Coventry City write to PM to express anger over cash lifeline
Dave Boddy has written to Boris Johnson after claiming the Government has “hung out to dry” Coventry City and their fellow Football League clubs.
The Sky Blues chief executive says he’s “enraged” that EFL clubs have been overlooked in their Winter Sports Survival Package that is handing out £300million in what has been described as “largely loans” to 11 spectator sports, with one of the biggest sums, £135m, going to rugby union, with 59m going to the country’s 12 Premiership rugby clubs.
That means Coventry-based Wasps will receive almost £5m. Football also gets £28m, but not clubs in the Premier League or the English Football League.
“Football has been given absolutely nothing by the Government,” fumed Boddy, who claims the Government is now putting the national sport at “severe risk.”
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“It’s not about rugby clubs getting money, it’s about us and the Government looking out for football in the way it has looked after other sports.
“I am writing to Boris and all and sundry because it’s absolutely wrong.
“Football is the national sport and what the game gives to its communities up and down the country is unrivalled by any other support and we have just been hung out to dry.
“What he’s trying to do is force the Premier League to fund us, and that’s just not going to happen. And if it does it won’t be a grant, it will be a loan and that’s just not right.
“I’m enraged by it.
“On behalf of the football club I am writing to the Prime Minister and Oliver Dowden (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and the Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston, as well as all our local conservative MPs.”
A Coventry City statement reads:
“The Government announced details of its Winter Sports Survival Package but has again failed to provide a financial lifeline for EFL Clubs.
“The Government is providing support for 11 sports, all of whom rely on gate receipts, including Premiership Rugby Union, Rugby League and Horse Racing, but yet again is washing its hands of the crisis that is engulfing the EFL – instead trying to pass the buck to the Premier League.
“During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson said: “We don’t want any football team to go out of business as a result of this pandemic and we’re doing everything we can.”
“When announcing the Winter Sports Survival Package, Oliver Dowden (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) said: “Government will do everything we can to help our precious sports and clubs make it through covid.”
“The evidence shows that the Government is not doing everything that it can and instead is putting its head in the sand and hoping for the…
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