‘Joined at the hip’ – Gary Hoffman sets out intentions for Coventry City after key appointment at CBS Arena

Gary Hoffman says he aims to use his new position at the CBS Arena to help secure a long-term future for Coventry City at the stadium.

The former Sky Blues vice chairman and life-long fan, who follows the club home and away, was this week appointed as non-executive chairman of Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group owned Coventry Building Society Arena, meaning he’ll play a key role in board decisions about the venue.

City owner Doug King agreed and signed a five year tenancy deal in May when many fans hoped for a longer agreement to ensure the club continue to play at the ground that was built for the Sky Blues in 2005. Since then, of course, the football club have spent three seasons in exile – one at Northampton Town’s Sixfields and two at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s – due to fallouts and protracted bad blood between City’s former owners Sisu and previous stadium custodians Coventry City Council, the Alan Higgs Trust and, more latterly, Wasps RFC.

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However, a new era of cordiality looks to be underway with Frasers Group, who took control of the stadium in November, stating publicly that they want the football club to remain very much at the heart of the venue. And that sentiment appears to have been backed up by the appointment of Hoffman, who has a strong association with Coventry City.

Speaking to CoventryLive, the 63-year-old former chairman of the Premier League, said: “What I want to do is build long-term partnerships with all the partners and sponsors and, in particular, the football club. And that’s the role really.

“I know football as well as anyone, given the roles I have done with the Premier League etc; I know the city (of Coventry) as well as anyone given my work with Coventry Building Society and other roles I have done; I know community support given I was chair of the Football Foundation; I know big business and I know small business. I know the football club, I know the stadium and I know Frasers, so why wouldn’t it be good news?”

Asked if securing a long term deal for the football club to play at the Arena is that high on his agenda, he added: “Yes. Long term partnerships are better than short term partnerships. That’s what everyone wants and I wouldn’t be joining if I didn’t want Coventry City and the stadium to be joined at the hip for as long into the future as we can get them.”

City fan on the inside – is this good news for the Sky Blues? Have your say in the comments section below.

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