Coventry council taken to court for Ricoh Arena loan

Arena Coventry Limited runs the stadium on behalf of the council and the Alan Edwards Higgs Trust

Coventry City football club is taking the council to court over its decision to lend £14m to the firm that runs the Ricoh Arena.

Coventry City Council took out a loan in January so Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) could pay off bank debts.

Club owners CCFC Holdings said a High Court judge should rule if the council unlawfully used public funds.

The legal action is the latest turn in a row between club owners Sisu and ACL over unpaid rent of more than £1m.

Jan Macristky, from supporters' group the Sky Blue Trust, said: "Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, they seem to have taken a turn for the worse.

"This makes the prospect of playing at the arena next season even further away."

In a statement CCFC Holdings confirmed an application had been submitted to the High Court and added: "In the meantime, we are committed to reaching a negotiated solution to the dispute with ACL."

ACL runs the stadium on behalf of the council and the Alan Edwards Higgs Trust charity.

No one from the council was available to comment.