Former Sky Blues coach was not pursuing a move away from City but could not turn down 'massive opportunity'
Former Coventry City coach Lee Carsley said he wanted to extend his thanks to the Sky Blue Army for their support during his time as a player and coach at the club.
Carsley today took his first training session as assistant manager at Sheffield United after penning a deal with the Blades which sees him join up with boss and former Everton team mate David Weir.
He said though that he would look fondly on his time with the Sky Blues, two spells as a player before starting his coaching career with the club, and added that although he was not looking to leave the Sky Blues the opportunity to take the next step up the coaching ladder was not one he could turn down.
"I'm grateful to people like Gregor Rioch who gave me the opportunity to start my coaching career with Coventry's Under 18s because that experience has been invaluable to me," he said.
"I wasn't looking to leave the club but when the chance came to take an assistant manager's role it was an opportunity I felt I couldn't turn down.
"David Weir is somebody that I've known and respected for a number of years so the decision to leave Coventry was not an easy one but the opportunity was one I really felt I could not pass up."
"I've had some great times with Coventry City, the fans have always supported me and I felt they really got behind me and the lads when I was caretaker manager for a short while and I felt the squad became tighter as a result of that.
"I want to thank the fans for the way they got behind me and the team and it was just a shame we could not get that one more goal in the JPT area final at Crewe.
"But I leave with great memories, I'll always be checking on the club's progress because it means alot to me and I still feel that Coventry is headed in the right direction under the manager, something I look forward to keeping an eye on as the season goes on."