As Coventry began life at their new base in Northampton, Claus Jorgensen was playing in a charity game at the Ricoh Arena.

Almost three times as many fans turned out to watch the former Sky Blues rather than the present generation 35 miles away, who mustered a crowd of barely 2,000.

For the recent game with Colchester, the attendance dipped to just 1,789.

It is a sign of the antipathy surrounding their reluctant move out of the city. While the fans still turn out in numbers for away games, the majority refuse to darken the doors of a ground they do not consider home.

“There are a lot of people in Coventry finding other things to do on Saturday afternoons,” said Jorgensen, who joined the Sky Blues after leaving Valley Parade in 2003 and now runs a flooring company in nearby Warwick.

“And you worry about the young kids finding another team to support if there is nobody playing in the city.

“It’s a whole community affected by this. Since I’ve finished football, I’ve mixed with a lot of fans and you realise how much the club means.It’s not just about the die-hards; it’s part of the identity of the city. It’s really, really sad.”

As it stands, Coventry must play the next three seasons “away” from home because of the on-going dispute with the management company who run the Ricoh. The club say they cannot afford the rent from their only revenue source of ticket sales.

And yet through all the turmoil, Steven Pressley’s nomads have had a storming season so far. Without the ten-point deduction for going into administration, they would be in the play-offs by now.

They head for the Bantams for Sunday’s televised clash in the rudest of health after an October charge which saw them win four times, including inflicting a first loss on leaders Leyton Orient, and draw at Wolves.

Jorgensen, who remains a popular figure with fans of both clubs, added: “It’s unbelievable what the manager has done. He has got them playing a certain way with lots of possession and instilled the confidence to do that.

“There were a few moans and groans when he first came in because the fans could see the team keeping the ball but very little happening.

“But he has been brave to stick to his principles and the players have taken his ideas on board and create the chances as well.

“In a funny way, the move to Northampton has probably helped them a little bit because they are a young team and it takes the pressure off.

“Visiting teams raise their game playing at a big ground like the Ricoh because of the atmosphere. It obviously isn’t the same now because the crowds are so much smaller – and half of them are away fans.”

Pressley will be a manager in demand if Coventry can keep up their current momentum. So too will some of the players as rival clubs eye a potential bargain.

Callum Wilson, pipped by Nahki Wells for the August player of the month prize, has been in outstanding form up front. His partnership with the experienced Leon Clarke is in the Wells-James Hanson bracket.

Jorgensen said: “They’ve found a gem in Wilson. I saw him for the first time in a reserve match last season and you could see how eager he was and a couple of weeks later he scored on his first-team debut.

“This season he has just got better and better. He is so quick and strong and obviously brimming with confidence.

“He’s come through the system like a lot of them, so the academy deserves a lot of credit.

“They’ve probably had to play some of the youngsters because of the situation but giving them those opportunities, you can see the progress.

“I’m sure there will be interest in Callum and a few others but I wonder if the club are in a position to turn down bids. Coventry are owned by a hedge fund and as investors, they might be thinking that his stock will only rise the longer he stays put.

“This is his first season in League One and if he keeps doing well, he will only be worth more money.

“Nobody really knows what is going on. But if the team does stay in place, I can see them definitely sneaking into the play-offs.”