Coventry Rugby Club’s new general manager took office today assuring all of the clubs supporters that "the future is very bright" for the Coundon Road outfit.

Ian Carvell has been handed sole responsibility for the job after previously holding a joint position with John King, who resigned last week to pursue his own business interests.

Carvell will now be in charge of the day-to-day management of the club, and the retired police officer believes it is an exciting time for everyone.

He said:

"I have worked with the club for around seven years and I was first brought in as a junior development manager on the playing side.

"Obviously having been involved for that length of time I have seen the rough with the smooth and I was around at the heartbreaking time when the club went into receivership.

"However, I now feel that with Keith Fairbrother at the helm as chairman and my experience of good business practice we have a solid base to move forward very successfully."

One of the biggest issues during his reign as general manager is certain to be the planned stadium move for his team, which Carvell believes is still well on track.

"Ted Stocker is very much heading the project which would see us moving to a new stadium on the site of the Butts Stadium, by the Coventry Technical College.

"Ted is technical director of the club and he is liasing with investors, planners and residents to ensure the proposal goes ahead – but I am sure it will happen.

"Having people like Ted on board gives us a great expanse of knowledge and his experience of dealing with matter such as this will stand us in good stead.

"We would not like to give out time-scales but we will definitely be at Coundon Road next season, and maybe the year after that but we will be moving as soon as feasible."