Coventry City owner Doug King explains why Frank Lampard got the job and shuts down theory on Chelsea legend's appointment
Today at 11:55 AM
Coventry City owner Doug King has revealed the reasons why he decided to appoint Frank Lampard as their new head coach.
The Chelsea legend has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at the Sky Blues and replaced Mark Robins, who was sacked earlier in the month.
Lampard has previously managed Derby County, his beloved Chelsea and Everton, and is back in management after an 18-month hiatus.
His tenures elsewhere have raised doubts over whether or not he’ll be the right man to take Championship side Coventry forward.
The former England midfielder responded to these concerns when he spoke to talkSPORT, and his new boss is certainly ready to back him.
When speaking on air to Sam Matterface and Alex Crook, King was asked about why hired Lampard and what impressed him in their conversations.
“Frank obviously started his coaching career in the Championship,” he replied. “He then moved on obviously into the Premier League, that’s well documented.
“I think that he’s been through a lot of experiences and I like that in a person who’s putting themselves out again to go again.
“We’ve all had a lot of issues in our careers to get to where we’ve got to and it hasn’t always been straight-lined, and I like it that there’s been difficulties that have got to be navigated.
“I just felt that he’s taken his time to look for the right opportunity and we were the right opportunity at the right time.”
talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent, Crook, then asked King if iconic manager Harry Redknapp – who is Lampard’s uncle – had any influence on the move.
He claimed there have been suggestions that the pair are close, but Coventry’s owner dismissed this theory when he responded: “No.
“Listen, I think I played once with Harry Redknapp at golf in Spain about, I don’t know, eight years ago, I haven’t spoken to him since. So, everybody’s got what they want to say in the media.
“Listen, if you think I’m going to be influenced in such a big decision by external people… you know, everybody’s got an opinion, it’s my opinion that really counted at the end of it.
“But I spoke with who I needed to speak with in the process, and my conversations with Frank were really good.
“I liked it, I liked the feel of it, I felt like he’s ready and, for me, it’s just for him not to put too much pressure on himself.
“There was a lot of media spotlight yesterday and he just needs to ease himself in because we’re going to give him as much time as he needs to get it moving.”
Lampard has taken over a Coventry side who pushed for promotion last season – just missing out on a play-off spot – but currently sit two points above the relegation zone.
Last season’s FA Cup semi-finalists have won only four of their 17 matches in the Championship so far and are winless in their last four.
Their new boss’ dugout debut for the club comes at home to fellow struggling side Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.
