In a move that symbolises the style in which the club is to be run in the future, Coventry Rugby’s Board members are holding an open forum tonight, Monday 1st Feb 6pm here at Butts Park Arena.

Back row left to right: Nick Newbold, Mike Thompson, Andrew Carpenter, Chris Gregory, Jim Ashby.

Front row left to right: John Maguire, Michael Doyle (Operations Director), Phil Maynard (Rugby Director), Bob Curtis, Peter Rossborough.

The new Board members will make up a panel, headed by Peter Rossborough, open to all questions put forward by fans. The intention is to dispel all ambiguity and present their genuine and open attitude towards the running of the club, which will involve a contribution from its supporters.

Eager to underline the past, the board will be explaining the club’s current situation, their plans for the future and hoping to bring fans with them into the new, promising era for Coventry Rugby!

The bar opens at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start where all are welcome to join the board and move the club forward.

The Board of Coventry Rugby Limited aims to draw a line under the past and move forward with strength, unanimity and business acumen to secure the future of one of England’s greatest clubs.

INTRODUCING... COVENTRY RUGBY'S NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Peter Rossborough

President and Chairman

Peter's rugby career has seen him play for, coach and manage the English National Team whilst captaining and playing almost 400 times for Coventry. Peter is a very well respected individual in the game and at the Rugby Football Union. Peter was educated at King Henry VIII School and Durham and Warwick Universities. He taught in Coventry and Warwickshire and was Head of Ashlawn School for 21 years prior to retiring in 2008.

John Maguire

Long time supporter of Cov, proud to be Coventry born, John studied Construction Management at Sheffield Hallam University prior to managing and owning a successful Coventry based construction business. Although no longer in construction, John has a variety of business interests both at home and overseas. Cofounder of The Centurions back in the Coundon Road days, John wants to see the Club put back on a firm footing to enable steady and solid progress, both on and off the field, over the coming years.

Andrew Carpenter

Andrew was born in Coventry and still lives in the City. Andrew's first memories of Cov date back to the sixties, being taught to yell "Come on Cov" at the tender age of five or six and watching George Cole, despite wearing shorts covering his knees, effortlessly slot goals for Cov. Andrew was educated at King Henry VIII School. He then studied Business Studies at Coventry Business School and gained a Master of Science degree in Management from Aston Business School. He is also a qualified Chartered Secretary. Andrew has spent his career of 25 years in the motor industry in a wide variety of commercial roles and currently works for Jaguar Land Rover, responsible for Global Distribution Strategy.

Bob Curtis

Bob was born and bred in the area and attended Woodlands School. Since then his business commitments have taken him slightly further afield and he has been a successful businessman for many years, working in the wholesaling sector. He is a very well respected man within both the business and sporting community and was one of the people responsible for the formation of the original Centurions club at Coundon Road. In his younger years, Bob played rugby, football and cricket at senior level in Coventry and is fully committed to the Club’s future. He has worked hard alongside John Maguire to successfully resurrect the Centurions Club.

Chris Gregory

Chris has lived in and around the city for some time, his children attended King Henry VIII School in the city and he is a loyal supporter of the club with his wife, with whom he regularly attends home and away games. He has over 20 years of corporate finance experience and is a founding partner of Orbis Partners LLP and a former partner at Deloitte in Birmingham. Chris is a non executive director of 4 companies and has completed over 200 deals in the last 20 years, in which he has acted as lead adviser. Chris has a strong belief that Coventry needs strong professional sports teams to help the city believe in itself.

Nick Newbold

Coventry born and bred, Nick attended King Henry VIII School in the city and is the Managing Director of HIA International, a successful insurance broker which started trading in April 1997 and now has over 30 members of staff based in 3 offices in the UK. HIA holds agencies with all "household named" insurers and also has representation at Lloyd's of London. Nick played rugby for the Old Wheatleyans in the city for over 25 years and is a big supporter of all sports. Nick is also committed to voluntary work and dedicates much time to The Acorns Children's Hospice and Cure Leukaemia Charities.

Jim Ashby

Jim was born in Coundon and educated at Bablake School.  He was an apprentice metallurgist at Jaguar Cars after which he became development metallurgist at Standard Triumph.  He then emigrated to USA where he became vice president of a large precision foundry.  Returning to Coventry after eight years he started a new company supplying material testing equipment to laboratories.  This was sold in 1985, and another company was formed where he is currently the managing director. His passion is Rugby Football and he is determined to see Coventry Rugby back in the top flight where it has always belonged.

Mike Thomson

Mike is yet another King Henry VIII old boy. He was born and bred in Coventry and pursued his early career working in the automotive industry. He first started working within Purchasing at Jaguar before switching to various sales and marketing roles within the supplier base. This culminated in him being Global Vice President of Sales for a $6.5 billion turnover company. Following his departure from the automotive world Mike followed his family business interests and is now Managing Partner of his own investment company with a large client base. Mike also has business interests in the employee benefit sector. He is an avid fan of Coventry Rugby Club and is determined to see the club restored to its former glory.

Barry Robinson

Finance and Company Secretary

A real “Coventry Kid” who attended Frederick Bird and Caludon Castle schools before taking up accountancy as a career. Started his training with the local firm of Daffern & Co and since has worked for a number of leading businesses including GEC and IBM. Despite having a celebrated Coventry and England rugby playing cousin, Ernie Robinson, Barry is long suffering Coventry City Supporter. In recent years he has worked at a senior level within a privately owned industrial group with a joint turnover in excess of £10million. Barry brings to the Club a great deal of commercial knowledge and expertise to establish a firm base upon which it can grow.