The Coventry millionaire, who won 12 caps between 1969 and
1971 while playing for Coventry, has reached agreement with the receivers to buy the
assets, name and status of the club. He has also struck a deal to use the club’s
Coundon Road ground for two years.
He said:
"We have all been watching from afar and no-one has been happy with the way the
club has been run. It all came to a sticky end. I was approached a couple of
weeks ago when I was on holiday by some interested investors wanting to take the club over
and was asked to join them.
"The receiver has been very helpful because he wanted a quick solution to settle
the club’s future before the start of the season."
Fairbrother heads a team of six including Birmingham solicitor Simon Cooper. The
administration of the club will be run by Sport Management Services, who also oversee
Moseley.
Fairbrother, who will be club chairman, has already met director of coaching Derek Eves
and will now have to renegotiate players’ contracts.
Accountant John Kelly, who handled the sale, said the club now had a good chance of
making the first Allied Dunbar Premiership Two fixture against Worcester.
"We have exchanged contracts and hope to complete in the next few days. They have
every chance of making the first game because it has all been completed so quickly. It has
only taken a week and had it gone any longer then things would have become very
difficult."
Former England prop Keith Fairbrother is at
the head of a consortium which has bought Coventry Rugby Club for an undisclosed sum.
