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Huge backlash from fans as Coventry City announce decision to sack Mark Robins

There has been huge backlash from fans as Coventry City announce the decision to sack their manager Mark Robins after defeat to Derby County.

The Sky Blues has terminated the contract of the longest-serving manager in the English Football League, in what was Robins’ second term as the manager of the club, having rejoined the club in March 2017 after the dismissal of Russell Slade.

His exit follows a disappointing performance, with the team securing only four wins in 14 Championship matches this season, sitting 17th place in the table, level on points with Plymouth, who are in the relegation zone. But Coventry are also 7 points from the playoff places.

Robins’ dismissal come just over 17 months after he led the Sky Blues to the brink of a Premier League return, where they were narrowly defeated by Luton Town in the Championship play-off final on penalties in May 2023.

And it was only in April that Coventry lost in FA Cup final by Manchester United, also on penalties, after a remarkable comeback from a 3-0 deficit orchestrated by Robins’ squad. Marred by a controversial decision too.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Coventry City Football Club has made the difficult decision to terminate the contract of Mark Robins as manager with immediate effect.

Since 2017, Mark has overseen the resurrection of Coventry City Football Club from the depths of League Two, to Champions of League One and to a hairs breadth away from both the Premier League and a second FA Cup Final, whilst competing in the Championship for a fifth consecutive season.

Mark masterminded and built several team over that time that outperformed their budget, outperformed their infrastructure and brought back a playing style, credibility and belief to our City that had been lost and eroded over many years.

These achievements will never be forgotten by those who witnessed such deeds and the broader community that once again began to rekindle their affection for our Club.

There is no doubt that Coventry City today would not be where it is today without the inspired actions of Mark and his team.

The Club is well aware that this is a difficult moment after over seven very successful years at the helm and this decision is not taken lightly.

The performance of the team over an extended period however have just not been good enough and as such the board of the Club has decided to make an immediate change in leadership.

The Club will take its time to appoint a successor to Mark, although the position will be that of Head Coach working within the new structure set up by the Club over the last two years.

The club will shortly appoint an ‘Interim Head Coach’ who will take charge of the team against Sunderland on Saturday.

The Club will also be organising a “Fans Forum” next week where the Chairman of the club will answer any and all questions on this subject and other affairs/concerns. The details of this will follow in due course.

Mark’s achievements at the Sky Blues, often against a backdrop of uncertainty and financial restrictions, will see him remembered and lauded as one of the Club’s greatest ever managers, who was able to galvanise players, staff, fans and the Club as a whole to incredible feats.

We all wish Mark the best of luck for the future.

Coventry City can confirm that Rhys Carr has been appointed as the Club’s Interim Head Coach.

Rhys will be in charge of the team when the Sky Blues travel to Sunderland this Saturday.

He will be supported by the Club’s existing first-team coaching staff.

The Club will take its time to appoint a permanent Head Coach and will communicate further with fans in due course, with a fans forum also to take place next week.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW COVENTRY MANAGER:

(Sky Bet – 11 Nov – 8am)
Frank Lampard – 4/9
Robbie Keane – 3/1
Lee Carsley – 12/1
Matt Bloomfield – 12/1
John Eustace – 16/1
Steven Schumacher – 16/1

Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

“We didn’t deserve anything. They worked their socks off and we gave them a leg-up with a goal from a really poor backpass.

“We were too narrow. The space off the sides of them, we didn’t use well enough. They went man-for-man all over the pitch and then we struggled to find the space.

“They made it really difficult for us to create any real openings. And those we did have we were wasteful with.

“This group have to get used to the fact that this league is unforgiving and that you have to hit a certain level to have any chance of winning a game. You haven’t cracked it if you’ve won a couple, and you can’t just then swagger into a game like that.”

 Robins per Sky Sports:

“What’s frustrating for me and everyone watching, I suppose, is that one minute we are at a really high level and then a few days later we are miles off it. The first half we were miles off it. We gave them a leg up.

“We should have won the game tonight. We have got really, really talented players and they didn’t perform to their expected level.

“If they play to their expected level against a side that work as hard as Derby, that work their socks off to try to stop us playing, deny us space, and they have got a little bit of quality as well and when they do that they are a threat and a decent team.

“They put us under pressure and we played the ball backwards and invited it on. The back-pass from Jack (Rudoni) was uncharacteristic but they ended up scoring and taking the lead.

“The intensity just wasn’t there. You have to move the ball quickly and try to shift them really quickly. We tried to play the same way as we did against Middlesbrough but it’s a different game.

“I take responsibility for it, I take responsibility for all the results. Tonight wasn’t good enough.”

