
<p>Mike Ashley and his ownership group gave Coventry City an eviction notice from their stadium. Ashley’s Frasers Group recently purchased Coventry Building Society Arena. </p>



<p>Ashley is most famous for his time as <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2015/04/28/watch-the-secrets-of-sports-direct-documentary-about-newcastle-owner-mike-ashleys-company/">owner of Newcastle United</a>. </p>



<p>Ashley’s company took over the Coventry stadium in November. While the club’s current license runs until 2031, the Frasers Group wants to negotiate a new deal.  The <a href="https:\/\/www.worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule">Championship</a> side issued a statement on the ordeal on Monday.</p>



<h2>Coventry City eviction notice</h2>



<p>“Frasers Group have now presented to Coventry City a new agreement with new commercial terms, which have been presented to us without any dialogue or negotiations, and are less favorable to the Football Club,” <a href="https:\/\/www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2022/december/news-statement-following-receipt-of-an-eviction-notice-from-frasers-group-new-owners-of-the-cbs-arena/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> the club.  “In addition, this license would only run until May 2023.”</p>



<p>“Frasers Group have said they would negotiate for beyond May 2023, but this leaves us without the security and certainty that our current deal provides to us and our fans.”</p>



<p>“To confirm, Coventry City are happy to continue under terms of the current license which we already have in place to play at the Arena.”</p>



<p>Coventry next play away to Reading on Saturday, December 10th. Nevertheless, the league scheduled their next home fixture for the following Saturday on the 17th.  </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: Statement after Coventry City received an eviction notice from Frasers Group, new owners of the CBS Arena.<br><br>➡️ <a href="https:\/\/t.co/AW8zkiXd04">https:\/\/t.co/AW8zkiXd04</a> <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/PUSB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PUSB</a> <a href="https:\/\/t.co/aqTg8buXAS">pic.twitter.com/aqTg8buXAS</a></p>— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/Coventry_City/status/1599747887898017793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h5>Poor pitch an issue for years at stadium</h5>



<p>The Sky Blues are currently 12th in the second-tiered English division.  They have, however, had multiple home matches postponed during the current campaign.  The field earned designations as unplayable for four matches this season.</p>



<p>Despite the terrible pitch, the Coventry Building Society Arena opened in 2005.  Coventry City have mostly played at the stadium since it opened, but did also previously play matches at other arenas as well.</p>



<p>Ashley’s group also issued an official statement regarding the issue. “Frasers has, throughout all its involvement with the stadium, been supportive of securing the long-term future of CCFC playing its games at the stadium,” read the <a href="https:\/\/www.bbc.com/sport/football/63858805" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>. “This position remains unchanged.”</p>



<p>“Prior to acquiring the stadium, Frasers issued a new license mirroring the terms CCFC had agreed with the previous owners.  However, CCFC chose not to sign it at that time.”</p>



<p>“A revised proposal, together with a new license, has been issued to CCFC and will secure the immediate future of CCFC at the stadium.”</p>



<p>Many Coventry fans assumed their stadium issues would ease with the new ownership.  Nevertheless, stress has continued for the Championship club.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Championship side Coventry City have been given an eviction notice from the new owners of their stadium, with a game scheduled in 11 days.

