Ray Graydon has emerged as the bookies' favourite to take over from the sacked Roland Nilsson at Coventry City.
Is he the best man for the job, or would City be safer going for a bigger name like George Graham? Perhaps Trevor Peake would be the best bet. Let us know.
Do you think Nilsson should have gone when he did? Should he have been appointed in the first place?
Let us know what you think about these or any other sporting issues.
Cheers
Victoria Minett
大象传媒 Coventry and Warwickshire website
i just like to say that i agree with the sacking of Roland Nilsson
Id like to suggest Peter Taylor, his contract is just about to run out at Brighton,he has won two promotions Brighton and Gillingham annd hes also worked in the England set up.
Paul
Wardington
I think it was the right decision to sack the management team. The first caller was correct in his statement that good footballers don't necessarily make good managers. City never learn from their mistakes. In any industry or business a good man on the shop floor does not mean he will make a good foreman. Roland was too much Mr nice guy and the players played their hearts for out him during his probation period because they were quite happy to have him as boss.Once appointed they settled down to play as they wanted and not for the manager.
Paul Haltam
Hi this is perry from Northants and i was thinking about maybe Peter
Taylor?? i mean he has had 2 promotions with Brighton and Gillingham and he
has been in with the England set up so i wonder if maybe he might be
interested especially if he is unhappy at Brighton!
What do u think???
Perry
Northants
short and sweet:
the only person available in Dave Bassett.
Ron
Stratford-upon-Avon
Roland was up against it from the start. He has had virtually no money to improve the squad and has had to rely on the reserves and loan players while others eg Carsley were sold. It is very difficult to see how he could have done any better.
Who is going to want to come to Coventry?There is no money to spend and you'll be sacked in a year if you do not get promoted.
Good luck to Roland in the future!
Richard Worth
Leamington
I think it's only right and proper that Messrs.Nilsson and Smith were released.Unfortunately, due to the board's inadequacies and ineptitude last season and during the close season in letting important players go, we faced an uphill struggle this year before we had even started. Bryan Richardson was eventually removed, but not before the damage had been done, and Gordon Strachan had paid the penalty.At least Mike McGinnity has shown strength and maybe displayed some like-mindedness with the Highfield Rd faithful.We realise that a more or less wholesale clearout is on the cards during the close season, but having suffered the apathy of most of the 1st teams performances this season, I don't believe this will be as painful as first feared.Bring in Ray Graydon, and lets give youth a chance.It'll probably take a couple of years, but we should do a Notts Forest and concentrate on getting out of debt before aiming higher.I'll still be going to see them!
Dean Ward
Birmingham
I would just like to say the board of coventry city made the RIGHT decision of sacking Roland Nillson and Jim Smith. Rolland Nillison was NOT an experienced manager. Jim Smith did NOT help the situation! Richard Money seemed to have done more than Jim Smith. Why did Rolland play Jay Bothroyd upfront on his own against Preston??? ( What a stupid decison )!! My vote is get somebody who knows what they doing and at least picking a team which will win the game! George Graham......
Richard
I think Roland could have been given another year, but perhaps a big City club like ourselves especially with the current financial situation needs somebody who can deliver quickly. It seems perplexing that certain managers like Megson, and O'Neill can mould average players into an effective team and others with perhaps more talented players struggle to achieve. This perhaps suggests that the manager is the most important individual at any club and hopefully this is the thinking behind today's dismissals.
Ian
Barwell (Leicestershire)
It doesn't matter who the club bring in as manager as we are facing an uphill battle next season with Hedman, Safri, Breen, Edworthy, Shaw, Hall and probably Hughes and Thompson set to move on and Healy + Carbonari returning to their respective clubs. No club can lose 8 players and expect to be challenging next season. Ok we have promising youngsters in the likes of McSheffery, Fowler, Betts, Montgomery, Pead, Bothroyd, Davenport and Craig Strachan but they won't win us promotion. Probably my tip would have been Micky Adams but he is now Leicester boss hopefully we don't bring in the likes of Bryan Robson, Joe Royle and Garry Thompson (perennial under-achievers).
Glenn
Bedworth
I e-mailed you on Friday saying Trevor Peake for manager. On consideration I would like to change this to Ray Graydon for manager with Trevor as his assistant. We need a good shake up and Ray Graydon is the man to do it.
But let's not stop at changing the manager. The non-existent PR/marketing and the farce that is called a ticketing operation also need sorting.
Terry
Coventry
Iknow someone who is part of coventry city. and apparently Gary Mcallister is the new manager and hasn't been released yet
obviously I don't know whether this is true, but if it is, let's hope he is still playing, because the amount of players we are rumoured to be selling he will be our best player. One other thing, could we at least not sell Thompson to Villa like the websites are saying.
James
I heard two weeks back that Bobby Gould was talking to a club.Lets hope it wasn't Cov,he may have the passion but i dont think it would be a step forward.
