Robins aims to end negativity at the club

Last updated : 26 September 2012 By Covsupport News Service/RD

When Mark Robins took the job as the eleventh Coventry City manager in 11 years he knew he had a difficult job on his hands but perhaps what he didn't realise at the time was the negativity at the club and just how badly everyone is affected by it.

After eleven years of mediocrity in The Championship their relegation to the third tier of English football has had a bad effect on the players and that has translated in poor performances on the pitch with three draws on five consecutive defeats leaving the Sky Blues second from bottom of the league table on goal difference.

Robins has recognised the problem and has made it his priority to lift the feelings of negativity.

Speaking to The Independent, Robins said, "There is an air of negativity around from everybody I speak to. We've got a group of players here who've been battered from pillar to post. We've got to start being positive with them."

A Capital One Cup game at the home of Arsenal may not be the ideal way of boosting confidence. He has moved to allay fears that a heavy defeat on one of Europe's top clubs may dent the already fragile confidence even more and Robbins told his players the result does not matter but performance does.

In his interview with The Independent Robins said, "[This] is a magnificent football club. It is a club that was in the top flight when I was growing up and one that wouldn't be out of place in the top flight should it return there, should we make sure the building blocks are in place.

"Don't get me wrong, it's a long way off but you look at Norwich and Southampton, who have done particularly well and ended up with back-to-back promotions."