Match Thread Supporter's Meeting with Doug King Match Thread (18 Viewers)

[skybluecam]

Sorry guys but there is a lot of spin from King on this one and I just don't think it quite rings true to how things went down. On Talk Sport earlier he was quizzed quite hard by Jordan and failed to answer well.
I'm not against any of the plans to re structure and move us forward, but can not understand how that could not be done with Robin's in place and wonder who could possibly be a better man coming in to replace him considering we are a championship club?
King wants a coach not as an individual but as a team member. Good luck finding someone who fits that objective. Most coaches/managers require their own back room staff. I just can't think of any coaches that are decent who would be interested. If it was Frank Lampard we would be used as his stepping stone back. Not ideal. It was a shock to see Robins go and lets hope its another shock when King appoints the next man - namely someone with a much bigger reputation than we would have thought? Now that would get him out of the dog house.

Why won't the new manager be able to bring/recruit their own back room staff?

 

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[Brighton Sky Blue]

The part I can't get my head around is how can someone who has so much respect from everyone in football including ex players is suddenly the person who has caused everything to go wrong.

Does anyone think King came out with the truth, the whole truth.and nothing but the truth?

We know all too well from match threads how people can watch the exact same event and come to different conclusions or even remember what happened differently.

That will happen in this case too. I have no doubt that Doug believes what he relayed yesterday. You can probably also assume that nobody including King wanted the Robins era to end with being sacked the morning after losing to a fucking terrible Derby team. If he wanted a results based excuse to sack him he could have done after we lost 4 in a row last season.

I don’t think he was looking for any excuse to get rid. Just my interpretation of events.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Almost as mad as a successful businessman watching things go belly up yet supporting the decisions

Wrong way round. He supported the decisions, watched it go belly up, then decided to act

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

it's absolutely fucking mad that some people can't get their heads around the fact that Robins made change which he has admitted to and they didn't work

it's not rocket science

Who has said Robins didn't make mistakes? Everyone makes mistakes.

The question is what is the real truth. You're not going to get it all off one person. That's unless you think King never left anything out. And that is very unlikely.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Sorry guys but there is a lot of spin from King on this one and I just don't think it quite rings true to how things went down. On Talk Sport earlier he was quizzed quite hard by Jordan and failed to answer well.
I'm not against any of the plans to re structure and move us forward, but can not understand how that could not be done with Robin's in place and wonder who could possibly be a better man coming in to replace him considering we are a championship club?
King wants a coach not as an individual but as a team member. Good luck finding someone who fits that objective. Most coaches/managers require their own back room staff. I just can't think of any coaches that are decent who would be interested. If it was Frank Lampard we would be used as his stepping stone back. Not ideal. It was a shock to see Robins go and lets hope its another shock when King appoints the next man - namely someone with a much bigger reputation than we would have thought? Now that would get him out of the dog house.

Thanks for your response Mr Robins!

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Also re coaches worried about losing their jobs: several can just go back to the development squads they were in charge of previously. The only one who should be out of work is Aled Williams.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Wrong way round. He supported the decisions, watched it go belly up, then decided to act

Yet was saying things weren't right from the end of the season ?
We'll disagree but DK didn't answer all the questions put to him last night for me

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Yet was saying things weren't right from the end of the season ?
We'll disagree but DK didn't answer all the questions put to him last night for me

Didn't he, I must of missed those. Tell me what questions didn't he answer ?

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Didn't he, I must of missed those. Tell me what questions didn't he answer ?

You think he answered every question succinctly?
Were you honestly happy come the end of that forum last night?

 

[David O'Day]

Who has said Robins didn't make mistakes? Everyone makes mistakes.

The question is what is the real truth. You're not going to get it all off one person. That's unless you think King never left anything out. And that is very unlikely.

he caused the issues with the coaching system that led to a decline in performances

this is not up for debate, he has in the past said the coaching system we have now is his choice

 

[Otis]

Yet was saying things weren't right from the end of the season ?
We'll disagree but DK didn't answer all the questions put to him last night for me

I do find it all a bit mad that people have just hung on pretty much every word King said last night.

It's just one side of a story

Anyway, as I said before, it's pointless really going over it. Here we are and we now need to focus on the future.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

I do find it all a bit mad that people have just hung on pretty much every word King said last night.

It's just one side of a story

Anyway, as I said before, it's pointless really going over it. Here we are and we now need to focus on the future.

Totally agree mate

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Wait till @BlueSkiesForever writes his brief account

Very good Tbf I don’t think I’d ever write anything quite that long on here, just too much effort (and there’s always the threat of an inevitable “Parklife” waiting round the corner)

 

[David O'Day]

You think he answered every question succinctly?
Were you honestly happy come the end of that forum last night?

pretty much yeah, there was enough of the truth to get a much better understanding of what was happening inside the club

in the end the only debate is did Robins deserve more time to turn it around

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

You think he answered every question succinctly?
Were you honestly happy come the end of that forum last night?

