The EFL postpones a second Championship fixture for Coventry City and are to investigate before any potential punishment.
Coventry City say they are very disappointed to have to confirm the postponement of Tuesday’s home game against Wigan Athletic.
They have also provided a further update regarding the CBS Arena pitch with the surface deemed ‘unplayable’ after hosting rugby matches in this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
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EFL STATEMENT:
Coventry City’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday 16 August 2022 has been postponed by the EFL due to ongoing issues with the playing surface at the Coventry Building Society (CBS) Arena.
The decision follows the commissioning of an independent report by an internationally established group of sports turf experts to fully examine the current condition of the pitch.
After a full and thorough evaluation, the League has been advised that playing on the surface in its existing state would pose a risk to players and match officials.
In addition, the report confirmed that there is no maintenance work possible that would make the pitch safe in time for Tuesday’s game.
Last weekend, the Club’s opening home fixture of the season against Rotherham United was also postponed because of the pitch issues and the Carabao Cup Round One tie versus Bristol City moved to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium
Discussions remain ongoing in respect of the Club’s home game against Huddersfield Town on Saturday 20 August.
The League will now consider the circumstances of both postponements before determining what course of action could be taken in accordance with the Regulations and will also remain in regular dialogue with the Club over the work required to make the pitch safe and playable as soon as is practically possible.
COVENTRY STATEMENT:
Coventry City are very disappointed to have to provide a further update regarding the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena, and to confirm the postponement of Tuesday’s home game against Wigan Athletic.
On Thursday, an independent internationally established research and agronomy company, appointed by the EFL, evaluated the pitch at the Arena. They have experience at a range of international tournaments and stadiums in the UK and abroad. It was their finding that the pitch would not be safe or playable for Tuesday’s game against Wigan Athletic.
We had been hopeful that, following the postponements of the last week, that the pitch at the Arena would have improved sufficiently to enable our game against Wigan Athletic to go ahead and had been planning for this to be the case.
However, it is sadly clear that this is not possible and we are therefore forced to postpone Tuesday’s game against Wigan Athletic.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused to Coventry City fans, players and staff and Wigan Athletic and their fans, players and staff.
We did explore the possibility of reversing the fixture, but unfortunately due to other events at the DW Stadium this was not possible.
Dave Boddy, Coventry City Chief Executive, said:
“We are very disappointed to report the lack of improvement in the pitch, and we are very disappointed for our supporters, players and staff again that we have now had to postpone Tuesday’s home game against Wigan Athletic.
“I met with Stephen Vaughan at Wasps/the Arena on Monday and have been in regular contact via email since.
“To be clear, this is not the fault of the grounds staff.
“Promised investment into a new pitch, which was a fundamental part of the extensive negotiations for the Club to return and then again a promise made publicly following the announcement of our return in March 2021, has not happened and there has been no significant refurbishment or repair work over the Summer either.
“Our concerns over the quality of the pitch have not been addressed, and we were extremely disappointed to be told in June that Wasps had made the decision not to take any action to put a new surface in.
“We still, despite repeated requests and the high-profile and urgent nature of this situation, await an ‘action plan’ from them to address this major issue, which they promised to implement publicly last Saturday.
“Even if we had been able to have our first three league games scheduled away as requested by Wasps, which wasn’t possible due to the EFL fixture sequencing rules which apply equally to all Clubs, it is clear that the pitch still would not have been playable.
“We do not wish to deal with this matter in public, but we are having to due to the situation and trying to keep fans updated. Instead, we simply want our landlords Wasps to provide a pitch which is safe and fit for purpose for their tenant, the City’s Football Club, to play at home.”
Boddy added:
“It is our supporters who are suffering in this mess, and the players and staff too.
“These are incredibly difficult circumstances for the Football Club. The pitch has now been independently found to be unsafe and unplayable by the agronomists and previously by EFL match officials, and we are now desperate for this situation to be resolved by the Arena and Wasps.
“We will continue to keep supporters updated, and will provide further news as soon as possible.”
Coventry City will communicate updates regarding next Saturday’s home game against Huddersfield Town, and also details of refunds for the games against Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic.
Once again, we are very sorry to have to bring this news to our supporters.
Social media users had their say as the EFL postpones an upcoming midweek fixture for Coventry City…
@Moseley3_: Here we go again
@AllanSmith80: Bloody hell
@Owen9732: Ridiculous. That’s definitely a points deduction then.
@Neil_Beasley: Genuinely thought bouncing from one shambolic situation to another was long behind us. Whilst not our fault it’s throughly embarrassing
@SHD1903: Surely that’s a points deduction
@JPatts19: Some players have surely got to be thinking of an exit strategy because of this, embarrassing is an understatement.
@s_windy77: Wtf here we go pts deduction incoming
@Eddie0___: Announce relegation
@KevinUnitt: Oh good God, this is a farce
@Tom_Sh4rman: This is proper frustrating! 😡 We were meant to build on last season and push on! Record season ticket sales and now we’re not playing at home!!! Going backwards!! No chance of getting top 6 with this going on! This will have an effect on the players! 😡
@GoForItGoForIt2: Keep totting up those costs and sending @WaspsRugby the bill 👍🏻 Breach of contract. Pay for the pitch repair yourselves and sue them
@DanielDav2017: I find this more depressing than the move to Northampton or Birmingham. Could have real negative impact on players deciding whether to stay and those we are trying to attract. No professional footballer wants this stop/start situation they completely lose momentum and rhythm.
@Skybluek8: I’m sorry but that’s an absolute joke. I haven’t received my refund for the Rotherham parking, the Bristol game and just got parking for the Wigan game thinking it was a sure thing given you were selling tickets! Im sorry but the club do have to take some responsibility
@DanHallas: Just a shambles. Once again fans are out of pocket. If a club can’t fulfil the fixture within the minimum period required for a game change, then a punishment has to be handed out.
@Billy_Nomatez: Should forfeit the games. Embarrassing not have a decent pitch at the start of the season.
@JCJanew: @WaspsRugby surely the bare minimum requirement as landlord is to provide a pitch that is playable.
@Rob_saunders6: Regardless of a ground share if your pitch isn’t in a playable condition it should class as a forfeit. Ridiculous for Wigan fans that it’s only just been announced as well as loads will have already paid for tickets and transport.
@skyblue_dave: We’re in the shit before the seasons got out of 1st gear. Embarrassing #PUSB
@Calvey94: Coventry just need to try and reverse their home games for the next month or play at a neutral ground. There’s no way they’ll fix it quickly so better off using the month with no matches to do the pitch work and getting it ready for when the rugby season starts
@redfern_i_j: This is what happens when a club doesn’t own its own ground, isn’t in control of pitch maintenance & also finds itself in a ground-share arrangement with another sport. Maybe the EFL need to consider their own regulations for member clubs’ home venues?
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