BEING a Sky Blues fan certainly has many more ‘downs’ than ‘ups’, none more so than in recent times, which is why I’m finding it difficult to come to terms with such positivity this summer, writes Observer sports editor and long suffering Sky Blues fan Steve Carpenter.
The summer period used to be a time of excitement for many of us young fans growing up during the Premier League era.
I still cannot understand how after a dazzling series of displays at the 1998 World Cup in France, Mustapha Hadji found Coventry to be his home despite many other, more glamorous offers no doubt.
And I’ll never forget being stuck traffic on the A14 the following year when I heard the news on the radio that we’d signed Robbie Keane from Wolves for somewhere in the region of £6.5m.
Even in more recent years looking back to 2008 the signings of Keiren Westwood, Freddy Eastwood and Aron Gunnarsson filled fans with excitement ahead of the new season.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the times and the current state of football in this country but that ‘buzz’ this summer is coming from recent off-field developments.
First came the news of a new kit deal with Nike. Everyone on this planet recognises the tick logo and to have it sitting proudly on our shirt next season is a big deal.
Then we were informed that as part of the Nike kit deal the club’s superstore will be moved to just a stone’s throw away from the Ricoh at Arena Park Shopping Centre.
This is a huge step for the club to have a real prominence at one of the busiest shopping centres in the Midlands and will really make them feel part of the community.
Its refreshing to see campaign groups who despite still not forgiving current owners Sisu for the club’s turmoil in recent years, have been support of decisions in recent months.
The confirmation of Tony Mowbray as long term manager, a four-year kit deal with Nike, price drops for both season tickets and matchday tickets have all been welcomed.
But all this positivity comes despite no developments in terms of players coming into the club.
We’re heading towards the end of June and there’s not yet been a whisper of any new signings at Ryton.
I’m not panicking by any means. Former West Brom and Celtic boss Mowbray will no doubt have a contacts book most managers at this level will envy, and I have no doubt that he is working hard to draft in the right players able to improve his current squad.
I should also point out that most transfer activity occurs when I’m out of the country on my annual summer holiday which is not scheduled until next month!
So let’s embrace and enjoy all the current positivity surrounding the Sky Blues at the moment and put our faith in Mowbray, who still has over six weeks to mould together a side capable of giving us more reasons to be cheerful come the start of the 2015/16 campaign.