Reasonable happy yes, but what questions didn't he answer?

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

he caused the issues with the coaching system that led to a decline in performances

this is not up for debate, he has in the past said the coaching system we have now is his choice

And you know it was all down to Robins?

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Reasonable happy yes, but what questions didn't he answer?

Re my first point
Round and round we go , we differ , we argue but we all want the same outcome

 

[David O'Day]

And you know it was all down to Robins?

because Robins said the new coaching system was his choice

what part of this don't you get

the man himself admits it but you still question it

 

[skybluecam]

Personally I think being a Cov fan over the next few years is going to be much more enjoyable if you give Doug the benefit of the doubt

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

Reasonable happy yes, but what questions didn't he answer?

I'd be more on the line of did every question get answered truthfully or in a way that makes King look faultless. And could better questions have been asked?

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

because Robins said the new coaching system was his choice

what part of this don't you get

the man himself admits it but you still question it

Would you like to state that Kung has done nothing wrong and has stated everything exactly as it has happened?

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

I'd be more on the line of did every question get answered truthfully or in a way that makes King look faultless. And could better questions have been asked?

He did say he'd made mistakes and wasn't blameless

 

[Ring Of Steel]

The part I can't get my head around is how can someone who has so much respect from everyone in football including ex players is suddenly the person who has caused everything to go wrong.

Does anyone think King came out with the truth, the whole truth.and nothing but the truth?

It probably won’t be long before Robins gets the blame for Covid too.

But it’s done, all this is pointless. Stop pissing around doing interviews, get the new guy in and start again

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

Personally I think being a Cov fan over the next few years is going to be much more enjoyable if you give Doug the benefit of the doubt

More enjoyable than the last 7 years?

I'm happy to wait until we see the Robins replacement and how the replacement does. I'm not calling for King's blood. But I'm not also going to take everything he comes out with as gospel.

 

[David O'Day]

Would you like to state that Kung has done nothing wrong and has stated everything exactly as it has happened?

bangs head on desk

ok mate Mark Robins was lying when he said the new coaching set up was his call

If that is your hill then crack on

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

bangs head on desk

ok mate Mark Robins was lying when he said the new coaching set up was his call

If that is your hill then crack on

Seems like you enjoy making statements that have nothing to do with a question posed.

I'll try again. Do you think King was fully truthful and didn't leave anything out?

 

[Otis]

I actually hope he doesn't come out and say anything, but I do wonder, if Robins now came out and said a lot what King says is bullshit, where would everyone stand then? Still behind King?

Anyway, I don't think he will, so we are left with just one side of the story.

Time to move on.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Personally I think being a Cov fan over the next few years is going to be much more enjoyable if you give Doug the benefit of the doubt

Realistically it's not, you're not going to get four wembley appearances and two promotions. That's not to say there couldn't be some great achievements but one of the benefits of falling to the bottom is that you can have continuous 'success' for a prolonged period in recovery.

 

[David O'Day]

Seems like you enjoy making statements that have nothing to do with a question posed.

I'll try again. Do you think King was fully truthful and didn't leave anything out?

we were talking about the coaching structure, you replied to me talking about it

stop creating a strawman because you got it wrong

i have also given my opinion on what king said, you should probably check these things first

 

[David O'Day]

Almost as mad as a successful businessman watching things go belly up yet supporting the decisions

it's almost as if he tried to give robins time and a chance

mad that

 

[skybluecam]

Realistically it's not, you're not going to get four wembley appearances and two promotions. That's not to say there couldn't be some great achievements but one of the benefits of falling to the bottom is that you can have continuous 'success' for a prolonged period in recovery.

You've missed my point.

I'm saying giving Doug the benefit of the doubt will be more enjoyable than not.

Some people seem really keen on spending the next few months/seasons waiting for us to fail so they can claim some kind of moral victory.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

I actually hope he doesn't come out and say anything, but I do wonder, if Robins now came out and said a lot what King says is bullshit, where would everyone stand then? Still behind King?

Anyway, I don't think he will, so we are left with just one side of the story.

Time to move on.

I fully agree.

My biggest worry is King has admitted he doesn't know much about football. The easy way out is appointing a known name like Rooney or Lampard. Most top managers don't come from being a top player. Most of them fail at being a manager.

We could rejoin the manager merry go round where they get sacked every 18 months or so then walk into another job.

We have been spoiled by having the second longest serving league manager out of 92 clubs. Many seem to have forgotten how frustrating it is to keep signing inadequate managers and treading water all the time. And it is all down to someone who admits he doesn't know much about football to make this decision.

 

[David O'Day]

You've missed my point.

I'm saying giving Doug the benefit of the doubt will be more enjoyable than not.

