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Pole position

Coventry City are in 'pole position' in the race to sign Portsmouth striker Conor Chaplin, according to reports on the south coost.

The Portsmouth News says Pompey are willing to sell the 21-year-old striker if the Sky Blues meet their valuation for the player who has become increasingly frustrated by his limited game time behind first choice front man Brett Pitman.

It also claims that League One rivals Bristol Rovers and Barnsley have both expressed an interest in Chaplin, and says the Blues' boss Kenny Jackett has drawn up contingency plans to replace the popular striker.

Top of the Pompey manager's wanted list is Cheltenham Town's prolific Mo Eisa who scored 25 goals for the League Two club last season, including two against Mark Robins's Sky Blues.

Should Chaplin depart then Pompey will put the fee towards a replacement, with Eisa valued at £1.5million by Town chairman Paul Baker earlier this year, while in the past week the club have turned down an approach from Peterborough for the 23-year-old.

City, meanwhile, went in for Chaplin with an initial bid, reported to be £250,000 with add-ons, but are understood to be getting closer to an agreeable fee for Chaplin whom Robins would like to replace star goal scorer Marc McNulty .

The 28-goal striker switched to Championship Reading last Friday for a fee believed to be around the £1.2million mark with add-ons, with the player trebling his wages at the Madejski Stadium.

Mark Robins sees Chaplin - a graduate of Portsmouth's Academy - as an ideal fit for his squad which is currently on a week-long training camp in Spain to help prepare for the forthcoming return to League One football.

It's understood that an initial bid was turned down on Friday as Coventry were coming to terms with the loss of McNulty, before tabling a second offer to chiefs at Fratton Park.

City remain undeterred and are hoping to conclude a deal swiftly to enable the player to join in with the club's pre-season preparations.

Chaplin has made 121 appearances, including 85 from the bench in the last four seasons, during which time he's scored 25 goals, most of which have come as a substitute.

He's returned for the pre-season in fine form, having scored three in Pompey's opening two friendlies.

Ankoue on radar

Coventry City are running the rule over a big French No.9 as the club look to boost their development squad this summer.

The Sky Blues are actively looking to recruit a striker for the Under-23s to fill the boots of Jordan Ponticelli who has stepped up to Mark Robins ’s first team.

CoventryLive can reveal that the centre-forward who led the line for Jason Farndon’s side against Bedworth United on Tuesday night is Florian Ankoue.

The 20-year-old, who scored one and had a hand in two of City’s goals in the 4-2 Under-23 victory over the Greenbacks at the Oval, hails from FC Toulouse.

But the question is will the Sky Blues pursue their interest in the the triallist?

Here, Jason Farndon gives his verdict on Ankoue.

“He worked hard,” said the development coach.

“He’s typically French, very sulky, very this and that, and he’s happy because France have just got to the World Cup Final.

“Whether he’s going to be one for us? He’s probably at an age where he’s a bit too old for us at 20/21.

“Ponticelli is in the same age group so he’d be competing in that one.

“We definitely need one in the Under-23s. That’s an area we are trying to get a development squad striker in.

“He’s come in and done his job but it’s a massive thing for him to try to adapt.

“He’s only been in the country a week, doesn’t speak much English so it’s difficult.”

The development squad has added holding midfielder Bouwe Bosma and centre-half Morgan Williams so far this summer, and Farndon revealed more new signings are in the pipeline.

“I’m pleased with the business we have done so far and there’s a couple more coming in that will be signing in the next few weeks,” he said.

“We are trying to rebuild the group really because we have lost a lot of players who have either made the step up to the first team or been sold, so it’s thinned the group out a little bit.”

The kids are alright

Coventry City have yet another hot prospect ready to come off the club’s hugely successful Academy conveyorbelt.

The Sky Blues have produced several home grown talents in recent years, none more so than the likes fo Callum Wilson and James Maddison , both of whom are now playing in the Premier League.

A host of others have come up through the ranks to play for City's first team.

Tom Bayliss is the latest to step up to the senior side, the teenager enjoying an outstanding break-through season under Mark Robins last term to earn himself a place on an England Under-19 training camp and attract the attention of Championship and Premier League clubs who are monitoring his progress.

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But who’s the next big name that’s set to come off the production line?

Only just 16, attacking midfielder Jonny Ngandu has already stepped up to the Under-23s, having played at higher age groups throughout his time at the club he joined as a six-year-old.

