Robins laughs off Saddlers link with assistant Viveash
MARK Robins has laughed off links between his Coventry City assistant and the vacant Walsall manager’s job.
Adi Viveash remains favourite for the post and is odds-on with most bookmakers to replace Jon Whitney at the Banks’s Stadium after the Saddlers parted company with him on Monday.
Viveash was drafted in as Robins’ acting assistant in August after his long term right-hand man Steve Taylor fell ill at Ryton and was admitted to hospital with a bleed on the brain.
The arrangement was due to be temporary until Taylor’s recovery, but with no sign of a return Viveash has become a permanent fixture at the club this season.
However, the chance of a return to the club where he enjoyed five years as a player in the 1990s and opportunity to become manager of a League One side might well be tempting for the 48-year-old who has an excellent reputation as a coach after his time with Chelsea.
Robins doesn’t seem unduly concerned.
Asked about the link, he joked: “That will be him linking himself with it!”
As to whether Viveash has mentioned it to him, the City boss said: “We have not spoken about it, no.”
And asked if he’s concerned, he laughed: “No!”
Former defender Viveash was part of the Saddlers side which was promoted automatically to what is now the Championship in 1999 – ahead of play-off winners Manchester City.
As a coach he spent a highly successful nine-year spell at Chelsea where he coached the Blues’ Under 18s to three consecutive FA Youth Cup finals, before taking over the development squad.
He also managed the side in the UEFA Youth League, which Chelsea won in 2015 and 2016.
This followed a playing career which included spells at Swindon, Reading and Walsall, where he played with and became good friends with Robins.
He left Chelsea last summer and in August joined Robins’s back room staff following Taylor’s illness.
Viveash is rated as 2-1 joint favourite alongside Wrexham’s Dean Keates. Brian McDermott, John Ward, Paul Ince, Owen Coyle and ex-Sky Blues player Lee Carsley are other names in the early frame.
While the recruitment process has now started, Walsall chief executive Stefan Gamble said the club will be taking their time – with Whitney’s assistant Ian Sharps in charge of firstteam affairs for the foreseeable future.
“The process is underway to find a new manager,” Gamble told the Express and Star.
“We know what we are looking for, and we have already had a number of applicants.
“We want to ensure we run a thorough process so that we identify the right person to take the club forward.
“In the meantime the first-team is in good hands under Ian Sharps with John Ward assisting him.”
Walsall are not in action this weekend with their League One clash with Wigan postponed due to the Latics continued involvement in the FA Cup.