ROMAIN Vincelot feels a fresh start at the Ricoh Arena can help reignite his career after the midfielder joined the Sky Blues from Leyton Orient for an undisclosed.
The 29-year-old became Tony Mowbray’s third signing of the summer this week and trained with his new team mates for the first time on Wednesday.
The Frenchman made over 85 appearances and scored five goals for Orient since joining in February 2013 and played a major part in their route to the play-off final in 2014.
And despite missing the latter part of last season through a knee injury as his former club tasted relegation, Vincelot is confident he can return back to his best at the Ricoh.
“Two days ago, I was speaking with the manager of Leyton Orient and he was really good to me,” Vincelot told the club’s official website.
“He listened to me and the fact I felt I needed something new. Obviously, he didn’t want to let me go unless there was a little fee, so Tony Mowbray said he was really keen.
“When I heard that, I instantly said ‘I’m definitely going to Coventry City, I don’t want to speak to anyone else.’
“I was completely recovered from my knee injury even at the end of May, I was ready to train. When I came back ten days ago I resumed training as normal.
“I’m looking forward to getting started and to Saturday, the first pre-season game is the first sign of a new chapter so I really can’t wait.”
Vincelot joins a very small list as one of few Sky Blues players who joined the club for a fee given the club’s well documented financial problems in recent years.
He knows that fee brings with it added pressure to perform well but his experience of reaching the League One play-offs two years ago also provides much needed experience to a young Sky Blues squad.
He added: “We went so close to promotion at Orient. You need a strong unit of good footballers, but you also need good people to get there too.
“I’ve been to a few clubs, everywhere you go there are good footballers, but you need good people as well.
“I’ve been around here and while I haven’t met everyone, the staff have been welcoming, there’s a good atmosphere. I’m excited for the future.”
“There is a big fan base here with big history, I know about the club winning the FA Cup in the 80’s, there is a great potential here.
“I’m really happy that I’m the first player for a while to arrive here for a fee, so now I’ve got to repay the faith. I’m delighted, it hasn’t happened for a while so I hope I will be worth it!”
