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| Kirkland sale was last straw Sep 10 2001 By Martin Roberts, Coventry Evening Telegraph GORDON Strachan, whose five-year reign at Coventry City came to an end today, was the victim of the long-suffering fans' frustration. And it was the sale of Chris Kirkland for �8 million to Liverpool that finally pushed the supporters into decisive action. Angered at what they saw as the conveyor belt of talent out of Highfield Road, a group of fans had 10,000 placards printed urging chairman Bryan Richardson and major shareholder Geoffrey Robinson to quit the club. But when Grimsby went 1-0 up their attentions inevitably turned to Strachan and there were some regrettable scenes as the embattled manager needed security guards to leave the pitch safely. It's unfair to blame the fans, who have shown incredible loyalty towards the former Scotland, Leeds and Manchester United midfielder, too much. Whether Strachan jumped or was pushed is irrelevant. What is clear is that his position had become untenable. As the man in charge during the end of Coventry City's 34-year run in the top flight, his future rested on clear proof that the team were heading for a swift return to the Premier League. At any other club in the country he would not have been given the chance. Indeed, there is a strong case for arguing there should have been a change of management 12 months ago, when a similarly disastrous start to the season was already showing all the classic signs of a team in freefall. It's a decline that has continued unchecked to today, when the Sky Blues find themselves seventh from bottom of Nationwide Division One, with only four points from five games. Incredibly - or not so incredibly to the growing number of fans who'd lost faith in the 44-year-old - City are already flirting with another relegation battle. Despite all of his ferocious efforts from the touchline, the fiery Scot could only watch in frustration, his post-match comments growing ever more bizarre. Last summer was almost a repeat of the disabling build-up to City's final Premier League campaign, when the sudden loss of Gary McAllister and Robbie Keane undermined Strachan's team-building efforts. After pinning their faith on the veracity of John Hartson's public vow that he wouldn't leave City - "not even for Manchester United" - he was then promptly sold to Celtic for �6.5million, Richardson protesting loudly that the player had been "tapped-up". Also out of the revolving door went Craig Bellamy to Newcastle and Mustapha Hadji to Aston Villa. The deal which took Hadji to Villa saw Julian Joachim arrive in part exchange, while Coventry also splashed out �5million to sign Lee Hughes from West Brom. Hughes scored on his debut in the opening day win at Stockport, but the Sky Blues have only earned a point since then. The sale of England Under-21 keeper Chris Kirkland to Liverpool last week was the final straw for many fans, who wondered exactly what was going on. Three defeats in their opening five games was hardly the start the City faithful were counting on. Over the course of the season, Strachan may well have been able to use sheer force of personality to change things around. But given the strength of feeling behind the hostility to the former Scotland international emanating from the stands on Saturday, it was perhaps no surprise that he decided enough was enough. It's only a game after all. The angry scenes which followed the 1-0 reverse at home to the Mariners, with several fans having to be restrained by police, were a far cry from the success that the 44-year-old had enjoyed in his playing days. Strachan was an attacking runner, a hurrier and scurrier who could pass as well, the key operator in the middle of the park. He was the inspirational figure who helped Aberdeen break up the Old Firm monopoly in Scotland and enabled Howard Wilkinson to lay the ghost of Don Revie to rest. After he was tempted south to Manchester United by Ron Atkinson in 1984, where he won the FA Cup the following year, a downward step to Division Two with Leeds seemed to be signalling the end in 1989. