 THE Coventry Times and fans' group the Sky Blue Trust has launched a major appeal to help YOUR football club in its hour of need.
We want the whole city to get behind our YOUR CITY NEEDS YOU Campaign.
We're working jointly in partnership with the fans' trust, with the full support of Coventry City Football Club.
Together with our readers and businesses, we won't be able to raise the millions needed to wipe out the club's crippling debts - which threaten the future of the club.
But the message is EVERY LITTLE HELPS. Even 50p or a £1 would be appreciated.
Our aim is to raise as much cash as possible through donations and fund-raising activities.
Proceeds will go to the Sky Blues' Academy - which provides training for youngsters from nine upwards. The Academy provides a valuable service on a shoestring budget to the whole city, and is the future of the club.
We'll stage some of our own events too - such as a sponsored Coventry Times/Sky Blue Trust football tournament and an auction.
In association with the football club, we'll also offer promotions to Coventry Times' readers, including matchday ticket offers aimed at boosting attendances and much needed gate receipts.
We're urging our readers and local businesses to start up collections, or hold fund-raising events in the workplace, in shops, pubs and clubs.
We'll highlight readers' fund-raising events in our paper. Names of all donators will be printed in the Coventry Times, whch goes to every home in the city - unless you wish to donate anonymously.
The campaign kicked off today (Friday) with collection points for donations in the Sky Blues shops at the Ricoh Arena and the West Orchards Shopping Centre, city centre.
Donations can also be made in person at our Corporation Street office at the Telegraph building in the city centre, by asking for the Coventry Times.
All cheques (please make payable to 'SBT Academy') and donations will go to a trust fund set up by the Sky Blue Trust, with full endorsement from Coventry City Football Club.
Cash can be dropped off in envelopes with your name on, and your name will also be entered on a list of contributors.
You're also now be able to make donations on PAYPAL through the website, www.skybluetrust.co.uk, or through a link on our website - www.timeslive.com.
The club has a £38 million debt. It's losing £10 million 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 hopeful one of FIVE potential investors they are talking with will step in and save the club.
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 paid off, players would be sold off and the club slimmed down.
Ten league points could be lost but the financial outlook beyond that could be very bleak.
That's why the Academy - which brings on young players - is vital to the club's future.
The football club has touched every single home and family in this city in one way or another in its 124 year history.
There's been tears of joy along with frustrations, from last month's fantastic win at Manchester Utd, to the historic 1987 FA Cup triumph and the glorious promotion to the top flight in the 1960s under Jimmy Hill's revolution.
In that time, Coventry City Football Club has also been at the heart of the community - putting a lot into the city and boosting the local economy.
That includes at the grassroots level where its Academy has provided coaching for children of all ages, working with schools and local football clubs.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT SOMETHING BACK!!!
* We also need some volunteers to help us with activities including put up posters in pubs, clubs, offices and other venues. Please phone Les Reid at the Coventry Times on 024 7650 0556 or Lionel Bird of the Sky Blue Trust on 0797 2309114
WE'VE drafted in legendary former Sky Blues boss John Sillett for our campaign.
In the iconic role of the First World War's Lord Kitchener, his message is: "YOUR CITY NEEDS YOU".
The talismanic figure - along with joint manager George Curtis - steered the club to FA Cup glory in 1987, still the club's finest hour.
John said today: "The club is on thin ice. It may come down to whether the city has a football club in future or not.
"Anybody who remembers the achievements in 1987 has got to get off their backside and help.
"Coventry City Football Club is very close to my heart. The club's got a great tradition. I'm Sky Blue through and through and it's a tragedy that the club's been allowed to get into this state. Every donation will help."
Sky Blues chairman Joe Elliott gave the club's full backing to the Coventry Times working in partnership with the independent Sky Blue Trust.
He said fundraising could provide a major boost for the Academy, the budget for which has suffered in recent years. The Academy needs £15,000 a week to stay afloat.
Mr Elliott said: "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 with 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."
Sky Blue Trust vice-chairman Lionel Bird said: "Shareholders and sponsors have already pledged to make donations. 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 businesses.
"We're not asking firms for hundreds of thousands of pounds. Any small donation will help."
All cheques will be written by the Sky Blue Trust to the football club, to pay for specific invoices.
The campaign is also hoping to set up a phoneline for credit card donations in the coming days. Details to come.
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