BOTH Frank Lampard and Doug King believe Coventry City’s purchase of the club’s stadium helped bring the Sky Blues together as one.
In a video posted on the club’s YouTube channel, Sky Blues boss Lampard and Coventry chairman King discussed various topics since the former’s arrival as head coach.
Coventry owner King bought the stadium from Frasers Group and former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley in August last year.
The news broke just hours before Coventry took on Queens Park Rangers at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
And the Sky Blues duly marked the occasion with a resounding 7-1 victory in the club’s first game as CBS Arena owners.
According to Frasers Group’ half-year report, published in December last year, King paid £50million to buy the Arena.
And King admits buying the stadium had been one of his top priority’s since becoming owner and chairman of the Sky Blues.
King said: “It was like wow. I did feel proud because it was a hard one.
“I could never have guaranteed it and I knew playing in somebody else’s stadium, you can’t do this and they won’t let you train then.
“All of these things are really not helpful for togetherness.
“I really wanted to get it done and I’d been trying to get it done for a while and got it done.
“For me it was a great thing because for the broader club we needed to be joined up.
“The players didn’t let us down that day.”
Sky Blues boss Lampard feels the club’s purchase of the ground further strengthened the bond between the supporters and the players.
Lampard added: “The pitch is better now for starters.
“There’s definitely a feeling now. That day was like a line in the sand.
“The fans probably felt it as much as anyone because they’ve been on the journey more so than the players.
“The relationship between the fans and the players is a two-way thing. I think that heightened that at that point in the season.
“Everyone wants to play for a football club that is together and it was big deal.
“There’s a feeling of stability with [owning the stadium].”
