COVENTRY CITY has postponed their championship game with Wigan Athletic next week due to an UNSAFE pitch.
The turf in the Coventry Building Society Arena has been badly damaged as a result of the recent heat waves in the United Kingdom.
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It also suffered damage during the commonwealth games Rugby 7s, so much so that City’s Championship opener against Rotherham was postponed.
And after closer inspection by an EFL-designated “agronomic company”, The Sky Blues – who share their stadium with rugby team Wasp – have been forced to reschedule The Latics’ visit next Tuesday.
A club statement read: “Coventry City are very disappointed to have to provide a further update on the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena and to confirm the postponement of Tuesday’s home game against Wigan Athletic.
“Thursday, an independent internationally based research and agronomy firm, appointed by the EFL, assessed the field in the Arena.
“They have experience at various international tournaments and stadiums in the UK and abroad.
“It was their finding that the field would not be safe or playable for Tuesday’s game against Wigan Athletic.
“We had hoped that, after last week’s postponement, the pitch in the Arena would have improved enough to allow our match against Wigan Athletic to go ahead and planned for this to happen.
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“Unfortunately, however, it is clear that this is not possible and we are therefore forced to postpone Tuesday’s game against Wigan Athletic.
“We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the fans, players and staff of Coventry City and Wigan Athletic and their fans, players and staff.
“We have looked into the possibility of turning the game around, but unfortunately this was not possible due to other events at the DW Stadium.”
Coventry chief executive Dave Boddy claims the field’s relegation is due to a lack of investment.
He said: “We are very disappointed to report the lack of improvement on the pitch, and again we are very disappointed for our supporters, players and staff that we have now had to postpone Tuesday’s home game against Wigan Athletic.
“I met Stephen Vaughan at Wasps/the Arena on Monday and have been in regular contact via email ever since.
“To be clear, this is not the fault of the field staff.
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“The promised investment in a new pitch, which was a fundamental part of the extensive negotiations for the Club to return and then another promise made publicly after the announcement of our return in March 2021, has not happened and there has been no significant renovation or renovation. repair work also in the summer.
“Our concerns about the quality of the pitch have not been allayed and we were very disappointed to learn in June that Wasps had made the decision not to take any action to build a new surface.
“We are still waiting, despite repeated requests and the high-profile and urgent nature of this situation, for an ‘action plan’ from them to address this important issue, which they publicly pledged to implement last Saturday.”
Boddy insists it is the fans, not the players, who are paying the price for the problems with the stadium pitch.
He said: “It is our supporters who are suffering from this mess, as well as the players and staff.
“These are incredibly difficult conditions for the football club.
“The pitch has now been independently found to be unsafe and unplayable by the agronomists and previously by EFL match officials, and we are now desperately seeking a solution to this situation by the Arena and Wasps.
“We will continue to keep supporters informed and will bring more news as soon as possible.”
Coventry – currently 18th on the Championship table – will be back in action this afternoon, traveling to South London to face Millwall.