LEWIS STEELE: Coventry are nearly back at top table of English football after decades of darkness

When Coventry’s 34-year stay in the top flight ended with relegation at Villa Park in 2001, cameras turned to a dejected fan, John Mullaney, holding up a cardboard sign. “We’ll be back,” it said.

The context, of course, meant a swift return to the Premier League. But in many ways, the Sky Blues are already back. Back at the Ricoh Arena after years in exile in Sixfields and St Andrews. Back with stable finances. Back at the top table of English football… almost.

It’s been a long road. Having fallen out of the Premier League 22 years ago, Coventry have never been far from farce.

The club was bought in 2007 by hedge fund Sisu Capital, which was at war with the municipality. Sisu defaulted on rent payments and a nasty row ended as they played at Northampton – for just over £2,000 – and then Birmingham.

Formerly known as London Wasps, Wasps moved to the Midlands and the two sports clubs clashed over the use of the stadium, before the rugby club itself took over administration.

Cameras turned to a dejected fan John Mullaney after the Sky Blues’ 2001 relegation

Mark Robins has led the club to six consecutive years of season-on-season improvement

Despite the Sky Blues’ story being dogged by infamy, the team has always been fine. Up and down the country, our game is sadly littered with teams dipped or suffocated by financial difficulties. But Coventry often prospered in the face of adversity.

“We had the lows where we had to play in St Andrews – but oddly we had a good record there,” says Liam Kelly, who joined the club in League Two.

“We have achieved a lot through adversity. There have been tough times, but we got through them and always created the best.

“When I first signed for Coventry in League Two, the goal was to get promoted – to League One… not the Premier League! But it’s been a great journey, but we’re not done here yet.’

The theme of thriving amid off-field hardship began with Mark Robins leading the club to six successive years of season-on-season improvement, with two promotions and an EFL Trophy win.

Even this season started with a farce. Coventry were deducted five points – thankfully suspended – after postponing three home games due to an unplayable pitch caused by the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens. It left them bottom of the table in mid-October with one win in 10 matches.

At that stage it seemed hard to imagine the Sky Blues getting into the Championship next season. That could still be the case, of course, but Coventry is now only looking upwards.

That’s proof of Robins, who has led the club from League Two – one promotion via a play-off – to this point, three games from a first Premier League return in 22 years. Pound for pound, has anyone in English football done better in the last five years?

“We faced so many obstacles and we overcame them,” says Robins. “We will embrace it, give it everything we’ve got – there are a lot of clubs that thought they could be there (in the top six) but aren’t.

Coventry are back at the Ricoh Arena after years in exile at Sixfields and St Andrews (above)

Coventry captain Liam Kelly, joined the club in League Two and faces the Premier League

New owner Doug King has revived the line of communication between fans and club

“We didn’t get going at the start of the season. But it’s over and done. We’re in the playoffs now. We should have been much closer much sooner, but in the end it has been a brilliant turnaround.

“Whatever happens for us is a learning experience. We have absolutely zero to lose and everything to gain.”

New owner Doug King has helped put Sisu’s dark days in the past, and these playoffs feel like a financial win-win: promote or sell star men Viktor Gyokeres, with 21 goals, and Gustavo Hamer. King has revived the line of communication between fans and club.

More importantly, the supporters now have a club to be proud of after two decades of darkness. Wherever this playoff journey ends, Sky Blues is only going up.

Kelly adds: ‘I live on a farm just outside Coventry. But when I’m in town, people are very excited – they feel like they have their football club back where it belongs. I’m going to do everything I can to put Coventry back on the map with the big boys.’