Daily Star Sunday

Robins has got Sky high hopes

- EXCLUSIVE by NEIL MOXLEY

WITH two promotions in three seasons, Coventry boss Mark Robins is a man in a hurry.

But anyone who thinks the ride is over had better think again. Robins has a message for Sky Blues fans who have paused for breath, ‘Strap in – and get ready to go again’.

The club, without a home to call its own, has punched way above its weight. The handicap of playing at St Andrew’s, 23 miles down the road, did not stop them last term.

Nor does the regular problem of selling on the club’s best assets.

Robins takes it in his stride, though.

He said: “Promotion was a great achievemen­t – possibly the biggest of my career – and it’s a huge shame we weren’t able to celebrate with the supporters.

“It’s been a long time coming and there’s been a lot of pain. We have gone faster than the club anticipate­d and are now in a league where the competitio­n is very serious and we have to get better – quickly.

“We cannot spend anywhere near the money of a lot of the other Championsh­ip clubs. We will have the lowest budget in the division.”

The former Manchester United player added: “There’s a huge gap between League One and the Championsh­ip.

“There are clubs working with budgets of £50-60million and upwards. In terms of the finances, it is totally out of our league.

“But the message is, ‘Get out there and play without any fear’.”

The big news from Coventry this summer was an agreement struck with the University of Warwick who own land suitable for the club to develop a new stadium.

The Sky Blues have their eyes fixed firmly on building a new home and the club finally appears to be moving upwards after a largely lost decade.

 ??  ?? CHALLENGE: Robins
CHALLENGE: Robins

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