Coventry City

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With it now looking increasingly likely that Frank Lampard will remain at Coventry City, this could prove to be one of the best bits of business the club pulls off this summer.

Since his arrival in November 2024, the Sky Blues have taken huge strides on and off the pitch, and the relationship between the chairman and the gaffer appears stronger than ever. A new contract would only reinforce that and strongly suggests Doug King has met Lampard's expectations around this year's transfer budget.

Lampard's impact on the squad has already been clear. Players like Jay Dasilva and Victor Torp have kicked on massively under his coaching, and the prospect of him working with new arrivals is genuinely exciting. Players have bought into the project Lampard has put in front of them and that is encouraging going into the top flight.

But it's not just Lampard. Credit is also due to John Dempster and Chris Jones, who work seamlessly alongside him. Keeping that coaching unit together will be just as important as keeping the manager himself - and maybe even adding to it with Premier League needs in mind.

This feels like the perfect way to kick-start the club's 2026-27 campaign - and with this news expected to land soon, the transfer business should now follow, bringing in real Premier League quality to help Coventry compete with the rest of the division.

Hear BBC Radio CWR discuss whether Lampard is about to sign a new contract by clicking play below, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Catch Sky Blues Fancast Live every Monday and Friday at 18:00 and subscribe to the Coventry City page on BBC Sounds

Part three of Back Where We Belong covers one of the most controversial periods in the history of Coventry City, with London-based hedge fund SISU Capital buying the club, when the Sky Blues were on the verge of going into administration.

It was an era defined by uncertainty, financial trouble and a growing sense of helplessness as the Sky Blues began to lose their way.

On the pitch, through a revolving door of leadership, Coventry slipped down into League One.

Fans staged boycotts, demonstrations and public campaigns.

And then came unthinkable: Coventry City FC would leave the city.

Hit play above to hear the third episode or listen here on BBC Sounds

Explore the whole series here

And read about the documentary here

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

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It's been two months since Coventry City were promoted to the Premier League at Ewood Park, but for many, fixture release day is when promotion really sinks in.

The trip to Arsenal isn't a cup tie - it's the opening game of the Premier League campaign and it is champions versus champions.

The Sky Blues probably could not have been handed a tougher game, but the nerves are far out-weighed by excitement – albeit with two months to go.

Many supporters will have immediately looked for the new grounds they have been eagerly awaiting to tick off. Since Coventry were last in the top flight, multiple teams have moved from their historic homes to newer stadiums, so Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City are all on their checklists.

Then there's the classics like Anfield and Stamford Bridge, which anyone under the age of 26 will not have ever visited on a Sky Blues matchday.

Old Trafford, of course, falls into the classics bracket, but Coventry have played there once since being relegated in 2001.

On 26 September 2007, a Michael Misfud brace knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup in the third round in front of 11,000 Sky Blues supporters. And after taking the Red Devils to penalties in the FA Cup semi-final just three seasons ago, Coventry will be hoping they can cause another upset and seek revenge for that ending on 5 December.

Derby days will also look different - swapping Leicester City and Birmingham City for Aston Villa. That will inevitably be tasty.

Coventry will need to add to their Championship-winning squad in order to make the step up to the Premier League, but there is a real optimism among the fan base with Frank Lampard at the helm.

The supporters are strapped in and ready for the 2026-27 ride.

Hit play below to hear supporters reacting to the fixture list on BBC CWR's Sky Blues Fancast Live or listen here on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on Coventry City's 2026-27 fixtures and how many points you expect from the first 10 games.

Here are some of your comments:

Declan: Arsenal and Manchester City in the first three games - not sure we'll get off to a great start.

Theo: After 10 games in with some tough fixtures, Coventry will be on 14 points. Their best win will be 1-0 against Arsenal on the opening day.

Chris: Let's be honest, anything over 10 points would be fantastic. If we can reach the 15-mark by the end of the year, that puts us in a good position.

Andrew: Honestly, could be worse. This will be a rough season, sure, but Frank Lampard could keep us up, I'm sure of it.

Clive: As tough a start (away games) and end to season (home games) as could be imagined. But we are steady, focused, and eager to impress, back in the top league. Season ticket renewed!

Kiefer: 30 points after 10 games, we're winning the league.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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It is no surprise to see Coventry given the 2026-27 Premier League opener at Arsenal.

