Fisher Welcomes Doncaster Support
Last updated : 26 December 2012 By Covsupport News Service
Coventry City CEO Tim Fisher has welcomed the support of Doncaster Rovers Chairman John Ryan on the rent discussions over the Ricoh Arena.
The Doncaster Chairman has provided details of how much Rovers pay to play at the Keepmoat Stadium, which has a capacity three times smaller than the Ricoh Arena.
Speaking in a statement released via the club website, Tim Fisher said: "We have to say a big thank you to John Ryan who has been Chairman of Doncaster Rovers for the past 15 years. He has clearly demonstrated that a stadium landlord, in his case the local council, and football club can work together in the interests of the community that both organisations serve. It is obviously an incredible partnership in the interests of the people, not just supporters, and serves as an example to all that a football club and its stadium is a unique community asset which should not be shackled by commercial self interest.
"This is the type of business model that we are desperate to agree for the Ricoh in order to create a sustainable future for the club.
"Our negotiations continue to find a solution with ACL that is hopefully in the interests of all parties including ,most importantly, our football club which celebrates 130 years in the city next year serving the community of Coventry which is its lifeblood.
"This city without a football club is unthinkable but we have to be clear about recently leaked information such as reducing the rent to £400,000 a year and other related numbers.
"We simply want a fair rent which is in line with our League One status and which will enable us to invest more money on the pitch to allow Mark Robins to continue his excellent work . The future of the football club is the important issue here and we need to resolve this situation in order to focus on rebuilding the club back to its rightful position in football,"
