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Saturday, December 23, 2017

 

Forget DPMM, Coventry City Would Be Perfect Liga 1 Fit

Golly. A month off. Things have been pretty hectic as I struggle to adapt to my latest country but am still keeping in touch with Indonesian football and all that entails. As I try and wean myself back into the writing habit something gentle to start off with. 

So, DPMM want to join Liga 1? The Brunei side it seems are a bit peeved by some of the new regulations imposed by the Football Association of Singapore and have been casting around in search of a new home. For some reason they think Indonesia would be a good fit and, given their history, traditions and fan base seem to think they are eminently qualified to jump straight into the top flight and pass by minor inconveniences like promotion from Liga 3 upwards.

Unlike Singapore and Malaysia I don't recall any foreign teams taking part in the Indonesian football eco system. Simply put Indonesia doesn't need an outsider to come along and make up the numbers. Wanna add a team to Liga 1? PSS? PSIM?

The PSSI admit the suggestion from DPMM is being discussed. Football's governing body does move in mysterious ways so who knows what they will decide but when you consider the current chief is a military type who recently slammed a couple of Indonesia's finest young talents for having the temerity to play overseas, he said they weren't patriotic enough, it does seem unlikely DPMM will get the green light, whatever the sultan of that nation may offer.

Still, if Indonesia does want to take on a foreign team might I suggest Coventry City? DPMM have their own home ground and everything. Coventry already have many of the criteria a proper Indonesian football club needs.

The Sky Blues have fallen on hard times since they were relegated from the Premier League at the end of 2000/2001 the club have lurched from one disaster to another. They left their home off 106 years, Highfield Road in 2005 to move into the brand spanking new Ricoh Arena but the team's inability to regain their top flight status meant they were struggling financially and with all the big TV deals being signed in their absence Coventry found themselves missing out on both riches and a home.

With attendances falling and Coventry falling down the divisions, they were relegated to the third tier at the end of the 2012 season. Fans fell out with the owners who in turn seemed to fall out with the stadium owners forcing the club to look elsewhere for a home. There were rumours of groundsharing with Walsall and even an offer of Ricoh Arena rent free but ultimately the club decided they would play their home games in Northampton, a round trip of 70 miles.

Now by Indonesian standards 70 miles isn't that far but many Coventry fans turned militant. The club made the move in time for the 2013/2014 season and large numbers of supporters boycotted their team. Their one season in Northampton was marred by small attendances and the unusual sight of some fans standing on a hill overlooking the stadium cheering on their team while refusing to buy any tickets. They hired buses, went through the usual match day rituals and sang their songs...they just point blank refused to hand over any money to the club and its owners.

The following season and Coventry returned to the Ricoh with over 27,000 seeing their first game of the campaign. The return home sadly didn't end the sorry saga. The stadium was bought out by Wasps, a rugby union club who used to play in Wycombe and once more Coventry City are mere tenants, a proud, famous football club left homeless in the brutal modern age where money is the arbiter of all and history counts for shit.

Having seen Coventry City games at Highfield Road and in Northampton it seemed appropriate I take the opportunity to see the Sky Blues at the Ricoh. And how disappointing it was. Make no mistake, the stadium is owned by Wasps, they get the crowds and the football club get the scraps. I got the impression they were very much unwanted tenants; there was little to indicate a football club founded in 1883 exists at all. Any branding was Wasps related. Finding the Coventry City ticket office was a mission and as for the club shop? It's located under a railway line in a nearby retail park!

Coventry City are now in the fourth tier of English football. They defeated Wycombe Wanderers last night 3-2 to climb into the top four as they aim to get promoted. But having seen the old Highfield Road in its glory, an old school stadium big on fences, rocking to a full house it is sad to see how the football club has fallen to this uncomfortable existance.

A nomadic club with a supporter boycott and unpopular owners; Coventry Cit would seem to be a perfect fit for Indonesia!

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