Derby boss Paul Warne per Sky Sports: “We’re really pleased to win, Coventry are a really good side, I have the upmost respect for Mark Robins so it doesn’t make it any sweeter, in fact I’d rather beat any other manager.

“I’m never bothered about the outside noise, I know it’s a big deal to some people but it isn’t to me, it’s just about accumulating as many points as you can and if they’re all at home, they’re all at home.

“I’d like to win away because people travel, but I don’t want to win away from home because the pressures outside the football club demand it.

“I thought prior to them scoring I felt reasonably comfortable, it might not have looked it because we were shouting at the lads all the time, I thought we defended crosses well and that’s one of their super strengths, when needed the keeper helped us out and we defended all the set-pieces really well.”

As mentioned, there was huge backlash from fans as Coventry City announce decision to sack Mark Robins…

@TomHarris_30: Congratulations, you’ve ruined my day.

@rajsinghchohan: The board have ruined the trajectory of this football club. Decided to remove his assistant manager who he clearly had a successful formula with that worked across 3 leagues and even vs Premier League teams in the FA Cup. Because you decided that you knew better than a coaching team who has been on a constant upwards trajectory for the last 7 season. Instead you ruined one of the best projects in the football league. Well done.

@RobJonesPUSB: That’s an absolute disgraceful decision and will come back to bite big time. You’d better have a tin hat on at that forum – thrown under the bus all for a shambolic new structure. A sad sad day.

@ThatCovPod: I hate you. I hate you so much. Mark, thanks for everything. The best manager we’ve had in my lifetime. #PUSB

@HarryBarnes1: This might be the worst decision I’ve seen a football club make wtf

@PedroGomez9: Best manager we have ever had, stuck with us through thick and thin and this is how you treat him when he needs us the most??? Disgusting decision.

@Ben_Bailey_: King should have been out of the club before Robins, can’t wait to have 6 managers in 3 years and taken steps backwards, furious doesn’t even cut it right now. Doug King has been itching to do this ever since he came in and realised he wasn’t the main man but Robins was. Decision driven by ego from the chairman and now as fans we will no doubt suffer from this, Bravo DK. Should be a one Mark Robins chant at every remaining game

@MichaelBates72: This is the worst thing the club has ever done and that includes sisu and going to Northampton

@Chrisdccfc: Awful news. The best thing to happen to us in twenty years and this is how we repay him? Terrible.

@stewiepaul: Why? Leeds fan here. That’s a disgraceful decision. The Championship is the toughest league in Europe and to get rid of a manager who was doing the right things is appalling. Sympathies to the Sky Blues fans…. you’ve shat on!

@PeteDudgeon1: Absolutely the wrong decision! I can’t believe you think this is the right thing to do!

@SkyBlueDean: Worst news, thank you Mark #PUSB

@DoubleH_72: Mistake IMO. Best manager we’ve had in a generation. Should have been given more time. Thank you Mark Robins for the hope you gave to 000’s of new fans.

@Yvonne70skyblue: And that’s the thanks he gets one single line

@frickstips: I would have rather we spent the next 5 seasons playing at Northampton town again than sack Robins. Disgusting decision. Honestly can’t believe it, we wouldn’t even be where we are today without Robins.

@canarieschatt: Sitting 7 points off play offs with a lot of credit in the bank, seems harsh…. Very harsh

@RNTomlinson: What this man has done for our club is unbelievable. This is a sad and shocking day! He has taken us from close oblivion to a kick away from both The Premier League AND FA Cup Final. Get that statue built! #PUSB

@TnsCov: You have to be fucking joking

@ThomasFiedler6: I am absolutely disgusted at this, 2 wins from the the last 3 games, this man has given everything to the club, players need to hang their heads in shame

@TheStatsSaint: Are you guys crazy????

@mrgaztay: Your a wanker Doug 🤬🤬🤬

@Scottw78: You fucking idiots.

@JLHutton91: You’ve fucked up here! Absolute disgrace!

@ArgyleLife1886: All that hard work, time, effort and loyalty while dragging through your darkest times as a club all rewarded with the sack. Baffling.

@DavidMooreSBE: This will go down as one of the worst decisions in the clubs history, up there with moving out of Highfield road with no home, and the administration years. Not one fan was realistically calling for Mark to be replaced.

@sky_blue_sara: In the history of bad decisions THIS IS BY FAR THE WORSE

@si123456: That’ll come back to haunt us, he’ll get a top job elsewhere and show what’s he’s made off. Good luck mark thanks for the memories 💔

@CovSid: Clearly those in charge have mis-read the room. Maybe if they had allowed MR to bring in the experience we needed, we might be doing better. Maybe if he had an assistant, we might be doing better. Massive own-goal. 💔 💙 #PUSB

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