Sky Blues sack Coleman

Ranson won't rush into naming a replacement

Last updated: 4th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sky Blues sack Coleman

Coleman: No wins in 11 games

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Coventry City have sacked manager Chris Coleman following a disappointing end to the Championship season.

Coleman replaced Iain Dowie as Sky Blues boss in February 2008, but he has been unable to turn the team into play-off contenders in the division.

A 4-0 home defeat by Watford on Sunday ensured Coventry finished the campaign without a win in 11 games, while last season they won just once in their closing 12 fixtures.

The Sky Blues board met on Monday night and decided to relieve Coleman of his duties, insisting it was not a knee-jerk reaction to the Watford thrashing.

Chairman Ray Ranson confirmed the former Fulham manager's departure and says the club will not rush into naming a replacement for Coleman.

Ranson told the club's official website: "It is true I enjoyed a very close working relationship with Chris and it's been a pleasure to work with him since his arrival in February 2008.

"The board would like to place on record their thanks for his efforts over two and a half years.

"We will not be rushed into finding a successor and the board will explore every avenue to appoint the right manager to take Coventry City Football Club forward."

Comments (36)

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Connor Christie (Coventry City fan) says...

with 15 games to go we were 8th place and a few points off the play-offs. After we got robbed at home to cardiff we had nothing to play for. Coleman improved our football and has to be given credit. It is very hard to motivate players when they have nothing to play for! He brought in a few good players when we have no money and nothing to attract players to. The only thing coleman couldnt do was motivate players well. In the 2 years he was in charge we improved majorly and he wasnt given enough time. Same old city!!

Posted 11:06 6th May 2010

Steve Evans (Coventry City fan) says...

This is definitely the right decision. in the time coleman has been at coventry the only thing that has been consistent is the inconsistency! i did like coleman during his fulham days, but even then i heard from a journalist friend the players didn't respect him and he created division in the camp. A nice guy, but not someone young rich guys are gonna listen to and take notice. clearly on the pitch the boys aren't cutting the mustard, the talent is there but we need a strong manager who can regiment the players to keep focussed for 90 minutes and play with discipline. i have been a cov fan for nearly 15 years and the last 10 have been a blur of poor results, poor manager and poor team ethic. The latter of which we have been blighted by for too long. My feeling is someone like Curbishley or something more offbeat like Wise. Curbs would get the organisational side right, Or Wise who has a bit of fire in his belly and knows his way around the Ricoh. I heard Tony Mowbray mentioned, but i feel he would be a disaster at a club like cov, he appears too soft and wouldn't stamp his authority on the players. Same goes for Southgate We need someone proven in the Championship and can get the Respect of the players, which seems our greatest failure as even with talent, you need someone who can harness it and drill that winning mentality into the players. i for one an sick of going on 10 or 15 games losing/drawing sprees which have become far too common over the last 10 years. Now we have off field stability, it's about time we get someone in to assert it on the pitch.

Posted 14:17 5th May 2010

David Mitchell (Coventry City fan) says...

I agree im sad to see Coleman go but when watching the Watford game you could tell that the players were not playing for him and they over did the shouting and bawling at each other in an attempt to show they "care". His tactic of playing Stephen Wright as a wing-back was baffling and totally ineffective, im not a fan of Wright and actually felt sorry for him he was like a fish out of water. I believe we have the makings of a decent team and shouldn,t be using the excuse of lack of funds as a reason for failure because teams like Blackpool and Swansea achieved this season and they cant hav,nt spent any more money than we have. I would like to see a manager appointed who has something to prove like Eddie Howe or Paul Tisdale who would bring in players with the same mentality and get rid of the deadwood like Morrison,Wright, Mcindoe & Bell.

Posted 10:59 5th May 2010

Andrew Sargent (Coventry City fan) says...

I had a season ticket for the first full season Coleman was in charge, it took time but over the season but the football got better, you could see that they were trying to pass the ball and try to get rid of the old hoof! down the pitch we used to always revert to. However, it never won us alot of games, we would play awfully boring against the poorer teams like Scunthorpe and mediocre against the middle teams and perform better against the top teams. I think the one thing Coleman lacked was the ability to get into the heads of players, something alot of managers of past have struggled with, which is why 'quality' strikers come here and over night go awful. Coleman had two and a half seasons to build a good top half team, and this season should have been that season, and it failed. the only positive is that we now play inconsistently and could beat anyone but also lose to anyone. I'm afraid, in regards to Michael Byng's comments, success is now everything in football, and being straight forward and honest about the team not being good enough (which by the way he brought in), isn't part of football now. We are no better off this season then maybe 3/4 seasons ago and since then the board have invested, and cleared a bit of debt etc, and had no return. They were right to sack Coleman, we don' have a bad team just need someone that can get the players up and ready, and someone like Curbishley won't do that I don't think, I feel we need someone who is quite frank and fiery, shame Roy Keane isn't out of a job at the minute. But it would be interesting to see who comes in next, and if its sorted before pre-season or it'll be all aboard the sky blue rollercoaster again.

