TRIBUTES are being paid to Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity who has died aged 70.
A minute’s silence is due to take place at tomorrow night’s game against Walsall at the Ricoh Arena.
It follows the death last month of his predecessor Jimmy Hill.
A club announcement stated today: “Coventry City Football are deeply saddened to learn of the death of former Chairman and Life President Mike McGinnity.
“The former Sky Blues chairman took on the role in 2002 and led the club for four years.
“During his time, he helped reduce the club’s debts and oversaw the club’s move from Highfield Road to the Ricoh Arena.
“McGinnity was also made an MBE in 2008 for his voluntary service to disadvantaged people in the West Midlands.”
The Sky BLues’ executive vice chairman Chris Anderson said: “We’re deeply saddened to hear of Mike’s passing and our deepest sympathies go out to his family.
“Having spoken to club staff who worked with Mike, it’s obvious that he was a hard-working man who had the club’s best interests at heart.
“Just under a month or so after losing Jimmy Hill, the club has lost another figure who played an important part in the club’s recent history.”
Tributes also came from ex-Sky Blues chairman and life president Joe Elliott MBE. He said Mr McGinnity presided over a challenging time for the club but helped reduce debts from £60million to £20million.
It followed the club’s costly relegation after more than three decades of top flight football, and the sale of the historic Highfield Road stadium for houses under previous chairman Bryan Richardson, which ended up depriving the club of stadium revenues.
Mr McGinnity was succeeded by Geoffrey Robinson MP and later Ray Ranson, ex-footballer turned entrepreneur, who fronted the takeover of current owners Sisu when the club was in danger of going into administration.
McGinnity bought a company called Pel in 1989 which created a new type of plastic seating for football stadia.
