'High quality' Frank Lampard confirmed as contender for Championship job with club owner determined to avoid same fate as Tom Brady's Birmingham

One ambitious outfit in the West Midlands turned to a Premier League legend and former England international when seeking inspiration in their dugout during the 2023-24 campaign. Wayne Rooney flopped badly at St Andrew’s, lasting just 83 days at the helm, with Birmingham going on to suffer relegation into League One.

Coventry are looking to ensure that they do not head in the same direction, with the difficult decision taken to part with Mark Robins after seeing him guide them from League Two to the Championship play-offs over the course of seven years.

Chelsea icon Lampard is among the names in the frame to inherit managerial reins at the CBS Arena, with Coventry owner Doug King telling Sky Sports: “We've received huge amount of CVs from high quality people of which Frank is one. But the issue is we haven't done anything on that process because we have been getting through this situation with the forum and focusing on making sure we were accessible and gave answers. However, clearly we are in the international break. We'll be assessing everything and then we'll work out who is going to make the shortlist, and then we'll interview.”

King went on to tell BBC CWR at a fan’s forum, with many supporters disappointed at seeing Robins moved on: “The next appointment is very important. I cannot have the risk of us getting relegated. Nobody thought Birmingham would get relegated and they did. You can argue that this was a big mistake. But I had to do something. Sometimes a tough decision has to be made. I like Mark Robins. And we’ve had good times together – but it had to be made.”

Coventry are hoping to move “pretty quickly” in their search for a new boss, with ex-Chelsea and Derby boss Lampard looking to get back into coaching, but Rhys Carr remains in temporary charge of first-team proceedings for now and may still occupy that post for a return to action against high-flying Sheffield United on November 23.