• Coventry given deadline of 5 March to provide an update • Club say they ‘want to do a deal’ to stay at Ricoh Arena

One hundred years after joining the Football League, Coventry City have been warned they may face expulsion from it if they do not confirm where they plan to host matches next season.

The club’s tenancy at the Ricoh Arena runs out this summer and no end is in sight to their long-running dispute over rent and other issues with the stadium’s owners, the Premiership rugby club Wasps, and Coventry city council, the freeholder. The EFL says the uncertainty cannot be tolerated much longer.

“The EFL board has formally written to Coventry City with a final request for clarity in regard to where the club will stage its home matches for the 2019-20 season,” a statement released by the league said.

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“In previous correspondence, the board has been very clear about the need for Coventry City to provide absolute confirmation early in the second half of the current season. The club will still be given every opportunity to develop and present an appropriate resolution throughout the process, but the EFL is yet to receive any indication of where Coventry City intend to play next season.

“The club has until 5 March 2019 to provide a further update to the board, addressing the outstanding matter, and should a satisfactory solution not be found over the next two months, an extraordinary general meeting of clubs will be convened to consider Coventry City’s expulsion from the league. This would be held on 25 April.”

“The EFL considers it untenable for a member club to seek to continue competing in its league competition if it is unable to stage its home matches,” the League’s statement added.

Coventry, who have endured regular turmoil since being taken over by the London-based hedge fund Sisu in 2007, said in a statement that they “want to do a deal” to remain at the Ricoh.

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“The dates [given by the EFL] show how stark the situation facing the football club now is and that time is running out,” the club said. “Our only option is to continue to play at our home, the Ricoh Arena. Coventry City football club wants to do a deal with Wasps rugby club as soon as possible, to resolve this impasse so that the dates above are not encountered.

“All parties now need to work together for the good of Coventry City, its supporters, the Ricoh Arena, the city of Coventry and our community – the continued future of the football club needs to be everyone’s focus to prevent more heartache and worry. Our offers to meet with both Coventry city council, as freehold owner and the democratically elected local authority, and Wasps RFC, as landlord, still remain open – in the hope that a deal can be agreed.”