Their first top-flight match for 25 years will see the Championship title winners against the Premier League champions and shows the Sky Blues they are back in the big time.

It can be viewed as a daunting start, with a trip to Manchester City on 5 September too, but the visit of Hull to the CBS Arena for their first home game of the season will be a special occasion.

It is also an immediate reminder of the fight for survival, with the Tigers - the play-off winners - and the Sky Blues two of the favourites for an instant return to the Championship. Victory in that game is vital for both sides.

The first game of the last season ended in a 0-0 draw between the two at the CBS Arena, a match which did not hint of the success to come.

Fellow promoted side Ipswich come to Coventry on 2 December, with a trip to Portman Road swiftly following a month later.

The visit of Aston Villa on 12 December will be a grudge match for Coventry fans, their Midlands rivals having sent them down in 2001.

Frank Lampard's side were fearless and free-scoring title winners last term and they will take that confidence into the new campaign.

Now you have seen the 2026-27 fixtures, what kind of start do you think the Sky Blues will have under Frank Lampard? How many points do you expect after the first 10 games?

Get in touch with your views here

Rob Gurney
BBC CWR sports editor

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Nothing says "welcome back to the Premier League", after 25 years away, than successive away games at reigning champions Arsenal and last season's runners-up Manchester City, does it?!

The campaign's curtain-raiser, at Emirates Stadium on Friday, 21 August is a mouthwatering, if daunting, prospect, clearly.

But it's one that Frank Lampard and his coaching staff, as well as the Sky Blue Army, will be relishing, together with hopefully a squad capable of at least competing, if not thriving, on the club's long-awaited return to the top flight.

The first home game, against play-off winners Hull City, looks a bit more inviting, although fans will remember - not too fondly, perhaps - 0-0 draws in both Championship fixtures last season.

Supporters rubbing their hands at the prospect of Aston Villa's first ever visit to the CBS Arena will have to wait until December, with the return at Villa Park the last game of April - bringing back the inevitably painful memories of what happened there in May 2001.

Other standout fixtures include Lampard's former club Chelsea being scheduled for a tasty Boxing Day trip to the Arena and 2027 beginning with a trip to Anfield. Meanwhile, the couple of new grounds for supporters to tick off are Tottenham in mid-October, followed by Everton in early November.

The run-in sees Manchester United at home, Newcastle away, Spurs at home, before the last two of Fulham at Craven Cottage - where City completed the double over them the last time the west Londoners were in the Championship - and finally Nottingham Forest make the short journey across on Sunday May 30.

Fingers crossed it'll be a memorable first season back for all the right reasons, and BBC CWR is once again proud to be able to bring fans commentary on every twist and turn, via FM, DAB Digital Radio and Freeview... so Play Up Sky Blues!

Hit play below to hear my BBC CWR colleague Will Oelrich reacting to the fixtures, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Check out Coventry's league fixtures in full here

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Coventry City's 2026-27 home kit will be released to coincide with the opening of the new COV Store at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Thursday, 2 July.

The club says by doing so it is "bringing together two major moments in Coventry City's return to the top flight".

The COV Store will have two new areas that reflect the club's heritage in the motor industry: The Drive Experience, with racing simulators and a social fan experience, and The Story, a re-programmable exhibition periodically.

"We are excited to be launching our new store," said owner Doug King. "The COV Store will give Sky Blues fans a more premium shopping offering and a new social space with truly immersive experiences, both on and off matchdays."

• Read more on the matches and rule changes for 2026-27

Coventry will begin their first Premier League season for 25 years with an away trip to reigning champions Arsenal.

The match will take place on Friday, 21 August at 20:00 BST, with the Sky Blues' first home fixture against Hull City on the weekend of 29-30 August.

Frank Lampard's side face Chelsea (H), Brentford (H), Liverpool (A) and Ipswich (A) over the Christmas and New Year period.

And they end their league season against Nottingham Forest at home on Sunday, 30 May, when all games will kick off at the same time.

See Coventry's Premier League fixtures in full here

Now you have seen the fixtures, what kind of start do you think Lampard's Sky Blues will have? How many points do you expect from the first 10 games?

Send your thoughts here

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With the countdown to the 2026-27 Premier League fixture release well and truly on, we asked for your stories of opening-day games - both good and bad - that have stuck in your minds most. And you delivered.

