Wigan Athletic fans have been left frustrated after a Championship game was cancelled with days to go over the state of the opposition's pitch. Latics were due to travel to the Coventry Building Society Arena on Tuesday (August 16) as they continue their return to football's second tier with a clash against Coventry City.
But the hosts were forced to cancel last Saturday's fixture against Rotherham United due to an 'unsafe' pitch - and now the club has been left to make the same decision ahead of the Wigan match. The Coventry Building Society Arena is also home to the Wasps rugby union side, whose season starts next month, while the venue was used to host rugby sevens games during this summer's Commonwealth Games.
In a statement issued this morning (August 13), a spokesperson for the EFL said: "Coventry City’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, August 16 2022, has been postponed by the EFL due to ongoing issues with the playing surface at the Coventry Building Society Arena. The decision follows the commissioning of an independent report by an internationally established group of sports turf experts to fully examine the current condition of the pitch.
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"After a full and thorough evaluation, the league has been advised that playing on the surface in its existing state would pose a risk to players and match officials. In addition, the report confirmed that there is no maintenance work possible that would make the pitch safe in time for Tuesday’s game."
Latics supporters were left disappointed by the cancellation. Commenting on Wigan Athletic's Facebook page, one person wrote: "The Tics should automatically get the three points as they have had plenty of time to reverse the fixture or play at a different venue like they did the Carabao Cup game."
"Absolute joke, either reverse the fixture or kick them out league," added a second. One supporter suggested it was the 'correct decision' though, adding: "We only have a small squad of players wouldn't want us to get a few injuries which could affect our season."
Coventry's Carabao Cup clash with Bristol City on Tuesday had to be played in Burton for the same reason, while a decision is also set to be made about the club's home fixture against Huddersfield Town next Saturday. The EFL statement added: "The league will now consider the circumstances of both postponements before determining what course of action could be taken in accordance with the regulations and will also remain in regular dialogue with the club over the work required to make the pitch safe and playable as soon as is practically possible."
Coventry City played the 2013-14 season in Northampton following a rent row, before the club spent two seasons playing at Birmingham City's St Andrew's Stadium from 2019 to 2021. A 10-year deal was agreed for City to return to the Arena with landlords Wasps last year.
But the two clubs have been locked in a war of words over the state of the pitch in recent days. In a message to fans this morning, Coventry City chief executive Dave Boddy said investment into the pitch was 'promised' by Wasps but work has not materialised 'despite repeated requests'.
He suggested Wasps asked the club to play its first three home fixtures away, but this was 'not possible due to the EFL fixture sequencing rules'. Mr Boddy added: "We are very disappointed to report the lack of improvement in the pitch, and we are very disappointed for our supporters, players and staff again that we have now had to postpone Tuesday’s home game against Wigan Athletic."
Earlier this week, Wasps group chief executive Stephen Vaughan said: “In May we informed Coventry City (CCFC) that we would not be relaying the pitch. No objection was raised to that course of action then or at any other time.
“The contract to host events for the Commonwealth Games was agreed and signed before CCFC committed to return to play their games at the Arena. They were fully aware of the timetable of events."
Mr Vaughan added that the stadium hosted 65 rugby sevens games for the Commonwealth Games in just three days, but the club still wants Coventry City to 'play all their home games here'. He added: "Maintaining a pitch with two sports on it is always a challenge, so the recent unique set of circumstances has been particularly difficult and has naturally put the pitch under enormous strain."
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