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Coventry owner lifts lid on Frank Lampard as he gives Premier League promotion verdict
Coventry owner Doug King has heaped praise on Frank Lampard for his incredible impact since taking over as Coventry manager. Lampard succeeded fans’ favourite Mark Robins as boss in November with the Sky Blues slumped in 17th place in Championship and just two points above the drop zone. Lampard has worked wonders in turning round Coventry’s fortunesGetty Fast forward three and a half months and Lampard has worked wonders in steering his side to fifth place, which would be enough to secure a spot in the play-offs. Coventry have won eight of their 11 league games since the turn of the year, including their last three on the bounce. It has been a monumental turnaround for Lampard, who split opinion when he was appointed by King and now the unlikely hope of promotion looms for the Midlands outfit. Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT on Tuesday, King admits that he chose not to place any heavy expectations on the Chelsea legend when he arrived at the club. “I remember talking to you when we appointed Frank at the end of November. I didn’t really put any expectations out there, I felt that we needed to change it and Frank was the outstanding candidate,” King said. “He came in and got on with it and in the last six weeks we’ve been on an amazing run to propel us up to fifth. “I’ve always been consistent that I thought the squad of players was good enough to be in that position but that’s my view and reality is something different and was different at the end of November. “He’s done a great job,” King added. “He’s been great around the place, positive, a really good people person and tactically we’ve ground out results in difficult moments when we didn’t have a full squad. “I’m extremely pleased for him and pleased for the club.” Lampard watched his side secure a third-consecutive victory at Oxford on SaturdayGetty Lampard, who led Derby County to the Championship play-off final in the 2018/19 season, knows all too well that the recent upturn in form is likely to bring about renewed confidence around the club. However, King explained that despite the team’s meteoric rise this season, he has not outlined a clear season-defining target with Lampard. “No, I didn’t, they’re just words aren’t they?” King said. “He (Lampard) knew who was in our squad, of course he did. We also didn’t discuss anything in January actually. “We felt there was enough there to work with and to get us motoring in the right direction and I thought we made a real positive transfer with Matt Grimes coming in who’s obviously a quality player at this level. “There was no expectation. We needed to do everything well and move up the league.” King reinforced the need to replace Robins late last year despite coming in for criticism from sections of the club’s support who felt Robins deserved the opportunity to turn around Coventry’s poor run of form. Coventry owner King insists no heavy expectations have been placed on LampardGetty King explained his reasons behind replacing Robins with Lampard last NovemberGetty Asked if he now feels vindicated by the decision, King said: “I don’t feel vindicated. Mark was with us for a long period of time and did great things. “I had a strong relationship with Mark and obviously he’s coming to see us on Saturday and he’s always welcome at Coventry City Football Club. “Things go fast in football. I’ve given my commitment to the players that we’re trying to achieve something and if we’re not really getting it right for them, a year in a career is huge. “I just felt like we had to change something and I did it without having a placement in mind. Frank applied and we got on and here we are three and a half months later on one of the best runs we’ve been on in 50-odd years.” Discussing the prospect of a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2001, King played down his side’s hopes, preferring instead to focus on maintaining their current league position until the end of the season. “I don’t think it’s a realistic target because you’ve got to stay in the top six and get through a very difficult play-off. We’ve been there and failed before,” he said. “But you can’t get to the Premier League unless you get yourself into play-off contention. “That’s our goal, our fate is in our hands which is always good but now expectation has moved up a notch and the guys have got to take that and I think that’s good. “Frank has always lived with expectation through his career and what he’s achieved and managed that. I think that it will be good for us that he’s been in that position before.”
Coventry owner Doug King has heaped praise on Frank Lampard for his incredible impact since taking over as Coventry manager.
Lampard succeeded fans’ favourite Mark Robins as boss in November with the Sky Blues slumped in 17th place in Championship and just two points above the drop zone.
Fast forward three and a half months and Lampard has worked wonders in steering his side to fifth place, which would be enough to secure a spot in the play-offs.
Coventry have won eight of their 11 league games since the turn of the year, including their last three on the bounce.
It has been a monumental turnaround for Lampard, who split opinion when he was appointed by King and now the unlikely hope of promotion looms for the Midlands outfit.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT on Tuesday, King admits that he chose not to place any heavy expectations on the Chelsea legend when he arrived at the club.
“I remember talking to you when we appointed Frank at the end of November. I didn’t really put any expectations out there, I felt that we needed to change it and Frank was the outstanding candidate,” King said.
“He came in and got on with it and in the last six weeks we’ve been on an amazing run to propel us up to fifth.
“I’ve always been consistent that I thought the squad of players was good enough to be in that position but that’s my view and reality is something different and was different at the end of November.
“He’s done a great job,” King added. “He’s been great around the place, positive, a really good people person and tactically we’ve ground out results in difficult moments when we didn’t have a full squad.
“I’m extremely pleased for him and pleased for the club.”
Lampard, who led Derby County to the Championship play-off final in the 2018/19 season, knows all too well that the recent upturn in form is likely to bring about renewed confidence around the club.
However, King explained that despite the team’s meteoric rise this season, he has not outlined a clear season-defining target with Lampard.
“No, I didn’t, they’re just words aren’t they?” King said. “He (Lampard) knew who was in our squad, of course he did. We also didn’t discuss anything in January actually.
“We felt there was enough there to work with and to get us motoring in the right direction and I thought we made a real positive transfer with Matt Grimes coming in who’s obviously a quality player at this level.
“There was no expectation. We needed to do everything well and move up the league.”
King reinforced the need to replace Robins late last year despite coming in for criticism from sections of the club’s support who felt Robins deserved the opportunity to turn around Coventry’s poor run of form.
Asked if he now feels vindicated by the decision, King said: “I don’t feel vindicated. Mark was with us for a long period of time and did great things.
“I had a strong relationship with Mark and obviously he’s coming to see us on Saturday and he’s always welcome at Coventry City Football Club.
“Things go fast in football. I’ve given my commitment to the players that we’re trying to achieve something and if we’re not really getting it right for them, a year in a career is huge.
“I just felt like we had to change something and I did it without having a placement in mind. Frank applied and we got on and here we are three and a half months later on one of the best runs we’ve been on in 50-odd years.”
Discussing the prospect of a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2001, King played down his side’s hopes, preferring instead to focus on maintaining their current league position until the end of the season.
“I don’t think it’s a realistic target because you’ve got to stay in the top six and get through a very difficult play-off. We’ve been there and failed before,” he said.
“But you can’t get to the Premier League unless you get yourself into play-off contention.
“That’s our goal, our fate is in our hands which is always good but now expectation has moved up a notch and the guys have got to take that and I think that’s good.
“Frank has always lived with expectation through his career and what he’s achieved and managed that. I think that it will be good for us that he’s been in that position before.”
