MARK Hateley warned Coventry City could end up like Leicester City if the Sky Blues do not proceed with caution following promotion to the Premier League.
Hateley began his professional career with the Sky Blues in 1978 and scored 34 goals in 112 appearances for Coventry in five seasons with the club.
He went on to play 32 times for England and enjoyed a distinguished playing career featuring for Italian giants AC Milan, Monaco and Rangers.
Coventry will play in the Premier League next season after 25 years away after the Sky Blues achieved promotion as champions.
Meanwhile, City’s M69 rivals Leicester suffered back-to-back relegations with the Foxes to play in League One next term.
And Hateley believes backing manager Frank Lampard in the transfer market will give the Sky Blues their best chance of survival in the Premier League.
Speaking on behalf of NetBet Sport, Hateley said: “They’ve got a great manager. I would have thought he would be high on a lot of people’s lists of other teams.
“You’ve got to get him [Frank Lampard] tied down if you have ambition and then you have to back him. You’ve got to get fully behind him.
“You’ve got to give him a budget that will be eye-watering to the owners. Coventry are going into a league full of piranhas and crocodiles who will munch you up if you’re not careful.
“You’ve got to be careful because you can end up like Leicester. You get that bounce, then you get your legs pulled from underneath you and you’re fighting away.
“Coventry have got to put their trust in him [Lampard]. Coventry probably need six to 10 players and the start is critical.
“All you’re looking to do for the first year after promotion is survive. And Frank has got the ability to build a side than can survive and compete at the same time.
“The owners have got to be all in with Frank.”
Promoted clubs Sunderland and Leeds United defied pre-season expectations to survive in the Premier League this season.
And Hateley believes Coventry’s response to their first defeat of the 2026/27 campaign could prove a pivotal moment.
Hateley added: “The Brentford’s and the Bournemouth’s of this world have shown it can be done and maintained and be successful on a lower crowd than Coventry.
“The feel good stuff will all rollover until the first defeat and then it will go flat. That’s when you need the senior pro’s to get the young players going again.
“A defeat absolutely flattens the whole club, it’s good to have observations around other clubs that have come up and what they’ve done.
“It’s a great place to be. It’s a different type of football, it’s a huge step. Key to that, you’re maybe not going to have a lot of the ball.
“You create one chance, you need to score the goal, that’s key. To get that sort of player is expensive. Coventry haven’t got that player.
“Goalkeeper, centre-half, central midfield player and a goalscorer. Whether you can get that in your first season back, it’s building to survive.”