Posted 00:26 5th May 2010

Sean Carey (Coventry City fan) says...

Coleman had to go two very bad runs tell me either he or the players don't care....probably both. I live in Chicago but i am born and breed in Coventry and held seasn tickets for 20 years before moving. We have become a poor mid table Championship side only two losses from relegation. Someone earlier siad their wife had thier picture taken at the awards diner....can someone tell me what awards anyone from the club could pick up without being completely embarrassed. As for who now, Curbs, Hughes, Mowbry, it won't matter we are fodder for the bigger clubs...what sickens me is that some of those "bigger clubs" were in divsion 2 when I left for the states 14 years ago.

Posted 23:50 4th May 2010

Graham Bates (Coventry City fan) says...

Hooray, Coleman has left. Something has gone right this season after all. Problem is with some of the names you mention. It will be the same old coventry problem. as has happened time and time again. If we get a big name manager (Curbs) what are they going to do. Coventry has been and always will be a selling club. No massive funds to get a decent squad in, that would actually give us Sky Blues fans a ray of hope. No it will be a manager coming in probably from D1 or D2, And be told well you got the job, oh by the way if you want money for players you will have to sell to generate, they will get a player from a lower division, because they will know the bargains in the lower divisions. I hate having to be so sceptical but how many false dawns, must we endure. Rather than build our hopes up of getting a great manager. How about getting us a financial messiah, to enable us to just once have a season that is memorable for the right reasons and not always for the wrong ones. if you have quality on a pitch, people come, as it stands at the moment. Why watch Coventry, id see more quality watching a birmingham city reserves game that CCFC. And finally dont sign mercaneries to play for us, How about a rare player who actually wants to play for the club. Only a handfull of this seasons players , actually seemed to care. thank you.

Posted 23:13 4th May 2010

K Noyb (Coventry City fan) says...

Well need someone who has played the game with passion...let think about Dennis Wise. I think he would be good for City ...he has a great record as manager.

Posted 23:12 4th May 2010

Jimi Cortez (Newcastle United fan) says...

If you're looking for a manager to guide a team to promotion with limited or no resources then look at eddie howe. Kept Bournemouth up after a massive points deduction last season and got them promoted this season and he's only in his early thirties. Would be good to see a young manager grow and develop with a club. Good luck

Posted 22:58 4th May 2010

Alan Wedgbury (Coventry City fan) says...

Ray Ranson says its not a knee jerk reaction but the only way we are going to sell season tickets and generate interest in next season was to sack coleman.I do feel for coleman the same as Dowie and Black before him who have never had the money to really buy the players they wanted.Sky Blues need a strong minded manager and hopefully compete at the very least in the championship next season.

Posted 22:52 4th May 2010

Jonathan Moore (Coventry City fan) says...

None of the people who have put a post up so far sound like they actually stayed for the whole of the Watford game. I had stuck up for Coleman all season whenever anyone criticised him but he lost all my respect and faith when he didnt let us say goodbye to Marcus Hall and as I was sitting opposite the dugout I could see that he was upset and clearly he wanted to be out there. Also if anyone stayed to clap the players at the end of the game which I can only say there were about 400 fans left, just shows you how loyal our fans are and he didnt even show his face to applaud the fans or to say sorry for the shambles we had just witnessed which I felt was very disrespectful. After that he had to go no doubt about it would like to see Curbishley or Brown.

Posted 22:04 4th May 2010

John Keighron (Coventry City fan) says...

I have to disagree with Thomas Steads comment about this being a knee jerk reaction. The players were not performing as a team. The manager seemed to lack the confidence to play attacking football. Add to this the growing numbers of disgruntled supporters and it was a recipe for the inevitable. This was a calculated move aimed at stopping the financial freefall into next season. To generate interest in the club and stem the growing number of supporters not bothering to renew their season tickets. Whether a new manager will prove to be the answer, remains to be seen. One thing is certain, whoever takes on the job will work within the same constraints as Mr Coleman. I wish whoever it is the best of luck.

Posted 20:13 4th May 2010

Dan Brown (Coventry City fan) says...

Totally agree with Ray Ranson. No improvement, no consistency. Only shed of light is promising young side in some areas - to mirror this Id love to see Eddie Howe. Only a matter of time until he makes the step up from Lg2. Knowing us though, we'll get someone like Glen Roeder!

