MARK ROBINS

MARK ROBINS is desperate to be sent to Coventry.

The Sky Blues boss may have come to terms with moving temporarily to nearby Brum after yet another kick-in-the-teeth for his club.

But he is determined to get through to the other side.

Robins’ ability to roll with the blows should surprise no- one. Defying the odds has almost become a default position for the 49-year-old.

Owners SISU remain at war with Wasps, the owners of the Ricoh Stadium.

This prompted a move 25 miles down the road to St Andrew’s. Still it’s closer than Northampton Town, which was their last temporary home six years ago.

It’s against this backdrop that Robins, in his second spell at the club, has landed the Checkatrade Trophy, engineered promotion from League Two and has started this campaign with a swagger.

But ask him what he really wants and the answer is obvious.

He said: “We’re in a good position. We have had a solid start. I think we’re playing decent stuff and I think we will have a good season.

“But there is a downside – and that is this: We need supporters to come and watch to bridge the financial gap. We need their help, we need their support.

“We are 4,000 season- ticket holders down. If we could have stayed at the Ricoh, we’d have had thousands more – I’m convinced.

“I understand the decision if they can’t or won’t travel. There’s been years and years of hurt at this club. Logistically, it’s very difficult for some of them. But when they can, please come over and watch.

“Stick with it. Come, when you can. At some point, we will be back in Coventry and playing.

“That has to happen. We cannot leave Coventry and be in exile forever. We cannot do that. It has to happen – the Football League won’t allow that situation to arise.

“Especially with what’s gone on in the past couple of weeks. We have to be playing in Coventry – without a shadow of a doubt.

“We have to make the best of this. We are being looked after, it’s a great stadium, good pitch, but we need to get back where we belong.”

The job Robins is doing cannot be overstated. As well as the chaos over the stadium, he has to buy players he can develop, maintaining an attractive brand of football while winning matches.

Already, seven-figure sums have been banked for Marc McNulty and academy product Tom Bayliss, who moved to Preston for £2m.

Despite the negativity, Robins says he is upwardly mobile. And he’s doing it with the support of a board that will never find favour with the fans.

He said: “We are taking steps forward. I think I’ve stopped the juggernaut and turned it around.

“I would say that now it’s an outstanding place to work. We have taken the training ground to a different level.

“The netting around training pitches has been changed. It’s sky blue, rather than black. It looks smarter, fresher.

“It still needs improvement, but it’s better than it was.

“And I will fight for the fans. I fight for the staff taff – for everyone. It’s our livelihoods ivelihoods

– but it’s the lives of the supporters. rs.

“The players ers are aware of that. We put t ourselves at risk. We play.

We will get better at it.

“And hopefully one of these days s we will be e doing it in our own city.”