Coventry City given eviction notice by Mike Ashley group

<div id="attachment_348586" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-348586" class="wp-caption-text">Photo Credit: AFP via Getty Images</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Opinions differ on what people want from the club they support. Some want trophies and success on the field only. Others prioritize entertainment and time spent with thousands of their closest friends.</p>
<p>I’ve been a fan of Newcastle United for 20 years. The MLS eliminated my club in that league, the Miami Fusion. I needed to find a new club to follow.</p>
<p>I chose to support NUFC for several reasons. For one, they had a passionate fan base. Then, they weren’t the fair-weather-fan’s choice. Finally, the Fusion’s colorful manager was former Newcastle player and native Ray Hudson.</p>
<p>The first match I watched as a Newcastle supporter was on September 15, 2001. The Magpies won 4-3 over Manchester United at a full St. James’ Park. What more could someone thousands of miles away ask for?</p>
<h3>Newcastle’s change of ownership years in the waiting</h3>
<p>The Mike Ashley Era differed dramatically from that first fixture I saw.</p>
<p>The games lacked fun, the team lacked home, and the good days were few and far between.</p>
<div id="attachment_348540" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348540" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-348540" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20211008_WST_348532_Ashley-Out-NUFC-300x341.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=341" alt="" width="300" height="341" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Ashley-Out-NUFC-300x341.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Ashley-Out-NUFC-600x682.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Ashley-Out-NUFC-150x170.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Ashley-Out-NUFC-768x872.jpg 768w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Ashley-Out-NUFC.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-348540" class="wp-caption-text">Newcastle fans hold signs demanding Mike Ashley leave the club.</p></div>
<p>For us Americans, trying to find matches in the Championship in 2009-10 was extremely difficult. Often, we required dodgy streams of games.</p>
<p>For much of the last decade, Ashley’s plan seemed to be to make as much money as possible for himself. Simultaneously, he kept the club barely afloat in the Premier League rather than challenging for top spots.</p>
<p>Even then, it <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/newcastle-united/platzierungen/verein/762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">didn’t always work</a>. After only four relegations in 117 years, the club suffered two in seven seasons under Ashley.</p>
<p>Rafa Benitez’s stint at St. James’ Park ended after only a few years due to lack of support from Ashley.</p>
<p>Now, Steve Bruce manages the squad because nobody else would work for Ashley. Currently, a threadbare squad is stuck in 19<sup>th</sup> place. Newcastle is winless in seven games with three draws.</p>
<p>As of now, the struggling is limited. Newcastle’s change of ownership landed the club with a consortium led by the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund. Also, Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben Brothers’ RB Sports &amp; Media own ownership stakes.</p>
<p>The consortium pledged to rebuild the club, both on and off the pitch. Also they plan a substantial investment in the city and its surroundings.</p>
<p>Many considered the PIF to be undeserving of ownership of a Premier League side. That stems from the less-than-stellar track record of the Saudi government in regards to human rights.</p>
<p>The U.K. government does frequent business with Saudi Arabia. Also, there are not too many restrictions on Saudi investment. Therefore, there is not thorough-enough support for opposition to this takeover.</p>
<h3>Expectations for New Ownership</h3>
<p>What should we expect from Newcastle’s change in ownership?</p>
<p>The PIF has deeper pockets than the combined wealth of the other 19 owners. Yet, there are certain limitations for investment. Still, the stifling constraints of the Ashley era are certainly a thing of the past.</p>
<p>Staveley’s statement yesterday confirms this.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“It will take time to get to where we want to but we have big ambitions for the club. We’re going to invest not just in players but in the club.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>It’s unlikely that the conditions that caused the loans to fall through this past transfer window for want of a few million pounds will not recur. The next manager will not be a last resort as Steve Bruce was.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>READ MORE:</strong></em></a><em> Where to watch the Premier League on U.S. TV.</em></p>
<p>The simple fact that Ashley is gone earned the consortium an enormous amount of goodwill.</p>
<p>Mike Ashley burned bridges with Newcastle icons like Kevin Keegan. He refused to back a player like Jonas Gutierrez who was undergoing cancer treatment. He did not support a top-tier manager like Rafa Benitez after he stayed with the club despite relegation.</p>
<p>The new owners understand this. They indicated they will work to earn, and keep, the trust of the fans.</p>
<p>Fans hope Newcastle’s change of ownership beings a new dawn for the club. Since the announcement, the Newcastle ticket sales <a href="https:\/\/www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-takeover-imminent-season-ticket-21785417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">site traffic rocketed</a> up. The 8,000 empty seats at St. James’ Park for most of the season will likely be filled again by next Sunday.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, NUFC face Tottenham, one of the two most vocal clubs against the PIF’s purchasing of the club.</p>
<p>Before last night, it would have been hard to find anyone who thought Newcastle would be able to get a result against Spurs.</p>
<p>Now, who knows? Hope has returned to Tyneside; “We don’t demand a club that wins, we demand a club that tries”.</p>


Newcastle's change of ownership comes at a much-needed time for the Magpies. The Saudi-led team takes over a team looking to return to the top of England.

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Coventry City

Coventry City given eviction notice by Mike Ashley group

Leagues: EPL

Newcastle's ownership change brings renewed optimism