SKY Sports pundit and former Coventry City loanee Stephen Warnock assessed Frank Lampard’s start to life as Sky Blues head coach.
Warnock enjoyed a season-long loan with the Sky Blues back in 2003/04, scoring three goals in 44 appearances, as he won the club’s player of the year award.
And Warnock believes ‘football-obsessed’ Lampard has made a decent start in charge of the Sky Blues but admits ‘fresh players’ could improve the club’s fortunes.
Speaking to Spinbet, Warnock said: “It’s not been a bad start. Sometimes it’s difficult when you’ve been involved in the Premier League for so long which he has and then you drop down into the Championship.
“I know he had a spell at Derby County, but it was five or six years ago and now he returns to the Championship. Getting used to the players again, understanding the squad, knowing the Coventry players, and knowing what the best fit is for them, so you are learning on the job straight away.
“He has had a two or three-week period where he might be getting the Coventry job, so he has been watching the games to see what the problems are.
“It’s such a difficult league to get out of the Championship, it’s so tough to find a way out of it as the games come thick and fast.
“He’s had a few injuries as well and has been without some attacking players. It’s huge having fresh players.
“It’s been a decent start for them, and it is good to see Frank back in the dugout and taking a Championship job and not just thinking you’re a Premier League manager. He is just obsessed with the game and wants to get back to it in some way.”
Lampard replaced Mark Robins as Coventry boss at the end of November following difficult spells in charge of Premier League sides Chelsea and Everton.
Warnock compared Lampard to his former England teammates Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney – both of whom have become managers since retiring as players.
Gerrard currently manages Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq following spells with Rangers and Aston Villa while Rooney recently lost his job at City’s Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle.
And Warnock insists Lampard can rebuild his managerial career with the Sky Blues.
Warnock added: “If he can keep Coventry up this season and have a positive end to the season and then does something special and gets promoted with Coventry then who knows, maybe he can rebuild his career.
“There’s a long way to go in their managerial careers, especially for Frank who is still in the game now.
“He definitely can rebuild his career, but they have taken different paths. Wayne struggled recently so it’s where he turns now.
“Steven Gerrard might not manage again after Saudi because he doesn’t need to money-wise or may stay there for a long time and stay out that way.
“I’d say Gerrard [will be at the most successful] at the moment on what he has done so far and what he won at Rangers.
“But if you look at what Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney are doing, they are putting themselves in tougher leagues and trying to find solutions to make themselves better.
“It’s going to be an interesting time for all three.”