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Strachan inspired the return to the glory days at Elland Road, culminating in the First Division championship season of 1992. Naturally his attentions soon turned to a future inside the game and with his switch to Coventry in March 1995 as assistant to Atkinson, it seemed that, at last, the dream team was in place to turn the Sky Blues into a force in the top flight, rather than perennial relegation strugglers. But those hopes never came to fruition, even when Strachan, OBE, took sole charge soon after, surviving relegation on the final day in the Scots' first full season at the helm. Strachan to get �1m payoff GORDON Strachan can look forward to a payoff of �1 million plus after parting company with Coventry City after almost five years. The Sky Blues manager, coach Garry Pendrey and goalkeeping coach Jim Blyth left the club's Ryton training ground following a meeting yesterday. It is believed all three have left by "mutual consent" after board members made their feelings known to chairman Bryan Richardson following Saturday's dreadful display which saw City lose 1-0 at home to Grimsby. Strachan, who has three years left on his contract, can expect a �1million-plus pay-out on his departure from the club. Player-coach Roland Nilsson is in charge of team affairs for the time being and will act as caretaker manager for tomorrow night's trip to Peterborough in the Worthington Cup. Mr Richardson said: "I wish to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation for Gordon's efforts on our behalf, both as a player and as manager. "For two years as a player he almost single-handedly kept Coventry in the Premiership. As a manager, he gave 100 per cent effort every day for this club. "We'd also like to place on record our thanks to Garry Pendrey and Jim Blyth, who are also leaving the club at this time." He has come under increasing pressure to quit following the club's relegation from the Premiership and a desperate start to the First Division campaign. Nilsson put in charge Sep 10 2001 COVENTRY City have put player-coach Roland Nilsson in charge of team affairs at Highfield Road. The Swedish full-back will be assisted by the club's academy director Richard Money and chief scout Ray Clarke. Chairman Bryan Richardson confirmed the appointments today in the wake of Gordon Strachan's departure after almost five years as manager, and he said that the new management team would be given every opportunity to stay in charge. Richardson scotched rumours that the club were interested in Walsall manager Ray Graydon or West Brom boss Gary Megson. He said the club were not looking for a manager elsewhere at this stage. "The situation is that Roland has taken charge of the first team which Richard Money as his number two and Ray Clarke has also come in as part of the first team management. "We will see how they go and they have a perfectly good chance if they get things going and get the team winning games again. In that case, there is no reason at all why they shouldn't carry on. "All we want is a winning team and Roland is absolutely fine about taking on the new position." City legend Steve Ogrizovic, meanwhile, will combine his coaching duties with the position of goalkeeping coach in place of Jim Blyth who also left the club along with coach Garry Pendrey. Hunt begins for successor Sep 10 2001 THE SEARCH today began for Gordon Strachan's successor as manager of Coventry City. Player coach Roland Nilsson is in charge of team affairs for the time being until a new man can be brought in at the Sky Blue helm. Academy Director Richard Money, who has management experience himself, joined Nilsson to inform the players this morning when they turned up at Ryton for training. Walsall boss Ray Graydon is believed to be high on the club's list of targets along with another former Coventry player Micky Adams, who led Brighton to the Third Division championship last season. Other contenders include former Sheffield United, Wimbledon, Watford and Nottingham Forest manager Dave Bassett, former West Ham boss Harry Rednapp and ex-Arsenal, Leeds and Tottenham manager George Graham. Rednapp is currently director of football at Portsmouth but has made it clear that he misses the day to day buzz of management and has recently been linked with Leicester City. Graham is also out work at the moment and is thought to be waiting for an opportunity to arise. Graydon, meanwhile, who played for the Sky Blues in the late 70s, is a highly rated coach who has ambitions of trying his hand at a bigger club. Adams, who had an impressive spell at Fulham before leading Brighton to glory last season, is also extremely ambitious and is seen as an up and coming manager. Sillett expresses shock Sep 10 2001 FORMER Coventry manager John Sillett has expressed his shock at the decision to part company with Gordon Strachan. The club announced this morning that Strachan, who joined the club five years ago, would leave 'by mutual consent' after a string of poor results. But Sillett, who led City to FA Cup glory over Tottenham in 1987, believes the club may have acted too hastily. He told Sky Sports News: "To me it's come as a shock. I thought the chairman and Gordon would have stuck with it." Sillett managed the Sky Blues between 1987 and 1990 and he criticised the fans' behaviour at Saturday's defeat against Grimsby. He added: "It's very bad for football when fans can get so close to managers. "We can all shout and we can all point the finger but at the same time nobody has worked