 COVENTRY CITY hero John Sillett is the inspirational face of our ‘YOUR CITY NEEDS YOU’ campaign.
A giant figure in the city’s history, alongside George Curtis he steered the Sky Blues to FA Cup glory in 1987 – the club’s finest hour.
Speaking for Sky Blue fans everywhere, he said: “Coventry City’s very close to my heart. The club’s got a great tradition. I’m Sky Blue through and through and it’s a tragedy the club’s been allowed to get into this state.
“We’ve had a chairman resigning and people stepping down.
“It’s very important that I do all I can for this football club. Every donation will help.”
As well as donations, we’re urging our readers and businesses to start collections, or hold fund-raising events in the workplace, pubs and clubs. We’ll stage our own sponsored Coventry Times football tournament and an auction.
We approached new Sky Blues chairman Joe Elliott last week saying we wanted to launch a major appeal campaign. He put us in touch with the fans’ Sky Blue Trust, who wanted to do the same.
Our ‘Your City Needs You: Coventry Times/Sky Blue Trust Appeal’ was immediately launched last Thursday on our websites – www.timeslive.com and www.skybluetrust.co.uk.
Collection points for donations were set up in the Sky Blues shops at the Ricoh Arena and the West Orchards Shopping Centre, city centre; and at our front office in the Telegraph building in Corporation Street, city centre. You should ask for the Coventry Times.
Already, one donor, a businessman, has pledged £1000.
The football club’s directors, shareholders and corporate sponsors, as well as scores of pubs and supporters’ groups, have already pledged support.
Appeal co-ordinator Lionel Bird, vice-chairman of the Sky Blue Trust, said: “We want contributions from the directors right down to the ordinary fans.
“Many businesses have done well out of the football club with the volume of people it brings to the city on matchdays and other times. They include taxi firms, social clubs near the ground, and many more.
“We’re not asking firms for hundreds of thousands of pounds. Any small donation will help.”
The Sky Blues have a £38 million debt. They’re losing £10m a year, without income from the profitable part-council owned Ricoh Arena, with a multi-million pound players’ wage bill, and lower than expected gate receipts.
The Sky Blues have struggled, so far in vain, to secure a major investor to take over the club – and the potentially profitable stadium they don’t own.
New chairman Joe Elliott is hoping that one of NINE potential investors the club is talking to will step in and rescue the Sky Blues. But without a takeover, the club could be forced to go into administration.
It would be a major dent in the club’s ambitions of hitting the big time once more. Debts would have to be paid off, players would be sold, and the club slimmed down.
Ten league points could be lost but the financial outlook and league status beyond that could be very bleak.
That’s why the Academy – which brings on young players – is vital to the club’s future, and will get all proceeds from our appeal.
The Sky Blues chairman said fund-raising could provide a major boost for the youth academy, the budget for which has suffered in recent years. The Academy needs £15,000 a week to stay afloat.
Mr Elliott said: “Anything positive to get people behind us is fantastic.
“While we realise our fans would be unable to buy the club with donations, it would by very useful during these very difficult times to be able to fund the Academy with the help of the fans and the Coventry Times.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the club to get some help with its expenditure for the Academy, and make sure it has the opportunity to build the future of Coventry City Football Club with a good representation from local kids.”
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