It’s great to have Adi’s know-how, says Robins

MARK Robins says his stand-in No.2 Adi Viveash has brought a stack of ‘nous and know-how’ to his Coventry City side.

The Sky Blues boss drafted in the 47-year-old coach after his long-time right-hand man Steve Taylor suffered a bleed on the brain during training last month.

Robins and Viveash have been friends for years, having been teammates at Walsall in the late 1990s.

Former defender Viveash, who started his career at his home-town club Swindon, also played for Reading among others before becoming a highly regarded coach at Chelsea FC’s Academy over the last nine years.

Asked what he’s brought to the group, Robins, who takes his side to Cambridge United this afternoon, said: “He has brought a lot of nous and knowhow.

“He’s good. He has worked at the top level Academy and he’s probably the most successful ever Academy coach in this country.

“He left Chelsea in the summer for whatever reason and I have known him for 20 years or so and I rang him. I rang Steve first to speak about the situation and he gave me his blessing to do something, and we moved pretty quickly. We’re lucky because we have got Steve, who is recovering, and we have got a good coach in there working with us as well.” As for his strengths, Robins said: “He’s a good coach with good organisation and eye for detail. “He’s got a different way of doing things and very similar to what Steve did, which is important as well. “He’s a different set of eyes with different experiences and it’s something we can marry in and utilise for as long as is necessary or as long as he wants to be with us.”

The role is very much on a caretaker basis at this stage while Taylor convalesces. Asked what type of character he is, the manager joked: “He can be a bit dour but he is very, very good.

“He’s a great lad, stand up, genuine, honest and intelligent. He grafts and he’s a straight bat.”

Taylor, meanwhile, is said to be in good spirits and been boosted by the recent pick-up in Sky Blues results.

“He’s improving,” said Robins.

“I speak to him on a daily basis and he’s getting much better, and I am sure that the last couple of results will be the perfect tonic to give him a bit of a lift.”

Robins has hinted that Tom Davies will retain his place in his Coventry City side today after his man-ofthe-match performance against Carlisle.

The Sky Blues boss has fellow centre-half Rod McDonald available again after serving a one match suspension for his red card against Port Vale.

Davies was signed on transfer deadline day from Portsmouth at a time when the manager feared McDonald would be out for up to three months with injury, and the 25-year-old was thrown straight in against Chesterfield when City slugged out a goalless draw.

However, McDonald was restored to the starting line-up to face Vale in the following game with Davies dropping to the bench, only to get his chance against Carlisle while his rival was serving a one-match ban.

Asked about the selection headache ahead, Robins said: “I think Tom Davies’s performance the other night was first class.

“I think he deserved his man-ofthe-match, I think he did everything that was asked of him and more besides, and I think with Jordan Willis alongside him they were a really good partnership.”

Speaking to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, he added: “I think what I have got is a really good group of defenders, and obviously Burgey behind them is helping out making some really good saves at vital times.”

He’s a great lad, stand up, genuine, honest and intelligent. He grafts and he’s a straight bat