Here are some of your replies:

Neil: Beating Arsenal 3-0 away from home at the start of 1993-94 with a Mick Quinn hat-trick. It was a great away day. Beating Chelsea 3-2 and 2-1 on consecutive opening days in 1997 and 1998 was also fun. Dion Dublin and Hucks [Darren Huckerby] ripped them apart. The worst opening-day memory, without doubt, was getting beat 3-0 by Nottingham Forest at home. I spent a few quid, there were real positive vibes around the club and the balloon was pricked pretty quickly.

Mike: August 2021, the fans return after Covid and the day Coventry returned home after exile in Birmingham. A last-minute Kyle McFadzean winner against Nottingham Forest in my first game as a season ticket-holder in 20 years. Glorious.

Martin: First Coventry game of 1987-88 was a replay of the 1987 FA Cup final against Tottenham. We were all going nuts at our first home game after the win, it was an incredible atmosphere. David Speedie was our new star signing and he scored. Poor Gary Mabbutt got pelters all afternoon after his own goal in the final, including: "There's only one Gary Mabbutt!" But it was nice to see him get a consolation goal in a 2-1 win for us.

Richard: Dion Dublin's hat-trick against Chelsea, including a late winner to make it 3-2. It was back when Huckerby, Dublin and Gary McAllister were in their prime. And we managed to get one over Frank Leboeuf.

David: I bought a season ticket for the 1981-82 season. We had moved away from Coventry when I was six years old, but being at Aston University meant I could get to enough games to justify the purchase. This was the new all-seater Highfield Road and what made it memorable was that my assigned seat did not exist! An admin error, I assume, which was subsequently resolved. On the day, I was given an alternative seat and was able to enjoy us beating Manchester United.

Come back to this page at 10:00 BST to see how the Sky Blues' 2026-27 Premier League fixtures have fallen

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We asked you which players you have watched at the World Cup that you think would be a great fit at Coventry.

Here are a couple of your ideas:

Richard: There are obviously lots of incredible players at this year's World Cup. Most have yet to really shine. However, I think a player that would suit Coventry City would be Chris Wood. He would be a great focal point that Coventry are lacking.

Andrew: Would be great to John Stones into the squad. I think the younger talent will greatly benefit from any experience he can share with them and he is still a world-class player. Come and join the magic with us, John.

Spotted someone you want for Coventry? Let us know who and why he'd fit

The second part of Back Where We Belong from BBC CWR covers the years when Coventry City moved from Highfield Road to the Ricoh Arena.

For fans, leaving Highfield Road was more than just a stadium move, it was saying goodbye to their home for over 100 years.

Opened in 2005, the new 32,500-seat stadium symbolised hope, even boasting claims that its signage was so large it could be seen from the moon.

The Sky Blues began life at the Ricoh Arena, now named the Coventry Building Society Arena, with a win over Queens Park Rangers.

However, what was meant to be a new beginning for the club became the start of another turbulent chapter.

Hit play above to hear the second episode or listen here on BBC Sounds

Explore the whole series here

And read about the documentary here

Marseille are open to offers for England midfielder Angel Gomes, with newly-promoted Premier League pair Coventry and Hull City among the clubs interested in the 25-year-old, who ended last season on loan at Wolves. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Coventry City fans Ryan Cowley and Danny Finlay have been discussing the season-ticket pricing for the Sky Blues' first season back in the Premier League since 2000-01.

The cheapest adult season ticket will be £625 and premium zone season tickets have been fixed at £800 across all age groups.

"I'm not too displeased about my own season ticket," Finlay told BBC Radio CWR's Sky Blues Fancast. "I'm just a standard holder so it will be £625 for me. I expected a £100 to £150 increase because we are playing in the Premier League.

"Let's get it right, it is a big jump. There is going to be a big jump in everything next season, whether that's on the pitch or off the pitch and experiences at home games or away games, so we're hoping we're going to be getting more for our money.

"The club has got some things wrong again, though. The children's season-ticket prices are still too high - we are talking double the price in most cases. The premium areas have also had a big price hike as well.

"I'm not too displeased with my season ticket, but there will definitely be grumbles in terms of the family and children season-ticket prices."

Cowley added: "If you're a family of four, you could afford a holiday to somewhere exotic rather than 'Costa del Coventry' for the same price.

"Some will say Doug King has got it 100% right for where they are sitting, but I think there were a few zeros added on to the end of the hospitality seats which looked alarming on paper.

