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Ex-City striker Robins delights at promotion with Coventry
Mark Robins has led Coventry City back to the Championship - defying all the odds. Picture: Tim Goode/PA - Credit: PA
Former Norwich City striker Mark Robins has achieved his second promotion in three seasons with Coventry City, and is preparing to lead the Sky Blues back into Championship action.
Robins joined the club in 2017, when they were languishing in League Two and desperately requiring stability. City’s former hitman took the hotseat and led Coventry to an EFL Trophy win at Wembley over Oxford United as well as achieving their first top six finish in 48 years.
Robins has achieved success against a backdrop of uncertainty, with Coventry currently seeking a new home after playing at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s Stadium this season.
Speaking of his pride at winning the second promotion of his managerial career, Robins told TalkSport: “It’s unbelievable and I remember when I was driving in on my first day and I had a phone call from (presenter) Jim White and we were speaking about why I was coming back and it was a negative conversation.
“If you’d have said to me this is where we’d be in three years, I would have been delighted but possibly wouldn’t have believed it because the amount of work it’s taken to turn it around.”
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Left-back Sam McCallum, a 19-year-old the Canaries signed in January, has been an integral part of Robins’ squad with the Sky Blues attractive style of play winning plaudits from across the footballing spectrum.
Coventry’s promotion was confirmed after League One clubs voted to curtail the current season, with the Sky Blues being crowned champions on a points per game ruling.
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“Thanks to the support from the board and from the supporters because I’ve got a brilliant relationship with them, and that has been one of the fundamentals as to why we are where we are - because of the support,” he continued.
“The players have been magnificent and the staff have been brilliant. They all need to take a bow because regardless of what anybody else says, nobody can diminish this promotion.
“We deserve it. In fairness to everybody else, I’ve never heard anyone say anything other than ‘Coventry would have been promoted this year’ - which is nice to hear.”