MARK Robins admits Coventry City ‘will always hold a real affection’ in his heart after Stoke City unveiled the former Sky Blues boss as their new manager.
Robins guided Coventry from League Two to the Championship during his near eight-year tenure at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
However, the club sacked Robins in November following City’s underwhelming start to the 2024/25 campaign.
The 55-year-old recently took the reins at Coventry’s Championship rivals Stoke, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Potters.
Speaking at his unveiling as Stoke boss, Robins reflected on his time at the Sky Blues and admits he will never forget his time with the club.
Robins told Sky Sports News: “I have nothing but good thoughts, good feelings and good experiences from Coventry City.
“I love the place, I love the people, I got to know a lot of supporters, there was some brilliant help I got from a lot of people during that period and I’m forever grateful.
“That chapter was something that I will never forget. Coventry will always hold a real affection in my heart.”
Robins took Coventry to within a kick of promotion to the Premier League after losing on penalties to Luton Town in the Championship play-off final.
City also suffered a cruel shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals last season after staging a remarkable comeback from three goals down at Wembley.
And Robins insists he will draw on his experiences at Coventry for the rest of his managerial career.
Speaking to Stoke City’s YouTube channel, Robins added: “It happened quickly, I totally respect the decision [to sack him].
“I needed a break after the eight years I spent at Coventry City. I loved my time there and will always remember it fondly.
“Whilst I had a fantastic, never to be forgotten time [at Coventry], there’s no point looking at the past, it’s gone.
“Each club is different and each club is unique. At Coventry there was a lot of instability, it certainly wasn’t stable.
“We got relegated to League Two, there was the ground move, we went to Birmingham City and things had to be built from the ground up.
“There were four Wembley trips and a lot of success there and that’s down to everybody and that’s the collective.
“That’s something I will be drawing on for the rest of my managerial career.”
