by Our Sports Desk

Coventry will return to the Ricoh Arena after more than a year playing in Northampton, the club have confirmed.

The Sky Blues are expected to make their home comeback next month, hosting Gillingham in League One .

Coventry had moved to Sixfields in 2013 after a dispute with stadium owners ACL, when the club started to withhold rent payments they believed to be unreasonable in 2012.

But they have struck a deal after talks between lawyers acting for club owners Sisu and ACL, and the move has now been rubber-stamped by the Football League.

Development director at Coventry Steve Waggott said: “We are delighted to get this deal done and I am sure every supporter of Coventry will be thrilled with this news.

“We are under no illusion what a difficult 12 months it has been for the supporters and that was uppermost in our thinking as we worked to get this deal done.

“There has had to be compromise on both sides and the commercial details of the deal will remain confidential.

“Now it is all about looking forward to a really exciting season back in the community and with a real chance of success. I am sure every supporter will want to give Steven Pressley, his staff and players their full backing for the season at the Ricoh.

“Logistically, it’s going to mean a huge amount of work between now and the first game back and we would ask supporters to bear with us as all of our efforts up to now have been in getting this deal over the line to get us back to Coventry as soon as possible.”

ACL had previously said it would not discuss a return until it received money owed by the club after they went into administration last year.

But Coventry owners Sisu paid ACL £471,192 via the Football League last week, with the money some payment towards compensation and unpaid rent.

Coventry added: “Coventry City have kept Northampton fully informed and would like to thank the club for its hospitality over the last 12 months.”