Manager Mark Robins has reflected on the reasons he came back to Coventry City, just over three years ago.
First Sky Blues boss from 2012-13, Robins returned to the Club in March 2017 with City facing relegation to League Two.
Fast forward three years, and the Sky Blues sit top of League One.
“When I got the opportunity to come back, it was a surprise – a welcome surprise,” said Robins, when asked what made him come back to the Club in our Q&A with fans questions, which will be published later this week.
“I looked at the situation and followed it closely, and felt that I could help. Thankfully things have gone pretty well.”
Reflecting on the factors that made him come back, Robins said:
“Ultimately it was the Club, it was the people you work for and also the supporters. They were magnificent with me and have been ever since I came back through the door, and for that I owe them a great deal and continue to work for them.
“The big plus as well as the team, as well as the recruitment, as well as all the work that goes on at the football club - the supporters are the main reason that you do things and the main reason that people come.
“They are so powerful in terms of what they help us achieve.”
The Club have enjoyed two Wembley successes under Robins, the Checkatrade Trophy in 2017 and League Two Play-Off Final in 2018, and he compared the two triumphs – you can watch the video preview below…
Robins has guided the Sky Blues to those Wembley triumphs and now City are top of the League One table – five points clear, with a game in hand and 10 matches to go. However there have been challenges along the way, including much spoken about off-field issues and having to play matches outside of Coventry this campaign.
“It’s been very difficult, and it’s been a really tough period with everything that had happened previously and all the historical issues that have been there,” said Robins.
“The biggest thing for me is having a vision and a way of working that means we can make the best of any situation that we are presented with.”
Reflecting further on his second arrival at the Club, Robins said that he relishes the challenges that he encounters and is looking forward to continuing the progress at the Sky Blues.
“I wanted to come back and manage the football club, and I thought I was well placed to do that,” said Robins.
“It was difficult, I knew it was going to be tough. But anything that’s worthwhile is tough to do and tough to achieve, and that’s something you can get your teeth stuck into and ultimately that’s what happened.
“It was a case of coming in and seeing how things were, and developing it from there. It’s been a brilliant just over three years and I look forward to being able to continue that work as quickly as possible.
“Things are ticking over. Even though people are furloughed and we’re in this position now, it is still in good hands. The biggest thing for me is whatever we do now, we come out of it the other side and we can continue to build. We have to protect the football club, there is no two ways about it.”