Source: FOOTYMAD
Joe Mr Coventry, Elliott suspended by Sisu
More off the field problems for City Life President of Coventry City Football Club Joe Elliott has been suspended from his post by the owners of the club Sisu. Sisu claim that Mr Elliott has been working closely with former vice chairman Gary Hoffman in helping him with his take over bid for the club, bu Mr Elliott claims only to have the interests of Coventry City at heart. Mr Elliot said, “I am disappointed to have been asked to step aside but have agreed to do so in the hope that it helps our beloved Sky Blues find investment for the future. I have not been stripped but it is a sort of suspension of duties." "I have always served the club with passion and love and share the hopes and dreams with all our fans and I will continue in my many roles within the club." Mr Elliott was asked if the club have said if, or when he could return to his job as Life President, but he replied, “No they have not. As far as I am concerned, to step aside means on a temporary basis. If I have stepped aside, I would hope to resume in that role. I would hope it is on a temporary basis." "It’s down to them and I have agreed to conform with that while discussions are taking place. I am not overly happy about it but I am prepared to do it to help the whole thing.” In what may turn out to be an own goal by Sisu, Mr Elliott is now free to help his friend Gary Hoffman in his take over bid for the club. The two Coventry businessmen can now work closely together to form a consortium and seek investment to wrest control from Sisu. Mr Elliott was removed from the board of directors in January almost certainly in a bid to remove any opposition from the Sisu representative on the board Onye Igwe, who also wanted more Sisu backed representation of the board and was made Last month the Canadian business man on the City board Leonard Brody described Mr Elliott in a tweet as, "‘El Presidente’ and someone who does a great job". In a move to help stem a backlash, the board have appointed the other Coventry based businessman John Clarke as a temporary replacement for Mr Elliott.When Mr Elliott was made Life President earlier in the year, he said, “This is a real honour and the pinnacle for me after more than half a century as a supporter and more latterly as a director." “The club has played an integral part in my life and will now continue to do so. I have made many, many friends through football and hope I have represented the club to the full in my various roles.” Mr Elliott has not given up hope of retuning to the club as President or even as a director, especially if the Hoffman headed takeover bid is successful, but in the meantime he will continue with his work with the Sky Blues in the Community, Coventry City Diamond Club, London Supporters’ Club and the Higgs Charity. Mr Elliott has received honours and accolades such as Citizen of the Year and the Coventry Ambassadors’ Award an in March this year he was one of the new recipients of the Coventry Award of Merit. He was the front man for the campaign to raise funds for the Jimmy Hill statue which is to be unveiled next month Last January, when he was removed from the board and made Life President, the chairman at the time Ray Ranson said of Mr Elliott, “Joe has been associated with the club over several decades and has been a great supporter in every sense. “Every club needs a Joe Elliott and we have the original." "He has a super relationship with our supporters and we feel that the role of life president is totally befitting someone of his standing.” Mr Elliott holds several other posts and is currently the chairman of Coventry Transport Museum, a member of the NSPCC Coventry Business Group and vice chairman of the RNIB Appeals Committee, as well as working with many other local charities.
