FORMER Coventry City manager Mark Robins will receive the Coventry Award of Merit to honour his contribution to the city.
Robins is one of six recipients of the award along with Pauline Black, Professor Stuart Croft, Sybil Hanson, Councillor Abdul Salam Khan and Jon Sharp.
Coventry City Council launched the award in the 1960s with only eight award ceremonies taking place, honouring just 46 individuals and organisations.
The council credit Robins with ‘restoring the club’s pride’ at ‘one of its lowest points in its history’.
The council also say Robins ‘helped re-establish the club as a true part of the city’ and ‘built links with local groups, supported work in diversity and equality, and instilled a real sense of togetherness and pride in the city’.
Robins took charge of the Sky Blues for a second time in March 2017 with the club bottom of the League One table.
He guided the club to EFL Trophy success at Wembley that same season.
And Robins led Coventry back into League One at the first attempt via the play-offs the following campaign.
Robins enjoyed further success in 2019/20 with the Sky Blues crowned champions of League One in a season curtailed by the Covid-19 Pandemic.
He almost returned the club to the Premier League in 2022/23 as Coventry suffered a penalty shootout heartbreak in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
And he also led Coventry to their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 last season as City suffered another shootout defeat against Manchester United after staging a remarkable comeback.
Robins will receive his award at a ceremony later this year.
Leader of Coventry City Council, Coun George Duggins, said: “The Award of Merit is not awarded often, it is not an annual presentation, but only given when people have shown outstanding commitment to our city and those who live here.
“The six people we are honouring are wonderful examples of that dedication and I am delighted that they are being recognised. They have not only excelled in their own chosen fields, they have taken their pride in Coventry and love for their city and used their skills to give something back.
“The nominations for these latest winners show the great amount of outstanding and selfless work they have carried out. They all come from different backgrounds and have different talents, but they all have something in common – their desire to help others and make Coventry a better place.
“Thank you to them all for everything they have done for our city. They are great Coventrians, and very worthy recipients of this great honour.”
