Coventry Rugby Club have issued the following statement, following Wasps using the Ricoh Arena as their new home.
“Following the announcement of London Wasps Rugby Club acquiring ACL and using the Ricoh Arena as their permanent home, we feel it is appropriate to record the position of Coventry Rugby on this matter.
Whilst members of the board at Coventry Rugby have, at their instigation, tried to engage in discussion with both Coventry Council and London Wasps there has been very little substantial information forthcoming. We appreciate that there is an element of commercial sensitivity surrounding the negotiations but as the principal Rugby team in the City we believe that a formal consultation and agreement process should have been offered.
"Over the last five years significant investment in both time and money has gone into the restoration of Coventry Rugby Club (including that of our sponsors and shareholders and the City Council). We feel that a significant opportunity exists to realise greater returns from this investment by the inclusion of Coventry Rugby Club in the ongoing discussions as an invitee. To date we have relied on media reports as our principal source of information.
"We at Coventry Rugby Club are sufficiently pragmatic to understand that this potential deal will deliver a significant move forward for Coventry Council in what has been a very difficult situation surrounding ACL, The Ricoh Arena and all subsequent parties involved. However, in the interests of enhancing this move forward and entering into a positive collaboration with Wasps and the Council we have found it difficult to offer any credible input without formal engagement in the process.
The Board of Coventry Rugby have been placed in a somewhat difficult position, as a result of the media reports being unable to offer any solid information to our sponsors, shareholders or supporters, all of which are seeking reassurance that the proposed deal will be at best, good for Coventry Rugby Club or at least non-harmful.
"We are very much interested to achieve a solution that delivers the optimum outcome for all parties, not least of which is the general good of the City, the electorate and particularly the youth programmes we are working so hard to provide.
"Over the past few years we have worked closely with the Council to regenerate Coventry Rugby Club, to secure its tenure at Butts Park Arena and to provide a sporting facility of pride. We have worked hard to provide a high level of live sport in the city and have succeeded in doing so even while Coventry City FC were absent. We were previously assured by Coventry Council that any development in terms of other professional Rugby Clubs coming to the city would include ourselves early in the process.
"Following the announcement of the Wasps deal we are committed to work together with them for the benefit of both Clubs our sponsors, supporters and players. We will be seeking early engagement with Wasps to formulate a plan to make this happen.”
Covsupport News Service wishes to confirm that it will continue with its coverage and support of Coventry Rugby Club.
In our Rugby Union coverage, Coventry Rugby will always be the number one Rugby side in Coventry.