The following matters were addressed at today’s EFL Board meeting.
COVENTRY CITY
The EFL Board has today been appraised of the latest position of Coventry City, following an EFL request for confirmation in regard to where the Club will stage its home matches in the 2019/20 season.
The Club is not yet in a position to provide absolute clarity of its plans, but is continuing to work with the relevant parties, as they attempt to meet the EFL’s ultimate objective of ensuring they continue to play in the city of Coventry on a long term basis.
At this stage, Coventry City still face the prospect of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Clubs being convened to consider their expulsion from the League on 25 April if they are unable to satisfy the requirements in line with EFL Regulations. EFL Clubs would need to be notified no later than 2 April 2019 of an EGM and, in the interim period, Coventry City will be given every opportunity to develop and present a suitable solution.
The EFL understands that it is the Club’s preference to extend their stay at the Ricoh Arena for future seasons and would view this as a sensible and suitable solution to the matter.
EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “We have today reviewed the position of Coventry City, and while we are still some distance away from having absolute confirmation, the EFL will continue to work with the Club to progress every possible avenue in order to reach an appropriate resolution.”
BLACKPOOL
The Board was informed that the EFL Executive has now met with the newly appointed members of the Blackpool FC Board following the appointment of the Receivers, by the High Court in February 2019.
The EFL Board agreed to give the Club’s Board the opportunity to finalise its review of the Club’s current financial position before making a decision on whether the Club is to be regarded as being subject to an Insolvency Event as detailed in Regulation 12.3.
The EFL will continue to work with the Club’s Board to finalise this outstanding matter as quickly as is practically possible.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
As a competition organiser, the EFL regulates against dual interests and, having assessed the suggestion to take control of Charlton Athletic put forward by the Club’s owner Roland Duchatalet, the EFL Board has concluded that such an arrangement would raise a significant conflict of interest and as such is not one that could be considered.
The EFL will be speaking to Mr Duchatalet with regard to the ownership of Charlton Athletic and will continue to offer any support it can in assisting with his aim of finding a suitable new owner for the Club.
In meantime, the ongoing EFL review continues and is expected to reach a conclusion before the end of the season.
BOLTON WANDERERS
The EFL Board notes the statement issued by Bolton Council, regarding their decision to not serve a prohibition notice to Bolton Wanderers after the Club confirmed it will meet its legal obligations under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.
The EFL will continue to assist the Club in finding a permanent solution to the current challenges the Club faces.