Football club owner bids to take stadium state aid case to Supreme Court

Litigation over Coventry’s Ricoh Arena is set to enter its fifth year after the owner of Coventry City Football Club said it would appeal to the Supreme Court against a ruling won in October by the city council.

Sisu, which owns the club, wants to overturn a Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed an application for judicial review.

Law firm Fieldfisher, which acts for Sisu and various associated companies, declined to discuss the grounds of challenge.

The club though issued a statement that distanced it from the latest legal move.

It said: “Coventry City Football Club has learned of the decision of the club owners SISU to appeal the latest court judgement and continue court proceedings against [Ricoh Arena owner] Wasps and Coventry City Council.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the shareholder drives the legal process and instructs legal counsel. The club does not make any decision on the court proceedings nor does it pay any legal costs.

“We reiterate the club’s desire and need to agree a new deal to continue to play matches at the Ricoh Arena.”

It warned that without such a deal its place in the English Football League would be in jeopardy.

Coventry City Council said in a joint statement from Labour leader George Duggins and Conservative opposition leader Gary Ridley: “We are extremely disappointed that Sisu-related companies have decided to seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, despite already having had their application refused at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

“Sisu has continually sought to re-open decisions taken by the council more than four years ago but we believe we have a strong defence to all the claims and that the decisions the council took on 7 October 2014 were entirely appropriate and lawful.

“Until the Supreme Court considers the application, we do not intend to make any further comment on the case.”

Mark Smulian