The can be no argument that a long absent feel-good factor was returning to Coventry City under Robins. Only once since mid-November has a league attendance at the Ricoh dipped below five figures, while the potential for a Wembley final brought a staggering 31,054 through the turnstiles for the home leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern Area Final against Crewe Alexandra.
While in charge at City, Robins showed a certain astuteness in his player trading, notably taking Franck Moussa and Blair Adams from Leicester City and Sunderland respectively, and instilling them as key members of his side, as well as working the loan market intelligently to take midfielder James Bailey from Derby County.
Perhaps Robins felt his long-term attempts to restore the Sky Blues to their former status would be forever choked by occurrences such as the loss of his on-loan Nottingham Forest striker David McGoldrick – scorer of 16 league goals this term – to a similar deal at Ipswich Town. The manager was able to move quickly to bring in Leon Clarke as a replacement, and he too has started quickly.
It is their full-backing for Robins’ vision for the club and the belief that he was determined to see that through that has so stung his now former employers. Coventry’s Chief Executive Tim Fisher said in response to losing his manager;
‘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’.
Fisher later continued;
‘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 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’.
Those Sky Blue fanatics are indeed crushed by the loss of their manager, right at a time when they were starting to believe that what had appeared an inexorable tumble through the football league had turned into something altogether more positive.
The blow is all the more crushing for Robins’ recent assertion that; ‘My future is here. Coventry City is in my blood now, my blood is sky blue’.
The laments of club staff and supporters alike possibly provide a credit for Robins’ C.V. that nearly rivals his professional record. No group of fans or directors will be heard decrying the loss of a manager who has a recent history of losing matches.
With the advantage of hindsight, Robins’ high-achieving tenure at the Ricoh Arena should engender little surprise. As both a player and a manager the Lancastrian has maximised every ounce of his talent. As a Manchester United striker he scored a goal which legend has it changed the fate of English football, his sole strike in a 1990 F.A. Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest reputedly saving the job of Alex Ferguson. It is often forgotten that Robins was also the man who delivered the eventual semi-final winner later in the year against Oldham Athletic.
A man who spent six years at Old Trafford, and subsequently spent another 13 years performing for a number of clubs, Robins showcased his iron will throughout his career, and evidently learned much from the range of bosses, including Ferguson and Martin O’Neill, under whom he worked.
Now with his reputation soaring, Robins’ experience will tell him that earning the current elevated regard in which he is held is the easy part. For the first time as a manager he is taking on a role in which he is expected to achieve immediate results.
It is difficult to criticise Robins for his decision to accept the challenge of meeting Hoyle’s demands. League One is increasingly awash with managers making a startling impression. Paolo Di Canio, Eddie Howe, Karl Robinson, and Uwe Rosler to name a few are performing magnificently for Swindon Town, Bournemouth, MK Dons, and Brentford, respectively.
When any opportunity to trade up employers arrives the choice is simple. Grasp the offer with both hands, or pass it up and watch the next rising star benefit from his break. The latter choice comes with the inevitable risk of any decline in results – regardless of off-field influences – reducing an exalted managerial standing far quicker than it was gained.
At the outset of this new alliance it appears that Huddersfield, with their reluctance to stand still, have made a perfect choice in appointing Robins to lead them forward. Likewise, Robins has made a wise move. Now to see how the relationship unfolds, starting with an F.A. Cup fifth round tie against Wigan Athletic on Sunday – the type of rarefied encounter which is sadly for the time being beyond the reach of Coventry City.
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