fired after only four games of season club: it was more than just the results
COVENTRY City are today looking for their 11th manager in 11 years after sacking Andy Thorn four matches into the new season.
Thorn's assistants Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley ­ both former Sky Blues favourites ­ have been put in temporary charge of team affairs, starting with tomorrow night's Capital One Cup derby against Birmingham City at the Ricoh Arena.
But chief executive Tim Fisher said that the club intend to take their time “to ensure we appoint a manager to help us mount a serious challenge for promotion“.
Thorn, who was handed a new rolling one-year contract at the end of last season despite City's relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1954, has no doubt that ambition will be achieved this term. And although he refused to comment on his dismissal after 60 matches in charge that produced 13 wins, 20 draws and 27 defeats, he paid a warm tribute to the Sky Blues supporters.
SACKED BOSS HAS FAITH IN SQUAD ANDY Thorn today said goodbye to Coventry City's supporters ­ and assured them that they will be able to celebrate a return to the Championship next Spring.
Thorn was sacked yesterday morning less than a fortnight into a new season which had seen the Sky Blues draw their first three League One fixtures and clinch a Capital One Cup tie at home to Birmingham City tomorrow evening.
And he told the Telegraph last night: “I'm obviously bitterly, bitterly disappointed. I think I've put a squad together that should get promoted, that will get promoted whoever takes over.
“It's very early in the season but we were starting to gel and look a team and I am really sad that I won't be able to help see that through.
“I'd just like to wish the players and the fans all the luck that they deserve ­ especially the supporters because they have been absolutely tremendous to me since I took over and it has been an absolute privilege to work for them.“
After the Telegraph broke the news yesterday lunchtime, the club issued a statement confirming: “Coventry City have parted company with manager Andy Thorn. Assistant manager Richard Shaw and first-team coach Lee Carsley will take temporary charge of team affairs.“
Chief executive Tim Fisher said: “We have not taken this decision lightly. We recognised that last season there were off-the-field matters that affected team affairs and felt it was right and proper to give Andy the chance to put that right over the course of the summer and the start of the season.
“We do not feel that has happened. Of course, the fact that we have surrendered the lead in the first three league games has not helped but there are several other factors in this decision ­ not just three disappointing results.
“Richard and Lee will take charge of first-team affairs and we feel that will give us time to ensure we appoint a manager to help us mount a serious challenge for promotion.
“We would like to put on record our thanks to Andy for his work in current and previous roles at the club.“
Development director Steve Waggott added: “We have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to assemble a squad to support Andy that is capable of pushing for promotion this season.
“There is no doubting the ability in the squad ­ you saw that in the first half against Bury and in much of the second half against Sheffield United. “It's vital now that we all pull together as a club and ensure that we start to win matches in the next few weeks.“
COVENTRY City are today looking for their 11th manager in 11 years after sacking Andy Thorn four matches into the new season.
Thorn's assistants Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley ­ both former Sky Blues favourites ­ have been put in temporary charge of team affairs, starting with tomorrow night's Capital One Cup derby against Birmingham City at the Ricoh Arena.
But chief executive Tim Fisher said that the club intend to take their time “to ensure we appoint a manager to help us mount a serious challenge for promotion“.
Thorn, who was handed a new rolling one-year contract at the end of last season despite City's relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1954, has no doubt that ambition will be achieved this term. And although he refused to comment on his dismissal after 60 matches in charge that produced 13 wins, 20 draws and 27 defeats, he paid a warm tribute to the Sky Blues supporters.
SACKED BOSS HAS FAITH IN SQUAD ANDY Thorn today said goodbye to Coventry City's supporters ­ and assured them that they will be able to celebrate a return to the Championship next Spring.
Thorn was sacked yesterday morning less than a fortnight into a new season which had seen the Sky Blues draw their first three League One fixtures and clinch a Capital One Cup tie at home to Birmingham City tomorrow evening.
And he told the Telegraph last night: “I'm obviously bitterly, bitterly disappointed. I think I've put a squad together that should get promoted, that will get promoted whoever takes over.
“It's very early in the season but we were starting to gel and look a team and I am really sad that I won't be able to help see that through.
“I'd just like to wish the players and the fans all the luck that they deserve ­ especially the supporters because they have been absolutely tremendous to me since I took over and it has been an absolute privilege to work for them.“
After the Telegraph broke the news yesterday lunchtime, the club issued a statement confirming: “Coventry City have parted company with manager Andy Thorn. Assistant manager Richard Shaw and first-team coach Lee Carsley will take temporary charge of team affairs.“
Chief executive Tim Fisher said: “We have not taken this decision lightly. We recognised that last season there were off-the-field matters that affected team affairs and felt it was right and proper to give Andy the chance to put that right over the course of the summer and the start of the season.
“We do not feel that has happened. Of course, the fact that we have surrendered the lead in the first three league games has not helped but there are several other factors in this decision ­ not just three disappointing results.
“Richard and Lee will take charge of first-team affairs and we feel that will give us time to ensure we appoint a manager to help us mount a serious challenge for promotion.
“We would like to put on record our thanks to Andy for his work in current and previous roles at the club.“
Development director Steve Waggott added: “We have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to assemble a squad to support Andy that is capable of pushing for promotion this season.
“There is no doubting the ability in the squad ­ you saw that in the first half against Bury and in much of the second half against Sheffield United. “It's vital now that we all pull together as a club and ensure that we start to win matches in the next few weeks.“