Some people seem really keen on spending the next few months/seasons waiting for us to fail so they can claim some kind of moral victory.

as I have said and some clown didn't read there was enough there last night to get a better understanding of what happened and was happening

was it 100% accurate or not spun slightly, probably not but it's the best we are going to get and it's time too move on as Robins isn't coming back and unless someone fancies buying a club that loses money outside of transfers then king isn't going anywhere

it's time to move on and support whoever is next and if people stop singing a shite song then that's a bonus

 

[sneferu]

My thoughts

Doug King is exactly what Coventry needs right now, and it’s about time people start realizing that. This isn’t a situation where Coventry should be pandering to those clinging to the past or throwing a pity party for anyone who can’t adapt to the direction King is taking the club. We’re not in the era of old-school football management where one manager is the unquestioned boss of every little detail—this is the modern game, and King understands that. His vision for Coventry isn’t built on sentimentality or nostalgia; it’s built on results, efficiency, and an elevated level of professionalism that’s long overdue. The idea that some people feel sorry for Vivash because he didn’t want to be “undermined” by having a performance director around is just laughable. It’s 2024, not 1994. Top clubs worldwide have coaching teams, analysts, performance directors, nutritionists, sports scientists, and data-driven strategies, all working together. This isn’t a new concept, and for anyone to be offended or to claim that it "diminishes" their role is nothing short of a low-T reaction. Coventry isn’t here to nurture anyone’s outdated sense of entitlement. King is about progress and results, and the performance director is an integral part of that. This individual isn’t there to “undermine” anyone; they’re there to make sure every single department of this club operates at the highest level, free of egos and personal agendas. If anything, the resistance to this new system is just an indication of who’s really not cut out for the next level of football. Football is no longer just about gut instincts and barking orders on the training pitch; it’s about using every advantage possible, and if you’re not on board with that, maybe you’re the one who’s not fit to be here. The notion that King has somehow wronged Robin or that Robin’s role has been “diminished” is ridiculous. If anything, he was given the opportunity to step up within this new structure and lead Coventry into a new era, but instead of rising to the challenge, he and his supporters want to act like he’s a victim. Real leaders don’t complain when things change; they adapt, they find new ways to thrive, and they focus on the bigger picture. King didn’t dismiss Vivash because Robin “told him to go”—King made the call because Vivash wasn’t willing to work within a collaborative, forward-thinking setup that could actually take Coventry places. Let’s be honest: if Vivash was so indispensable, he would have found a way to make himself relevant within this new structure, rather than clinging to the idea that his word alone should be gospel. King’s decision to bring in more staff, more structure, and a dedicated performance director wasn’t some power trip—it was the next logical step for a club looking to compete at a higher level. If that makes some people uncomfortable, that’s on them. People need to stop acting like this is some personal vendetta against Robin or Vivash and start realizing that Coventry is bigger than any single individual. King has a vision that aligns with the modern realities of football, where every decision is backed by data, where departments operate with oversight, and where no one person’s ego is allowed to dictate the direction of the entire club. It’s the simps and soyboys who can’t handle the reality of a structured, competitive environment who are making this about King versus Robin, rather than acknowledging that this is about progress versus stagnation. Coventry isn’t here to play the same old game—it’s here to elevate, to compete, to dominate. Robin had his shot to prove that he could thrive in this setup, and if he wasn’t able to, that’s on him, not on King. King’s only “crime” here is setting Coventry up to be a club that thinks long-term, a club that’s adaptable, and a club that’s not afraid to make the hard choices for the sake of winning. People need to stop viewing football through the lens of “loyalty” and “tradition” and start seeing it as a business, as a competition, as a place where only the strong survive. King didn’t just walk in and decide to turn everything upside down for fun—he saw what was missing and what needed to change. The fact that Robin didn’t last in this environment isn’t a failure on King’s part; it’s a testament to his vision and his commitment to making Coventry a club that’s no longer satisfied with mediocrity. If Coventry’s supporters want to be truly competitive, they need to get on board with King’s methods and stop idolizing a system that’s outdated and inefficient.

Well said. We desperately need to be made competitive and I believe Doug King has the vision and resources. I am looking forward to the future of CCFC. Robins and Vivesh were given the opportunity to manage this process and unfortunately weren't up to it. We move on.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

You've missed my point.

I'm saying giving Doug the benefit of the doubt will be more enjoyable than not.

Some people seem really keen on spending the next few months/seasons waiting for us to fail so they can claim some kind of moral victory.

You seem to be missing several people's points.

Not just this season but our short term future totally depends on our next managers appointment. Most appointments fail which is why managers don't last long. Listening to one side of a story only rarely gives you the whole picture.

Of course King wants us to succeed. Only an idiot would say differently. But the next decision is bigger than the one to let Robins go. My biggest worry is that it is to be made by someone who admits that he doesn't know much about football.