Coventry City Chief Executive on departure of manager Mark Robins to Huddersfield
Coventry City today expressed their "frustration and disappointment" as manager Mark Robins quit the club less than five months after taking charge of first team affairs.
Robins has joined Huddersfield Town after an official approach was made to the Sky Blues by the Championship side, and will take his first team coach Steve Taylor with him.
The Sky Blues have fought to keep Robins, and Chief Executive Tim Fisher said: "To say we are disappointed is an understatement. We gave Mark a three-year contract which we saw as a long-term appointment.
“Added to this, Mark was able to bring in those members of staff that he requested, plus we gave a considerable financial commitment in terms of players brought in during the loan windows to ensure that we had a strong, competitive team on the pitch.
"Over the last few months, we have had several clubs interested in securing Mark's services and we have fought off multiple approaches. We made every effort to ensure he stayed with us.
“Once it became obvious that there was no way forward we had no choice but to eventually allow him to speak to Huddersfield.
"The club went through a very rigorous process in appointing Mark, we believed in him, his management team and felt he was ideally suited to the challenge that we face at Coventry City.
“Mark has been involved in all aspects of club development on and off the field from top to bottom.
“For example, from the initial interviews we talked to him at length about establishing a sustainable future for the club and the very necessary requirement for the club to own its own stadium, so that it can access match day revenues to ensure the building of a successful team within the confines of the Financial Fair Play rules and have a competitive salary cap. Mark was fully on board with that requirement.
"The turnaround in fortunes at the club has vindicated both the faith and trust we showed in Mark and I believe everyone - supporters and players alike - agreed that we are at the start of something very special and exciting.
"So for this departure to happen at the business end of the season and in this manner, is frustrating and disappointing in equal measure for all concerned. It is fair to say that we are all deflated by Mark’s decision to go and, equally, I am sure the supporters will feel the same frustration.
“I understand that our supporters will be angry and disappointed because they have seen a dramatic turnaround in on-pitch fortunes and performances in the short space of time that Mark has been here.
"However, we must remember that we used Mark's appointment to put long term processes and frameworks in place at Ryton to uplift and improve the whole playing side of the club. That effort involved other staff such as Steve Waggott who have played a significant part in the turnaround - so despite Mark's exit we remain in very good shape behind the scenes.
"Finally, we must now move on. The club comes first. We are acutely aware of the style of manager we want and we will start the process for appointing a replacement with immediate effect.
“Everyone has been able to see the potential we have here at Coventry City and in the last months we have taken massive strides forward. We owe it to the supporters of this great club to make sure the progress continues under our next manager.”