Posted 19:45 4th May 2010

Michael Byng (Coventry City fan) says...

This is totally backwards step from which ever angle you view it. Chris Coleman may have not have had the success we all want but at least he was honest and straightforward not like his predecessors who lived along with their employer's in a fantasy world. The team we got here was created by Chris Coleman so do we have to wait another two years whilst his successor picks his own team? I cannot believe that we have heard the full story, what about the players who let us an him down? The senior profesionals like Clinton Morrison who spent most of the season mouthing off to all and sundry and waving his arms about like a pantomine dame! Mr. Ranson - 55 seconds on the club's news channel tells us nothing and only creates more suspicion. If Ray Ranson and SISU want the support of the club's fans, then they should tell us the full story behind teh decision and now! After all you would like to sell season tickets, why should anyone buy or renew after the season we have endured and the sacking of a good manager?

Posted 18:39 4th May 2010

Martin Reeve (Coventry City fan) says...

It's always sad to see the manager sacked , but with the results the way they went it had to happen.I think alot of the player should take the blame as well . Some players have not tried or put 100% in the last few game, it's sad when players get payed good money and don't give it there all .It lets the club down &most of all it lets us fans down Who ever they get as manager has a tough job with money so i hope some how ransom can come up with some Going on about the club maybe if they did abit more for the fans as i asked if they would do a season ticket for just saturday games because i work nights and was told no.Maybe if they did some things like this they might fill a few more seats

Posted 16:39 4th May 2010

Chris Boote (Coventry City fan) says...

It was coming.. You cannot go so many games without a win an expect to find yourself in a job. To think how most, including myself, were so naive about the play-offs. Its about time we had a shake up. I also do not feal that he treated Marcus Hall, a player in his testomonial year and one who has played with his heart on his sleeve, very well at all! i feel sorry for Marcus as he deserved a send off by the fans! I hope Marcus understands we as fans respect what he has done for us. Get Mowbray in i think, sort the weak from the chaf and get this football club moving again!

Posted 15:20 4th May 2010

Lee Atkins (Coventry City fan) says...

I understand that times are hard and money is tight but as a fan you want to see progress from your team but under coleman we have gone backwards and he has lost the changing room. So the time is right for a change. I know we have no money but neither do most of the teams in the championship including cardiff and blackpool who are both in the playoffs. The chairman has to put his hand in the vault and pay for a curbishley or mark hughes to become the new manager so they can attract quality players to the club

Posted 15:15 4th May 2010

Jordan Morley (Manchester United fan) says...

Alan Curbishly would be a great manager, bring back the old legends like chippo, hadji, rousell & Aloisi lol they cant be anyworse than the players we have now, we miss Highfield Road

Posted 15:14 4th May 2010

David Nairn (Coventry City fan) says...

Thomas, I hate to correct you but it was Ian Dowie who bought Scott and Dann. Alan Curbishley please!!!

Posted 14:38 4th May 2010

Andy Horner (Coventry City fan) says...

Shame for him but his record has not been brilliant and the players that have come in do appear to be of better quality than in recent years yet we have made no progress what so ever in the last 21/2 years. The board have been supportive so i', not sure what more they could have done but too many times this season the players have either been at odds with the system or themselves - How did we end up playing with one loan striker at home!!! We dont ask for much but a team that is as passionate about this club as we are and that can turn in a performance. yes we want to go up but accept there is no God given right to do that and not an overnight way of achieving it. Therefore to not deliver any progress in 2.5years is enough to rightly earn you the sack. Had we finished mid-table (and i feel we have a squad more than capeable of doing that) I dont think the board would have taken this action The chairman is a football man and i believe knows what he is doing and the test of that will come in who he replaces Chris with and how he backs him in adding to the squad over the summer What will be a crime is if we are all still here in 2 years time looking for yet another manager because we still cant seem to get our house in order and start making progress

Posted 14:27 4th May 2010

Simon Carter (Coventry City fan) says...

Continually sacking managers is not going to make any difference to our plight. The writing was on the wall before the season started. Tabb left, Fox went to Celtic and then Dann was sold to Birmingham. You can't sell three of your best players and expect to make the playoff. Selling teams do not get promoted and that is a fact. Defensively we have looked very poor this season and keeping Fox and Dann would have made a world of difference at the back. To other thing we have lacked for years is out and out goal scorer. If you concede goals at the back and have trouble scoring up front then you don't have to have the brains of a rocket scientist to see you are going to be nearer the bottom than the top.

Posted 14:06 4th May 2010
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