City get set to repel QPR bid for boss
COVENTRY City have not received an approach from QPR for manager Mark Robins’ services and, if they do, any requests to speak to him will be met with a firm ‘no’.
National radio station TALKSPORT has reported that the Sky Blues boss is on the Championship club’s “managerial shortlist” to replace Michael Beale who left Loftus Road to join Rangers earlier this week.
QPR represented Beale’s first job as a manager and he led the club to seventh in the Championship after 21 games prior to the World Cup break, signing off with a 2-0 CBS Arena defeat to Robins’ in-form side.
The west London club are now hunting for Beale’s successor following his somewhat unexpected departure, given that he had turned down an approach from Wolves in October.
It has now been reported that QPR could potentially consider a move for Robins due to his highly-successful fiveyear spell with the Sky Blues .
The 52-year-old is said to be joined by former Blackpool manager Neil Critchley as one of the club’s potential targets, who is currently out of work having been part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff at Villa.
Robins has remained loyal to City ever since returning to the club in March 2017, despite often being linked with jobs elsewhere, and subject to an approach from Sunderland in October 2019. He is the longest-serving manager in the Championship, taking Coventry from League Two to the top-half of the Championship, and committed his future to the club by signing a new contract in May, despite City facing plenty of adversity during his time at the helm.
And the Telegraph understands that QPR have, to date, not approached Coventry’s hierarchy to ask for permission to speak to the manager. Should that happen, however, the club would refuse that request with a firm hands off. Robins, meanwhile, is unlikely to be interested in a switch to the capital, not least because of location, given that he lives in Derbyshire. He’s also invested in City and recently held talks with prospective new owner Doug King to talk about plans for the forthcoming January transfer window.