Wasps’ move to Coventry is a natural progression as rugby finds its way in the professional era

The announcement that Wasps will be relocating to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in December has not been met with universal acclaim – far from it. Supporters of the traditionally London-based side have taken to social media in droves (pun completely intended) to protest against the move. The overwhelming sense among a large number of fans is clear: they feel the club has forgotten its roots, and disregarded, disrespected, and therefore ultimately lost many of its once loyal fans. As a life-long Wasps fan myself, I can empathise with these sentiments: fans were not consulted, the deal was conducted in secret, and of course travelling to Coventry for games will be a far less convenient, or completely non-viable, option for many supporters. However, fans must look at the context in which this decision was taken. The options were to move, or to go out of business. A club that has been to the brink of bankruptcy, and survived so much uncertainty, may just have guaranteed its future: this should be a cause for celebration.