Is Not Having A Manager Harming Coventry City?

Last updated : 14 May 2010 By Covsupport news service. RD

While Coventry City are without a manager, they are not in the transfer market and the longer it takes to find a new boss, the shorter the time any new faces will have to settle into the team.

The long suffering and patient fans of Coventry City, along with the players at the club are having to wait to see who the new manager will want in or out of the squad.

Former manager Chris Coleman released three young City players earlier this season, Cain, Walker and Wynter. He also did not offer contract extension to long time City defender Marcus Hall.

Coleman wanted to sign permanently defender Leon Barnett from West Brom and striker Jon Stead from Ipswich. Three established players are out of contract in the summer and club chairman Ray Ranson has told Morrison, Konstantopolous and Wright that they are free to look elsewhere while he looks for a new manager.

In addition to the player currently at,or hoping to be at The Ricoh next season, players who had been targeted as possible new signings are being snapped up by other clubs.

Striker Neil Mellor, who had been told he has no future at Preston North End is one such player. Coventry were favourites to sign a much needed striker, but without a manager to attract him to the club, it now looks likely he will be heading for relegated Sheffield Wednesday, where ironically the manager trying to sign him, Alan Irvine is one of the people hotly tipped to become the new City boss.

Scunthorpe hit man Gary Hooper was also a target of Coleman's, but he is set to join either Celtic or Derby.

Coventry City chairman Ray Ranson is right in being careful in choosing his new manager. He has to get it right. He needs to attract more fans to The Ricoh to generate cash for the manager to be able to use to build a competitive team. However, City are losing out on on some good, competent players who are finding new clubs while City appoint a new manger.

Ideally, the new squad needs to be assembled in time to train together in the pre season. The players need to know what their futures hold and of course, the fans want to know as well. Meanwhile they have to watch while the better players find themselves new clubs.