Coventry City Confirm Return To Ricoh Arena

Coventry Are Heading Back To The Ricoh
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: General view of action during the FA Cup With Budweiser 1st Round match between Coventry City and Arlesey at the Ricoh Arena on November 03, 2012 in Coventry, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: General view of action during the FA Cup With Budweiser 1st Round match between Coventry City and Arlesey at the Ricoh Arena on November 03, 2012 in Coventry, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Tom Dulat via Getty Images

Coventry will return to the Ricoh Arena after more than a year playing in Northampton.

The Sky Blues have agreed a two-year deal, with an option for an extra two years, after ending a dispute with the stadium's owners Arena Coventry Limited.

Gillingham will be the first visitors back to the Ricoh for their next League One home fixture on 6 September.

A switch needs approval from the Football League board but rules do allow clubs to change grounds during the season.

ACL had previously said it would not discuss a return until it received money owed by the club after they went into administration last year.

But Coventry owners Sisu paid ACL £471,192 via the Football League last week, with the money some payment towards compensation and unpaid rent.

The deal between ACL and Sisu comes after a dispute from April 2012 when the Sky Blues started to withhold rent from the stadium operators.

The club refused to pay what they believed to be unreasonable rent for the use of the stadium.

The Sky Blues then agreed a three-year groundshare deal with Northampton - 35 miles away - with an option of a further two years, and their first game at Sixfields was a 5-4 victory over Bristol City in August 2013.

Northampton will be due compensation after the early end of the deal.

Close

What's Hot