike McGinnity when he returned from his Christmas/New Year break and was met by a load of criticism from supporters unhappy at the depths to which the club has plunged during his time at the club.
This led to a Board meeting on Saturday at which the new managerial position and the future of the Chairman were discussed.
The outcome was a press statement backing Mr McGinnity. Some may see that as a vote of confidence in the current Chairman, but another interpretation is that no-one else wanted the position which does bring with it, more than a fair share of hassle.
The press statement issued by the club also said “He has worked ceaselessly for the good of the Club and has done so out of his own full commitment to Coventry City Football Club from whom he receives no renumeration for the service he gives to us all.”
Granted that Mr McGinnity does not receive a salary from Coventry City as the previous Chairman did, but one could take that the annual interest he receives from loans made to the club of £200k and £316k which amounted to a total of £92,089 in 2004 according to the club accounts, is adequate recompense for the time Mr McGinnity spends on matters Coventry City. As could it be argued that if he were to take a salary on top of these interest payments, then the only winner would be the tax man.
Much has been made of the attendance of 7,629 for the FA Cup Third Round victory over Crewe Alexandra which was the lowest for a home FA Cup tie since 1909.
Some who stayed away have claimed they did it as a protest and decided that the Tsunami appeal was a more deserving recipient than Coventry City’s ticket office. Some simply could not afford or justify the outlay of normal match day prices for a game against largely unattractive opposition (no disrespect to any readers with Crewe tendancies) that was the team’s fifth game in less than a fortnight whilst others had been put off by the standard of football during the previous two home defeats by Sheffield United and Leeds.
Football might be a game of opinions but it's also about how we interpret these events.