No reason to panic
ROBINS STRESSES SKY BLUES UNFAZED BY INTEREST IN ‘BIG THREE’
We are not in a position where we have to jettison players, as in the past.
Mark Robins
MARK Robins has reiterated Coventry City’s stance on the club’s most saleable and wanted assets this summer.
The Sky Blues’ ‘big three’ of Viktor Gyokeres, Callum O’hare and Gustavo Hamer have been linked with numerous clubs for several months.
More recently, City’s Championship rivals Middlesbrough are understood to have expressed an interest in Gyokeres, whose stock has risen through the roof after wading in with 18 goals last season and recently scoring for Sweden on international duty. He is also reportedly wanted by Premier League newcomers Fulham.
Fans are desperately hoping the Sky Blues will keep hold of their favourites in order for the club to continue to grow from strength to strength in the division – a feeling shared by the
more pragmatic Robins. Providing a bit of reassurance to supporters, the manager said: “They are obviously under contract and we are not in a position where we have to jettison players, as in the past.
“What will happen, and what happens generally, is that if anybody comes in – and everybody has got their price – if somebody hits that number then there is a discussion to be had, there’s no doubt about it. Noone wants to lose their best players and no-one wants to start on the back foot because you have lost one of your better players, but ultimately that’s football and you have to have those contingencies in place. And what we have always managed to do is, if we have lost one, we have always managed to get better strength and quality.
“So that’s the challenge for the recruitment department and me, but at this moment in time that hasn’t been the case and long may that continue.
“But as I say, no-one should panic on any front. We’ll just take our time.”
Asked if City being in the potentially vulnerable position of having to protect their assets is a consequence of success, Robins told BBC CWR: “Absolutely, and long may it continue. That the big thing, and the other thing is that the club can be strong and resolute in rebuffing any bids that come in, up to the point is reached where you say, ‘this is right for everybody’ and we do that but, also, have that plan in place to go and recruit better, and probably more in number of we possibly can do.
“We know the ceiling we can go to financially so every penny counts, and always has done here, and nothing changes on that front. So we have to make sure we get as much headroom as we can to make sure we get the players in that we need.
“That’s the key thing, we need numbers and we need quality and that’s what we’ll be doing over the next couple of months.
“The window doesn’t close until September 1, so we will wait with bated breath until the window shuts. It gives us time to recruit and hopefully we can have them in place sooner rather than later, but I want to make sure we get the right ones.”