And he certainly caught the eye in Tuesday night’s 4-2 friendly victory over Bedworth United at The Oval.

Here, development boss Jason Farndon discusses the lad many believe is destined for the top.

The Steven Pressley story: What happened to the most recent member of Coventry City's 100 club?

In February 2015 Steven Pressley was fired from his role as manager of Coventry City Football Club after two years and 100 matches at the helm.

He was sacked when the club slipped into the League One relegation zone and the club’s then chief executive, Steve Waggott, stated that the decision was “very difficult from a personal and professional point of view."

He added: “Results over recent weeks and months, and our precarious position in the league table, means that a change of direction at first team level is needed.”

His final game was against a very strong Sheffield United side in which City had taken a two goal lead but ended up drawing 2-2 - a decent away point in normal circumstances.

Here’s the full story below of Steven Pressley’s time at Coventry.

Fixture fury

Coventry City have announced that their match against Peterborough United will now be played on Friday 23 November (19:45 kick off) because of a fixture clash with Wasps.

The Sky Blues were scheduled to take on Posh at the Ricoh Arena at the normal time of 3pm on Saturday 24 November, but Wasps are also down to be at home that day when they take on Bristol in the Rugby Premiership, after their fixtures were announced last week.

The club have announced the change in date via their official website today, but it’s news that has left many a supporter annoyed at the inconvenience it has caused.

This is what the fans have been saying...

Neil Jones: I thought coventry had priority if fixtures clashed? This is a pain. Travel and booking an afternoon off to get there.

Chris Webb: Oh no care given to fans who have to travel to home games. How do I get a refund on my Season Ticket for this one please? Suspect its just the first of many.

@Da_Moxo: You should give reduced/free ifollow for season ticket holders who cant attend rearranged games.

@flemoil: Our fixtures came out in June, the ground at the time was available and then Wasps fixtures were announced and suddenly the ground is unavailable, I’ll repeat it, if this continues with the other three ‘clashes’ I will require a refund on my season ticket, when will we know ?

The report

Chris Stokes turned out for Coventry City’s Under-23s who opened their pre-season programme with an entertaining win at non-league neighbours Bedworth United.

The 27-year-old left-back, who appears to be surplus to Mark Robins’s requirement this summer, played the opening 45 minutes at centre-half in a game in which development coach Jason Farndon fielded three triallists who formed part of the side’s opening forward line.

One of the three was Daniel Armstrong from Wolves Under-23s, who played 45 minutes for City’s first team against Sutton United at the weekend, and was deployed on the right of a forward three in a 4-2-3-1 formation at The Oval.

Another triallist was played on the left of the three and the final mystery man, a big French No.9 led the line.

Elsewhere, summer signing from Lewes FC, Bouwe Bosma started in the middle of the park in the holding positions but suffered a clash of heads 20 miutes in and had to go off with a nasty cut to his eye and concussion, replaced by Kyle Finn.

The French centre-forward put himself about well and played a key role as City took the lead just after the half hour, hitting a delightful back heel to play Armstrong clean through on goal with just the keeper to beat. And the young forward showed good composure and confidence to cut into the box where he pulled round Dan Crane to slot into an empty net.

United, meanwhile, were big and physical but largely limited to shots from outside the box, rarely troubling City’s big keeper Corey Addai in the opening half.

(Image: Andy Turner)

Armstrong impressed again early in the second half when he hit a lovely shot from outside the box that forced the keeper to tip over the bar before half-time substitute Finn was denied by another impressive save, diving to his left to get his hands to the teenager’s low and powerful effort.

But minutes later, in the 52nd, the Greenbacks pulled level from a free-kick when Alex Troke sent in a brilliant angled dead ball shot to the top right-hand corner.

However, the Sky Blues wasted no time in restoring the lead just short of the hour when the impressive Stedman broke free down the left and squared the ball to the supporting No.9 triallist for a simple tap-in.

The home side then pulled level yet again from the boot of skipper Troke whose powerful 25-yard effort was initially stopped by Addai, only for the ball to spill behind him and over the line.

City then made another change with Burroughs going back on in place of striker Jonny Ngandu and scoring within a minute of being on the pitch, hitting a clean finish after being played through by Finn.

And Farndon’s lads rounded things off with a fourth in stoppage time when Armstrong won the ball in the final third, cut it back to Stedman who took and touch and slotted home.

