‘Silly season’ – Championship club sent warning after sacking EFL’s longest-serving manager
Neil Warnock has hit out at Coventry City for their ‘baffling’ decision to sack manager Mark Robins. The Sky Blues stunned their fans by giving Robins the boot following their 2-1 defeat at home to Derby County on Wednesday night. Robins was the longest-serving manager in the EFLGetty The 54-year-old was the third-longest serving manager in English football – after Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver – but the longest serving in the EFL following seven years and 244 days in charge at the CBS Arena. His shock exit sparked widespread dismay and outrage not only from Coventry supporters, but others who have admired Robins’ work from afar. One of those was iconic English coach Warnock, who fumed at the decision on social media. The 75-year-old, who was most recently interim manager of Scottish side Aberdeen, wrote on X: “The silly season has well and truly arrived in Coventry! “Baffled by the Mark Robins decision, he was a very dodgy VAR call away from a cup final a few months ago and has performed miracles since he got there, not sure what else he was supposed to do?! “Careful what you wish for…” One Coventry fan then replied to his post, saying: “Save us, Neil!” Warnock was referring to Coventry’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United on penalties last season. The Championship side thought they had won the tie 4-3 in extra time as Haji Wright appeared to have assisted Victor Torp in the 121st minute. Unfortunately for Coventry fans Wright was ruled offside, but many have criticised the decision as it can be argued the offside line was drawn on Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s foot, not the end of it. Warnock couldn’t believe the news coming out of CovX: @warnockofficial Coventry were denied Premier League promotion in the worst possible wayGetty The Sky Blues finished last season poorly, dropping to ninth due to a six match winless streak, completely butchering their chance of a playoff spot. Fast forward to now and Coventry sit 17th with 15 points in 14 matches. Robins joined Coventry for a second spell in 2017 and guided the club from League Two to the Championship, where he also made the play-off final against Luton Town in 2023 but agonisingly missed out on Premier League promotion. They missed out on penalties at Wembley again, postponing their return to the top flight – a league they have not played in since 2001. Following Robins’ departure, the club released a statement in an attempt to calm the online storm. It read: “Mark masterminded and built several team over that time that outperformed their budget, outperformed their infrastructure and brought back a playing style, credibility and belief to our city that had been lost and eroded over many years. Robins was a hero to many Coventry supporters after more than seven years in chargeGetty “These achievements will never be forgotten by those who witnessed such deeds and the broader community that once again began to rekindle their affection for our club. “There is no doubt that Coventry City today would not be where it is today without the inspired actions of Mark and his team. “The club is well aware that this is a difficult moment after over seven very successful years at the helm and this decision is not taken lightly. “The performance of the team over an extended period however have just not been good enough and as such the board of the club has decided to make an immediate change in leadership. “The club will take its time to appoint a successor to Mark, although the position will be that of head coach working within the new structure set up by the club over the last two years.” Coventry added: “Mark’s achievements at the Sky Blues, often against a backdrop of uncertainty and financial restrictions, will see him remembered and lauded as one of the club’s greatest ever managers. “He who was able to galvanise players, staff, fans and the club as a whole to incredible feats.” The club hierarchy chose to no longer endure a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign, losing seven of their opening 14 matches.
Neil Warnock has hit out at Coventry City for their ‘baffling’ decision to sack manager Mark Robins.
The Sky Blues stunned their fans by giving Robins the boot following their 2-1 defeat at home to Derby County on Wednesday night.
The 54-year-old was the third-longest serving manager in English football – after Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver – but the longest serving in the EFL following seven years and 244 days in charge at the CBS Arena.
His shock exit sparked widespread dismay and outrage not only from Coventry supporters, but others who have admired Robins’ work from afar.
One of those was iconic English coach Warnock, who fumed at the decision on social media.
The 75-year-old, who was most recently interim manager of Scottish side Aberdeen, wrote on X: “The silly season has well and truly arrived in Coventry!
“Baffled by the Mark Robins decision, he was a very dodgy VAR call away from a cup final a few months ago and has performed miracles since he got there, not sure what else he was supposed to do?!
“Careful what you wish for…”
One Coventry fan then replied to his post, saying: “Save us, Neil!”
Warnock was referring to Coventry’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United on penalties last season.
The Championship side thought they had won the tie 4-3 in extra time as Haji Wright appeared to have assisted Victor Torp in the 121st minute.
Unfortunately for Coventry fans Wright was ruled offside, but many have criticised the decision as it can be argued the offside line was drawn on Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s foot, not the end of it.
The Sky Blues finished last season poorly, dropping to ninth due to a six match winless streak, completely butchering their chance of a playoff spot.
Fast forward to now and Coventry sit 17th with 15 points in 14 matches.
Robins joined Coventry for a second spell in 2017 and guided the club from League Two to the Championship, where he also made the play-off final against Luton Town in 2023 but agonisingly missed out on Premier League promotion.
They missed out on penalties at Wembley again, postponing their return to the top flight – a league they have not played in since 2001.
Following Robins’ departure, the club released a statement in an attempt to calm the online storm.
It read: “Mark masterminded and built several team over that time that outperformed their budget, outperformed their infrastructure and brought back a playing style, credibility and belief to our city that had been lost and eroded over many years.
“These achievements will never be forgotten by those who witnessed such deeds and the broader community that once again began to rekindle their affection for our club.
“There is no doubt that Coventry City today would not be where it is today without the inspired actions of Mark and his team.
“The club is well aware that this is a difficult moment after over seven very successful years at the helm and this decision is not taken lightly.
“The performance of the team over an extended period however have just not been good enough and as such the board of the club has decided to make an immediate change in leadership.
“The club will take its time to appoint a successor to Mark, although the position will be that of head coach working within the new structure set up by the club over the last two years.”
Coventry added: “Mark’s achievements at the Sky Blues, often against a backdrop of uncertainty and financial restrictions, will see him remembered and lauded as one of the club’s greatest ever managers.
“He who was able to galvanise players, staff, fans and the club as a whole to incredible feats.”
The club hierarchy chose to no longer endure a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign, losing seven of their opening 14 matches.
