Robins: I’d love to see hero Max get back playing
MARK Robins admits he is “really surprised” former Coventry City favourite Max Biamou is looking for a new club after his career has stalled in the 18 months since leaving the club.
The centre-forward was released by the Sky Blues in the summer of 2021 at the end of his contract, ending a four-year spell when he helped City rise from League Two to the Championship and became a hugely popular figure among the fans.
Biamou signed for Scottish Premier club Dundee United in October 2021 after being unable to find a club in England but was limited to just three league appearances due to a combination of injury and falling out with the manager. Now, with his injury issues seemingly behind him, the Frenchman is back in the Midlands and has been to watch the Sky Blues – a club for whom he has a lot of affection – in recent home games.
That, along with cryptic messages on Instagram, have fuelled rumours and speculation on social media that the 31-year-old could be heading back to sign for City.
Coventry, of course, are the subject of a transfer embargo and couldn’t sign him at the minute even if they wanted to.
Biamou is, however, actively looking to get himself a new club and is currently training with Burton Albion, who are struggling at the bottom of League One.
Asked if he’s sorry to see Biamou without a club at minute, his former manager Robins said: “Max is a really good lad as well and I’m really surprised that he’s not in a club because there were quite a few people interested and, for whatever reason, it didn’t come about and he ended up going up to Scotland and playing for Dundee United. I don’t know how that went but I know he’s back down here and without a club and he’s training with Burton Albion.
“So clearly, if he wants to play (it would be good to see) but if it’s something he doesn’t want to do any more then that’s up to Max.
It is a surprise that he hasn’t been playing consistently since he left us but I don’t know how he’s been or what his injuries have been or why he’s out of contract and not with a club and not got a contract with anybody. But hopefully he’ll get what he’s after as soon as possible.”
Reflecting on Biamou’s time at City, the manager added: “He did really well for us, there’s no doubt, after coming across from France and turning up at Sutton and doing really well for them. That’s where he caught our eye and that of Tommy Widdrington, who was head of recruitment at that point, and he had seen him play and recommended him highly and we decided to go with it.
“It took him a while to get up to speed but in terms of training he needed cajoling and a kick up the back side at the same time but he got there. He struggled to score at times but he scored some spectacular goals and some really important goals. He was someone who played a huge part in terms of our rise from League Two to the Championship, and scored and contributed in games the season before last as well at this level.”