harder than Gordon Strachan. "But the results are what you go by in this game." Sillett suggested that Coventry must now look to bring in a manager who had considerable experience if the club wanted to make a swift return to the Premiership. "It's no good bringing in a young manager, they've got to bring in an experienced manager," he said. Sky Blues sinking fast Sep 10 2001 By Andy Turner, Coventry Evening Telegraph THE PLAYERS ran out to the haunting classical sound of Carmina Burana - more popularly known from the Old Spice ads and the Omen. What followed was a stinker of a performance which must be giving Gordon Strachan nightmares as he ponders the way forward. Feelings have been running high for some time but things came to a head on Saturday afternoon with the fans calling for change after watching a display bereft of belief and quality. The supporters directed their protests at club chairman Bryan Richardson and major shareholder Geoffrey Robinson MP before kick-off by holding up posters with the message "OUT", but as the game got gradually worse they rounded on the manager as well. Visibly dispirited afterwards, even he was at a loss as to why things are going so very, very wrong at Highfield Road. But the quality of the football spoke volumes for whatever is happening off the field and behind the scenes to which we are not privy. A team packed with supposedly Premiership players is simply not firing. Anxiety seems a popular excuse but playing against lesser opposition should enable players the freedom to express themselves and shine, instead of running down blind alleys and looking like they belong in the lower reaches of this league. The match was a scrappy affair of endless corners, desperate finals balls, poor crosses and no-one in the box to get on the end of them. Coventry dominated for long periods and were rarely troubled, apart from two excellent first half chances from Grimsby striker Phil Jevons who breached the off-side trap, only to be thwarted by a good save from Magnus Hedman and the boot of the returning Gary Breen. But the goalkeeper - firmly reinstalled as first choice - only served to open the wounds of Chris Kirkland's sudden departure when he gifted the opposition their unlikely 58th minute lead. Dribbling out of his area and under seemingly little pressure, Hedman inadvertently lost possession to Jevons who promptly fired the ball into the open goal from 30 yards out. The goal sent shockwaves throughout the ground and suddenly jolted the Sky Blues into action. Youssef Chippo and Lee Carsley both hit the woodwork within minutes but as time went on, the stronger Grimsby's resolve became as they held out to take maximum points and spread more doom and gloom at Highfield Road. There were few positives to be taken from such a display which saw the returning John Eustace clearly and quite understandably struggle with his fitness and touch, while Keith O'Neill - a player who prides himself on his work-rate - looked tired and a little ragged. Neither flank was utilised sufficiently and the numerous set pieces were squandered time and time again. City had nine corners but apart from two early headers from O'Neill, they hardly got anywhere near the goal despite Grimsby's obvious height disadvantage. A lack of goals has already become a recurring theme this season and while allowances could be made for Lee Hughes's absence, the fact remains that City have not scored at home in five games, stretching back to April when John Hartson got a single goal against Sunderland. Julian Joachim made a welcome return to action but his debut was hindered somewhat by his lack of match fitness, although he did provide one sublime run through the middle which was let down by a wayward shot off target. As for the positives, the return of Breen strengthened the back four which included the equally impressive Mo Konjic, and one gets the impression that if only the forward thinking players can start to click, the defence will take care of itself. Carsley worked hard in the middle of the park where new signing Youssef Safri looked a star when he came on with less than 15 minutes left in the game. He was confident and positive on the ball and sprayed it around effortlessly. Sadly for Safri and Joachim, their debuts were overshadowed by the poor performance and the sounds and scenes that went with it. The supporters, who dipped down to just under 15,000, made their feelings known in no uncertain terms, chanting "Strachan Out!" and "Sack the Board," as their protests continued in the West Terrace more than an hour after the final whistle had gone. Several fans tried to breach the security line to confront the manager as he walked to the tunnel as boos echoed round the ground, and the overwhelming feelings left many questions hanging in the air and as yet, still to be answered. |