CHRIS Coleman has warned Frank Lampard he must be ruthless following Coventry City’s promotion to the Premier League.
Former Coventry boss Coleman managed the club from 2008 to 2010 following spells in charge of Fulham and Real Sociedad.
He won 34 of his 117 games in charge of Coventry and also helped the club reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Coleman later defied the odds to help his native Wales reach the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016.
And the former Premier League boss praised the way Lampard dealt with Coventry’s dip in form before roaring to the title.
Speaking on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in partnership with BOYLE Sports, Coleman said: “We say it every year, don’t we – winning the Championship is amazing, fantastic, staying in the Premier League is a completely different challenge, and they’ll find that out.
“It’s going to be a huge test for all of them, not just Frank. Frank knows the Premier League; he’ll know what I’m talking about, but he’s done such a great job.
“I like the way he’s carried himself this season. They came out of the blocks, and then they had a real big dip, but he stayed rock solid in his messages, how he’s talking, and they went and won the league.
“Next year is an even bigger challenge to stay in that league.”
Coleman admits Coventry face an uphill struggle to stay in the Premier League next season despite coming up as champions.
And Coleman questioned whether Lampard would leave the Sky Blues to join another Premier League with bigger resources than Coventry should City struggle in the top flight next season.
Coleman added: “He’s just won the league with Coventry, this will be interesting.
“Should he struggle with Coventry and December comes around and they’re bottom, or second bottom, and they’re not having an easy time, they won’t think twice Coventry [about sacking Lampard].
“Ninety-nine per cent of clubs won’t think twice.
“So if you’re Frank, and he has a chance to go, and I don’t know what the finances are, or what the opportunities are at Palace or a Bournemouth, for example, but has he got a bigger spending power than what Coventry are going to have? Probably.
“And does he have a better chance of making it work? Maybe.
“So Frank will have to be ruthless, and I’m sure he will be in time.”
