Paul Fletcher has said that Coventry City will not build a new stadium.
Fletcher, who attracted a wide range of viewpoints from the City support diring his time at the Ricoh Arena, along with Ken Sharp and Mel Brannigan, said to the Coventry Telegraph's Simon Gilbert: “Have you got about 12 hours for me to give you my view on it? Probably everyone will have different views, but the thing that must happen soon is that Coventry City must own their own stadium - they just have to.
“If they don’t they will never have a chance of getting back. A message to the city - this is a fabulous city, it deserves a Premier League football club. It will only have that if Coventry City can own its own ground.
“No, they won’t build a new stadium. I don’t think that would ever happen. If it did it would be a stupid thing because I don’t think the fans would follow.
“The fans have started to have a voice. They do have a strong voice these days.
“I loved the Coventry City fans during my time here. I thought they were fantastic and very patient. They waited until we got this great building put together.
“I think they expected better things of both their football club and their council.”
Mr Fletcher did not also agree with Wasps owning the Ricoh Arena and said: “I have to honestly say I don’t like it.
“When I was there, it was difficult to get the building built, but I thought if we could get the building built it had enough revenue streams to keep Coventry in the Premiership.
“That’s why the Ricoh Arena was built, that’s why it is there and that’s why all the hotels and casinos are there.
“So that when Coventry got into the Premier League, all that revenue would keep them there and they wouldn’t have to put the ticket prices up as they’ve done at Liverpool.
“I’m sad that’s not happened, it’s a great building. When people talk to me about football stadiums, I think the Ricoh is as good a stadium as you can get. I’m just saddened that Coventry are not in the Premier League.”
More on this - http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-fc-groundshare-wasps-10943898