Midway through the season, Coventry City FC may return to Ricoh Arena, according to the Football League.

Since August 2013, Coventry City Football Club has been sharing the Sixfields Stadium with Northampton Town, a situation that arose after the club was compelled to leave its former home, the Ricoh Arena, due to a rent dispute with its operator, Arena Coventry Limited (ACL). This relocation forced Coventry’s supporters to endure a 70-mile round-trip to attend their team’s home games.

In response to the situation, the Football League clarified that it is possible for the club to return to the Ricoh Arena mid-season, provided that the Football League board approves the move. League regulations stipulate that any agreement to relocate back to the Ricoh must be valid until the end of the 2014/15 season unless the Football League grants special permission for an earlier or extended agreement.

For Coventry fans, who have expressed dissatisfaction with the temporary home at Sixfields, the potential move is seen as a major boost. The club has confirmed that it holds a clause allowing it to terminate its ground-sharing arrangement with Northampton Town even during the current season, offering some hope of returning to the Ricoh Arena.

In a statement released last week, Coventry City made it clear that it was eager to return to the Ricoh as soon as possible. The club submitted a proposal to ACL for consideration, outlining its desire to negotiate a deal that would see them return to their home stadium while they continue to work toward securing ownership of their own venue.

The statement, which appeared on the club’s website, read: “We want the club playing home games in the right place as soon as possible – back in the Coventry community. We are ready and willing to talk about a deal that brings the club back to the Ricoh Arena, until we can own our own stadium.”