City (4-2-3-1): Corey Addai; Jack Burroughs (HT, George Hunt), Lewis Green, Chris Stokes (HT, Billy Stedman), Chris Camwell; Bouwe Bosma (21 mins, Kyle Finn), Josh Eccles; Daniel Armstrong (triallist), Jonny Ngandu (77 mins, Jack Burroughs), triallist (62 mins, for Luke Rowe); triallist (87 mins, Ngandu).

Subs (not used) : Cian Tyler (GK).

Free to leave

Coventry City defender Chris Stokes’s proposed move to League Two Bury appears to have broken down.

The popular Sky Blues left-back, who doesn’t figure in manager Mark Robins ’s plans in League One next season, is wanted by the Shakers following their relegation from League One to the fourth tier.

Asked if there’s anything happening with Stokes , the City boss said: “Not at the moment.

“He’s been linked with Bury, although I don’t think anything has happened yet.

“We will just have to wait and see and in the meantime he’s training.”

Robins has signed two left-backs this summer, initially drafting in Shrewsbury’s Junior Brown before last week adding Watford Academy graduate Brandon Mason to compete for the full-back berth.

Ryan Haynes has been sold to Shrewsbury and fellow left-back Stokes is now available for transfer or loan as Robins looks to make changes to the position.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Ricoh Arena from then non-league Forest Green Rovers in 2015, continues to train with the Sky Blues during the pre-season, although he has not travelled to Spain for the club’s Alicante training camp.

Peter Vincenti , who is recovering from surgery to a long-standing injury, is also understood to be available for transfer or loan once fit.

“There are players who need to be moved on, whether it’s a loan or permanent move,” said Robins.

“We have to start sorting it out.

“Vincenti is injured because he had an operation at the end of last season, so he’s out. Beavon picked up an injury on Friday otherwise he might have travelled to Sutton.

“So there’s a lot to sort out and still loads to do. I am trying to move things forward and it takes time.”

Friendly in doubt

Coventry City's friendly match with Nuneaton Borough could be in doubt this weekend - because of strategically placed skips, writes Claire Harrison.

The Sky Blues are due to face Boro on Saturday but a groundshare row between the Nuneaton outfit and Nuneaton Rugby Club could see fans shut out from the game.

Bosses of the rugby club blocked Borough's access to part of the Liberty Way ground yesterday with large industrial skips.

They have been dumped at the entrances to Nuneaton Borough Football Club ground as part of the on-going feud between the town's two biggest sporting clubs.

The large blue and yellow skips appeared yesterday afternoon, in a reprise of the ground-sharing saga which hit the town last January.

Norman Smurthwaite , the new owner of the Liberty Way ground, insists he is working to keep the match on schedule and had threatened legal against against the Nuns.

Speaking to CoventryLive, he said he was working on a 'Plan B' to keep the fixture on track.

(Image: Image courtesy of Ben Mayne)

He said: "The skips were placed blocking the access yesterday.

"I will be starting litigation against Nuneaton Rugby Football Club to resolve the access issue once and for all, but this legal process could take up to a year.

"In the meantime, there was supposed to be a SAG (Safety Advisory Group) meeting on Thursday in preparation for the game on Saturday and we know, for health and safety reasons, we will not be given a licence for the game if the skips are still blocking access.

"So we will either have to play the game behind closed doors or find another venue for it."

(Image: Image courtesy of Ben Mayne)

What The Nuns said

A Nuns spokesman said that they had been forced to take action again as pleas to arrange a new ground-sharing agreement have fallen on deaf ears.

They said: "We wish football club and its supporters well and hope an agreement for a groundshare can be reached for this season.

“Unfortunately the football club haven’t been in a position to sit down with us at this point and haven’t replied to some correspondence.

“The right to access Nuns land is always part of the groundshare agreement and so clearly in the absence of an agreement Nuns have to protect that right.

“So the skips are simply performing the role of a fence protecting Nuns’ land rights.

“Let’s hope this can all be sorted quickly to benefit both clubs and sport in Nuneaton.”

(Image: Image courtesy of Ben Mayne)

It is no secret that there has been a stormy relationship between the Nuns and the 'Boro since the groundshare between the town's two premier sporting clubs was first revealed back in October 2006, and came into force in 2008.

It came to a head last January when skips, and then a mini bus, were parked in front of the entrance to the ground that is on Nuns own land .