Cov Plea To Fans
Crisis-club Coventry have urged supporters to turn up en masse for their forthcoming home fixtures against the Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights as administrators battle to save the 135 year-old club.
Operations director Michael Doyle told the Coventry Telegraph,
“ Our next two home games, on Friday and against Doncaster on January 2, are vital to the future of the club. We know it is a busy time of year for everyone but we are urging as many of the supporters, well-wishers and people of the city who want to see the club continue to get along if they can and help us get through.
“I know there are a lot of people who feel the club has been poorly run and managed in the past but all the people here now have just one aim and that is to see Cov continue and to go forward living within its means and to make sure all our financial resources are directed the right way.”
City council and club officials are continuing to work alongside the RFU to ensure that the club can at least complete this current Championship season.
Story www.coventrytelegraph.net
In other news the Trustees of Coventry RFC have issued the following statement regarding the bond lodged with the RFU prior to the 2008-09 season:-
“Now that the Rugby Football Union have clarified their position relative to the bond lodged with them last autumn, the trustees are equally now in a position to explain in detail the full picture.
To make one point abundantly clear, the RFU stated and made it quite clear before the bond was actually lodged with them that unless all rugby-related debts were cleared, they would not allow Coventry RFC to begin playing in what was then National Division One for season 2008-09. That was a straight fact.
The trustees then became aware that the remaining outstanding debt was to Mike Umaga, the former Coventry coach. The trustees were advised that a settlement of £20,000 was agreed with Mr Umaga.
The RFU left no-one in doubt that unless this was paid immediately, they would withdraw Coventry’s right to play in National Division One. To ensure that Coventry played that weekend, a friend of the club who wishes to remain anonymous kindly agreed to settle the amount. It was not settled directly from the bond, but the trustees believed that this person had to be reimbursed and that action was taken.
It should be stressed that the other option which had been put forward was to take on the RFU legally rather than pay the £20,000. It was the majority view of the trustees, however, that to take that route would have been costly and where would the money have come from to fight it. Importantly, it could almost certainly have resulted in the RFU not allowing Coventry to play. It was not considered to be an option or a risk a majority of the trustees were prepared to take.
The total amount raised by the appeal at the point when the bond had to be lodged was £55,163.57. Several local businessmen who had between them contributed £6,000 subsequently requested through legal channels that they did not want their contributions to be lodged with the RFU.
As a result the amount lodged with the RFU was £29,163. With subsequent bank interest added on, less tax, and a number of other donations made since lodging the bond, the amount as of now remaining in the building society account is £304.58. In closing the account, that figure will now be transferred to the account recently opened to cover the wages of players and staff.
The RFU have confirmed that the bond is being returned for the same purpose in weekly £6,000 tranches. Our sole aim from the beginning was to try and ensure that Coventry Rugby Club continued and, to that end, in late 2008 that aim was successful.”
In other news Bristol have confirmed that 22 year-old back rower Jamie Miller has left the Butts Park Arena to join them.
Miller, who has played 65 games for Coventry, is arguably the biggest name to leave the club since it was left to face an uncertain future by former owner Andrew Green. Bristol have been struggling for cover in that position recently and head coach Paul Hull had no hesitation in signing Miller.
He said, “He will give us much needed cover and support in a position that is very attritional. We nearly signed Jamie at the start of this season and having the opportunity to sign him at this crucial time has given us a real boost.”
Story www.thisisbristol.co.uk/bristolrugby
Coventry director of rugby Phil Maynard has confirmed that amongst other players to have left the club this week are props Scott Roberts and Kevin Davis along with hooker Joe Merrigan.
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