Ricoh row: Coventry City fans march in arena protest

Fans called on club bosses to reach an agreement with the Ricoh Arena's owners

Thousands of Coventry City fans have staged a rally calling for the club's return to the Ricoh Arena.

Supporters marched from Gosford Green to the city centre to call for an end to a long-running rent dispute.

In an open letter to fans, the club's owners said they were "ready and willing" to discuss a deal with Arena Coventry Limited (ACL).

Jan Mokrzycki, of supporters' group Sky Blue Trust, said the development was "encouraging".

The club has played its home games at Northampton Town's ground, about 34 miles (54km) from Coventry, since August.

The march ended in a rally at Broadgate in the city centre

In their open letter, Coventry chief executive Tim Fisher and Joy Seppala, head of club owners Sisu, said they wanted the club to own its own ground.

But in the meantime, they said, they were willing to discuss an agreement with Ricoh owners ACL to see home games played there.

They said rent was "not the biggest problem" and a "fair deal" regarding the club's match-day revenues needed to be reached.

Mr Mokrzycki said the statement was a "chink of light" for fans and hoped the protest would push those in charge "over the line" towards an agreement.