Ian
Coventry
We got to a point where the team were just as bad as under GS, there was no pattern of play, no direction, players out of position and incapable of finding team mates with the easiest of passes.
Right from the goalkeeper, who's distribution is terrible, he doesn't look where his team mates are until he picks up the ball, goal kicks, drop kicks or free kicks taken by him are no advantage to the team whatsoever - the ball just comes straight back.
Also the number of time players just hit the ball in the general direction of the front men instead of trying to play football - it was OK when we had Hartson who attacked the ball - but this year we needed a more subtle approach.
I think both of them had to go.
Hoppo
Wolvey
I feel a little sorry for Nilsson as he seems to be a good bloke & served us well as a player but he did not come across as dynamic enough to make the changes at City which are so obviously necessary and something drastic had to be done.
Whilst having my doubts about the Board in that they kept silent during Richardson's mismanagement at least they got rid of Jim Smith too.
Having him as manager would have been a disaster as evidenced by his influence in the deadline signings of Trollope & Carbonari. More of the same & we would be looking at Division 2 this time next year.
As for a new manager we mustn't fall into the trap of getting rent-a-job types like Jim Smith who are tainted by as much failure as success. Instead we should look at a younger manager who has proved successful at a lower level & can work with the limited resources we will undoubtedly have next season. There is only one candidate as far as I can see & that is Nigel Clough.
Matt
Longford
I must say I think Coventry will have to get over their delusions of grandeur before they can hope to return to the top flight.They are not a big club even in first division terms, their longevity in the top flight means zilch now, the crowds they attract are poor, they have huge debts and have now had three managers in one season.Reality will bite just as it has at far bigger clubs like Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.
Given all circumstances Coventry did well to stay involved for so long, changing the manager won't achieve anything,Coventry will struggle next year whoever is in charge because they will have to sell.
Jayne Shaw
Dudley
I'm not altogether surprised by the sackings but am pleased to see some degree of decisiveness at board level (have to question what Graham Hover brings to the party though - I remember when he struggled to run the Sky Blue ticket office let alone the whole club!!).
City now need someone who has a track record in getting the most out of mediocre resources and is capable of instilling some pride back into the club - could Craig Brown fit the bill?
Tyseley Sky Blues
Location not supplied
Looking at the achievement of this management duo I am not surprised. I know you could argue they did not have enough time but the things that have cost us dearly this season could easily been addressed in the time they have had. At the end of the day they have had players of 'International' standard at their disposal.
I also think that my granny would have achieved the unbeaten run Roland achieved. After Strachan it wouldn't have taken much to raise morale, and of course players do raise their game for a new manager.
Ultimately players get managers the sack so maybe Roland is regretting telling them their summer holidays were starting three weeks later!!!
Robbie
Location not supplied
Stuart Pearce as new Coventry manager.
Dave Evans
Location not supplied
Roland Nillson had to go. If we are to get back into the premiership then we have to appoint somebody who is streetwise at Nationwide level. I would like to see either Ronnie Moore or Ray Graydon given a chance.
Marvin
Location not supplied
I think the sacking of Roland Nilsson is hardly a shock because he did throw away our chance of a playoff place.
The only thing I am worried about is who will replace him, is there anyone left in the world who hasn't been sacked by Coventry City!!
Paul Hodgkins
Location not supplied
I was quite shocked at the news of Nilsson and Smith's demise. I would have thought they would be given another year to achieve promotion.
However, it is true that too many performances this season have been well below par and 'totally unacceptable'. It is also the right time to do it, rather than leave it till next season.
On the other hand, I do think we need stability in the form of a good football manager. Nilsson lacks the experience but who else is there?
I doubt a club with limited funds and many outgoing players would attract a suitable manager. This squad needs severe strengthening, but who is the manager to do it?
I would like to see George Burley from Ipswich or someone else who has enjoyed success in this division before.
I look forward to a very interesting 2002-2003 season!
Jon-man
Location not supplied
Previous sport messages
Should the Sky Blues do all they can to keep David Thompson....or does he - more than any other player deserve to play in The Premiership?
Geoff Foster
大象传媒 WM Sport
They ought to try and keep him - but they've got no chance!
He'll go for sure and I can't say I blame him! He's been the best player this season by a mile.
Keith Houchen's Head
Coventry
Thommo's probably pretty much gone now - a bad thing but the money will be useful. Let's hope Hedman and Hughes will be on their way soon as well.
Ian
Leamington
Flowers should be in. Hyldgaard's decent enough, but too injury prone. Need some quality and experience there - not to mention a keeper who's not afraid of catching crosses!
Paul
Coventry
Spot on, Paul. Can't believe Leicester are letting him go on a free. Still, quality managment decisions at Filbert Street have obviously been a high point of their season!
Ian
Leamington
It's a shame the Queen mum's passed away - we could have signed her.
Pete
Coventry City fan
She'd have more chance of scoring than Hughesy even now!
Ian
Leamington
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