IT IS the end of an era and the start of a new chapter for Coventry City Ladies after confirmation they have re-branded their name and look ahead of the 2015/16 season.
The club will now be known as Coventry United after striking up a deal with the Midland League Division One club.
It means the ladies will switch from their traditional sky blue colours to green and red, but they will retain their current board, intellectual rights and history.
All current partnerships, facilities, staff and league status are also unaffected, but a new badge will be created as part of the merge.
“This was not an easy decision to make,” said club chairman Tim Kalns.
“Coventry City Ladies are a long established club that have been playing at the top level in the Women’s game in recent years, and can arguably lay claim to have been the most successful side in the FA Women’s Premier League over the last four seasons.
“We do however remain ambitious; the next step is Super League status, so discussions have been going on behind the scenes for a number of weeks about how we can get the right structures in place to progress this club toward semi-professional status.
“The board have been in negotiation with Coventry United for a while and believe we now have an agreement in place that will give us the best possible platform to enable the club to move forward.”
“We look forward to the new collaboration with Coventry United. They are an ambitious new club with a great future in both the men’s and the ladies’ game.”
The shock merge comes just days after the club announced Paul Lannaccone as its new first team manager.
Iannaccone repleaces former boss Craig Nicholls, who left last month in search of a new project, and the new man at the helm is delighted to have been given his first job in the women’s game.
“When I returned from the USA last year after six years away I had my sights set on a top job in the Women’s Premier League,” said Iannaccone, who has his UEFA B coaching licence.
“I can’t wait to get started. We have a fantastic squad of players here ready to work hard and compete for every trophy.
“I’m a young coach but with lots of experience and I have been fortunate enough to work with and learn from some excellent coaches. I’m really looking forward to this challenge.”
