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Joe Elliott has resigned as life president of Coventry City in response to the football club’s decision to move to Northampton Town for up to five years.

The former director, ironically, was one of the key players behind saving the club from administration back on 2007 when current owners Sisu took over the club under his brief spell as chairman.

But following disagreements about the way the club was being run, Elliott left the board of CCFC Ltd (not Holdings) in December 2010 and was later suspended by the club as life president after joining forces with another former board member, Gary Hoffman, in trying to find fresh investors to take over the club.

“I’ve sent a letter of resignation because, obviously, I am very sad and very unhappy that the club aren’t going to be playing in the city that I love ,” said Elliott, whose fellow life present John Sillett last week said he would consider his position if the move out of Coventry became a reality.

George Curtis and Mike McGinnity are also life presidents.

“It’s a difficult day for me but the announcement this week is very sad for the city of Coventry and the football club. I have probably given the club on average 40 hours a week for never a penny over the last 30 years.

“I’ve brought in millions of pounds and feel absolutely gutted at what has happened and that’s why I have taken this decision.

“I’ve worked so hard to do my best for the club and give my skills, which are bringing people into the club such as the associate directors and many of the sponsors over the last 30 years.

“I was chairman of the vice-presidents club in 1984 and worked tirelessly with the club helping with marketing and sales, including working very closely with sponsors and giving an awful lot of time, which I really enjoyed.”

Elliott has grave concerns about the future of the club’s fanbase, which won’t include himself at Sixfields Stadium.

“I won’t be going to Northampton; I will be going to away games,” he said. “The football club is a way of life for so many people. It’s our hobby and way of relaxing and it’s so sad that we haven’t now got that opportunity.

“I was at a diamond club lunch a week last Thursday and so many were saying that they didn’t think they would see Coventry City playing again before they die.

“Couple that with a lost generation of youngsters – if they are away from the city for five years – that’s a whole new generation of fans that have had their football club taken away.

“What happens to Junior Sky Blues?”

He added: “Let’s just hope that something can happen, even at the last minute, to bring them back to the Ricoh.”