"Some people will pay it, and it is a case of supply and demand, but the issue is £3,200 for four people to sit in a prime area is a lot of money.

"If we stay up this season, we will be paying these prices at a minimum year-on-year, so then it doesn't become affordable for some families of four - but these are the choices you make.

"A lot of supporters would say you would have to put another zero on the end of them to stop them coming to support their club."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

The World Cup may be less than a week old but the 2026-27 Premier League fixtures will be released on Friday.

And to get in the mood for Coventry's long-awaited return to the top flight, we want your stories of opening-day games that have stuck in your minds most - both the good and the bad.

Get in touch with your memories here

And make sure to come back to this page on Friday to see how the Sky Blues' league fixture list has fallen.

Haji Wright's lack of international minutes in the build up to and at the World Cup is "baffling", says BBC Radio CWR's Rob Gurney.

The United States international featured 40 times for Frank Lampard's Championship-winning side in 2025-26, scoring 17 goals and contributing one assist.

"Haji Wright didn't get a single minute in the United States v Paraguay game," Gurney said. "He wasn't given a single minute in the build up to the tournament either.

"Folarin Balogun is obviously miles ahead of him in terms of where he is in his career and the fact that he plays for Monaco, but if Mauricio Pochettino isn't going to play him at all then what was the point in selecting him for the squad in the first place?

"The situation is a massive headscratcher for me, it really is. Even the goalkeepers were given some game time in the friendlies leading up to the World Cup, so I don't really know what Pochettino's thinking is towards him.

"Wright got 17 goals in the Championship last season, so it isn't as if he is struggling for form. It is a curious one, unless he is nursing a knock which hasn't been shared more widely with the media.

"If United States win their next group-stage game and he doesn't get any minutes in their third fixture, I will find that really baffling."

Listen to the full conversation above or listen on BBC Sounds

BBC CWR's Will Oeldrich is joined by Coventry supporters to talk all things Sky Blues, including Monday's confirmation of season ticket prices for the 2026-27 season in the Premier League.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Coventry content on BBC Sounds

Coventry City announced several ticketing changes on Friday before the 2026-27 season in the Premier League.

Chairman Doug King told BBC CWR that the Coventry Building Society Arena has to be a "fortress" on their return to the Premier League.

"Make sure you get your tickets, make sure you get them early and make sure you come to hospitality," he added.

Sky Blues fans can now renew their season ticket, but there will be no additional ones made available.

Coventry fan Kate Cooper said: "I think it has caused some anxiety. There are a lot of unknowns as well.

"I hope I have saved enough. I think I have saved £650. My ticket last year was £480.

"I have allowed for an increase, but obviously I don't know if that is going to be enough."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds here or by pressing play above

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

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Coventry City have announced several ticketing changes before the 2026-27 season in the Premier League.

Chairman Doug King has confirmed season ticket prices will increase, but they have "tried to pitch it appropriately" whilst remaining "competitive."

Supporters can renew their season ticket on Monday, 15 June, but there will be no additional ones made available.

Approximately 300 season ticket holders will also need to move seats in order for the club to meet Premier League broadcast regulations, with those fans to be contacted by email to arrange a new seat.

Another area that will undergo change is supporters club.

"The existing model carries financial and commercial commitments that need to be reset as we step up to Premier League level," explained King.

The barrier to joining a supporters club is to be made lower to encourage participation, but away tickets will no longer be set aside for those clubs.

By being in the Premier League, there is an increase in away allocation, which is an average of 3,000 per fixture.

Loyalty points will remain the primary route to away tickets, but 10% of the away allocation will also be held back and distributed by ballot.

To access the ballot, supporters will need to buy the new away membership and be a season ticket holder.

The 25-year journey of Coventry City, from their relegation from the Premier League in 2001 to the return after winning the Championship title last season, is the subject of a new, six-part documentary.

The series, called Back Where We Belong, has been produced by BBC CWR and it is told through the voices of those who lived it: the fans.

The first episode covers the club's relegation at the end of the 2000-01 season under manager Gordon Strachan.

It looks at the first season out of the top flight and the confidence supporters had of making an instant return to the Premier League.

However, Coventry would go on to finish the 2001-02 season in 11th place in the second tier.

Hit play above to hear the first episode or listen here on BBC Sounds

Explore the whole series here