Waggott - We will not rush to hire a replacement - The Coventry Observer

Waggott - We will not rush to hire a replacement

Coventry Editorial 23rd Feb, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

THE SKY Blues will not rush the process of finding a new manager following the sacking of Steven Pressley on Monday.

The Scot was relieved of his duties following a dismal run of seven league games without a win which has seen the Sky Blues drop into the League One relegation zone.

The final straw proved to be the 2-2 draw away at Sheffield United on Saturday where Pressley’s side threw away a 2-0 lead against ten men and were lucky to come away from Bramall Lane with a point.

Sky Blues chief executive Steve Waggott has revealed it was a difficult decision to let Pressley go but he said in an open letter to fans that ultimately results in recent weeks and months had simply not been good enough.




“In football, the performances and the results of the first team are always under scrutiny as it is effectively the first-class carriage that pulls along everything else the football club does.

“So while you always want to look long-term, you have to take a view of the shorter-term too and with no League win at home since October, a slide into the bottom four in League One, what happened in the FA Cup (defeat to Worcester), we came to the very difficult decision that it was time for a change.


“I know the question will be raised about the ‘backing’ he has had from the club but our budget (money spent on players’ wages both permanent and loan) is up there in the top six for this division.

“Whether you pay a fee for a player or not, most agree that the squad we have here is good enough to be challenging for the top six, and successive visiting managers have pointed out the quality of our playing staff.

“Paying a fee isn’t the key at this level, it’s getting the most out of your budget that really counts and I think we can all agree that we haven’t done that in the past year. Steven, himself, has said as much.

“We will not rush a permanent appointment because it’s a decision that requires a fulsome process to try, if possible, to avoid this situation in another two years.

“Above all, I want supporters to rest assured that this decision has been made with the best interests of the club at heart in order to move us away from the bottom four as soon as possible.”

Despite having decided to part company with Pressley, who took over from Mark Robins back in March 2013, Waggott praised the efforts of the young manager who has helped bring in and develop several academy players during his two-year reign.

He added: “As a man, Steven Pressley is an honest, genuine, and very hard-working football person and I have got on with him brilliantly over the past two years.

“There is a long-term plan here at Coventry City that means creating a clear pathway from academy, through development squad and into the first team, complemented by experienced professionals, and he absolutely bought into that.

“In terms of that long-term plan, Steven’s work and achievements should be acknowledged because we are in better shape from that point of view thanks to him and the staff around him.

“Similarly, Steven’s efforts in maintaining our League One status last season in the face of possibly the toughest 12 months in Coventry City’s history has to be recognised.

“We wish Steven nothing but the best for the future and place on record our thanks for his efforts.”

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