With today’s fixture with Fulham suitably marking our annual Jimmy Hill Day, Mark Robins spoke of the impact his legacy has had on the club and city as the Sky Blues prepare to face the club Hill was most synonymous with as a player.
Like Hill, Robins has led the Sky Blues to two promotions as City boss but when asked about the similarities between the two sides Robins believes there is a long way to go until he can be compared with a man that transformed football in the mid 20th century.
“Well, it’s very kind of people, Jimmy Hill is an absolute icon and he did so much for Coventry but also for football in general.” Robins said.
“There was so much that he did that has impacted today and a long time ago that paved the way for today so rightly so he is held in high regard, so just to be mentioned like that is very pleasing really and it’s humbling because he was such an icon figure in this city.
“We’ve got a long way (to go), we’ve had to come back from the depths of despair and try to bring it back. We are intent on trying to entertain and I think we have done pretty well but we have a long way to go to match Hill’s achievements.”
On a day that will undoubtedly bring the Sky Blue family together, Robins stressed the importance of the strong relationship the team has with the fanbase and believes it has been a strong component of City’s recent success.
“You enjoy what’s happening and from my point of view the fact that supporters are excited is brilliant because that is what it’s all about.
“I think the supporters have been brilliant, they are an outstanding set of supporters, and they have got behind the team in difficult circumstances so it’s important they can see we are trying.
“You can’t underestimate the league and how much effort and thought goes into it, but they appreciate that because they’ve seen it, and over the years they have built up that relationship with everybody at the club and everyone appreciates it and nobody takes it for granted.
“There is no doubt we owe them performances week in week out because they pay to come and watch us. We thank them for their support every week and nobody takes them for granted as it’s a really important relationship.
“The players are playing their part and the supporters are enjoying that but also playing their part too and we just need to keep grounded and take one game at a time as it’s the old cliché but it’s certainly the truest.
“But there is a lot of work to do and no one is getting carried away, certainly in this building, and then when you take a hit like you did the other day then that knocks a little bit of belief for that moment but when you refocus and revaluate where you should be and where you are then things start to fall into perspective again and move forward with confidence and again.
“The biggest thing for me is we don’t fear anything and concentrate on the things we have been doing really well and try and replicate them more often than not.”