Coventry plot groundshare at League Two club and could face suspended points deduction

Coventry City plot yet another groundshare – this time at League Two club Walsall according to reports on Sunday morning.

The Sky Blues could end up being kicked out of the CBS Arena with Arena Coventry Limited (ACL), the company which owns the ground, on the verge of administration.

ACL needs to either secure new funding or a buyer for the stadium by Monday, with Coventry returning to Championship action on Tuesday, a home match against Blackburn expected to go ahead, but the venue is yet to be confirmed.

Coventry City in talks with Walsall over potential ground-share option as fears increase over latest stadium crisis. Also in this: Coventry are under another transfer embargo #ccfc https://t.co/hyJvUZgQgg

— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) October 30, 2022

Coventry boss Mark Robins said they are looking at alternative venues and Walsall is emerging as a serious option.

The Saddlers’ Poundland Bescot Stadium is around 27 miles away from the CBS Arena, and negotiations between the two clubs have begun with it the likely option.

If the move goes ahead, it’ll be the third time that Coventry have had to move their home matches to a different stadium, after previously using Northampton Town’s Sixfields and Birmingham City’s St Andrews.

Walsall however don’t play again at home until the 19th of November, while Coventry have three more home matches prior to the World Cup break.

Coventry played just six of their 15 matches at home this season, after games earlier in the campaign were cancelled due to a unsafe playing surface.

There are also concern that the English Football League could punish Coventry City with a fine or suspended points deduction if home matches are moved out of the city, reports The Telegraph.

In another unwanted development at the club, the EFL has also hit Coventry with a transfer embargo after an alleged issue with payment to HMRC – the latter coming as a surprise to fans it would seem.

After the home defeat by Blackpool on Saturday, Robins said: “It’s my job to prepare the team wherever we play.

“The players, the staff and the club have been punched around for far too long and the club should never be allowed to be separated from their stadium or their training ground. It should all go hand-in-hand. That’s it.

“[Tuesday night’s game] will go ahead. I know where the potential alternatives are but I’m not at liberty to tell you.”

Coventry currently sit 22nd in the Championship table, three points ahead of bottom club West Brom.

Fans reacted as Coventry plot a groundshare at League Two club Walsall and could face suspended points deduction…

@KS23202: Heard Coventry were looking at using St Andrews but the stadiums broke 🤣🤣🤣

@Ross_Edmo: Embarrassing… Fucking awful owners.

@Ryan_Parfrey: Going to end up back in league 1 aren’t we? How many miracles can Robins perform

@mikesmith1987: But SISU are billionaires 😂 Absolute as skint as me #pusb #embargo

@WardySBE: Transfer embargo as well 🤦🏻‍♂️

@Leo__Knight: 😭😭😭 what a laughing stock of a club we are #PUSB

@JakeRowanTOPP: Clown club 🤡

@FiskRobbie: Since when did we have a transfer Embargo? #PUSB

@JasonJ1987: Cov trying to tick off the 92 just for home games.

@ccfcfan: So it appears we owe the taxman… this is a dreadful situation #pusb

@NCFC_Nick: What a disgrace this is – again. Have to feel for the fans, they have been the best by some distance at Carrow Road this season #PUSB

@MontellBcfc: Walsall’s stadium is too big for them

@SBFCO1: Feel for their fans tbh. It’s not on

@graham_ccfc: How exactly are 13,500 season ticket holders supposed to fit into an 11,300 capacity stadium?

@MarkWhittle1: Looking as though #Rovers’ match against Coventry on Tuesday night might be played at Walsall. Such a shame if it cannot be played at CBS Arena like it should be. No fans should have to put up with this kind of thing for a home game – I really feel for Cov fans. #PUSB

@terrynixon77: Care to elaborate @Coventry_City on the transfer embargo?

@JamesSCFC_: For fuck sake not Walsall away in December

@LE1885_: What a mess of a club

@eddygraham39: Just awful news.

Sky Blue Gav: “Coventry on tour again it is embarrassing. Lose momentum again. Annoy the fans. Walsall is not big enough and let’s face it not a great place full stop.” SkyBlueEw agreed, saying: “Off to Walsall.”

Nigel Croft: “Very very unfair to all our season ticket holders , a right good ‘kick in the teeth’ , no doubt Robins and the boys will ‘kick on’ in true battling fashion wherever we play. I would even take Mike Ashley’s money right now….at least we would have a permanent place we could call HOME…PUSB!”

Michael Cleaver: “Assuming if we have to move away from OUR home, refunds will be offered for season tickets? I’m not sure me or my son will be able to go through the heartbreak of playing at home away from home.”

Paul Bonehill: “It’s just head games, putting pressure on the Administrator to give SISU preferred terms.. wake up guys, we’ll be at the CBS next Tuesday.”