Skipper: We've got to take responsibility on pitch
COVENTRY City captain Kevin Kilbane admits the players need to take greater responsibility to stop the side gifting games to more seasoned League One campaigners.
Like the rest of his team-mates, the Sky Blues skipper is disappointed that they haven't done more to help caretaker boss Richard Shaw earn the full-time manager's job with a couple of uplifting results in the league.
Shaw is due to have his formal interview for the post this week when he will be up against eight others including, the Telegraph understands, former Academy director Richard Money.
The 56-year-old, who has a good reputation as a coach, guided Walsall to the League Two title in 2007 and missed out on the League One play-offs the following season when he lost a certain Scott Dann and Danny Fox to City. “The players have to stand up and be counted because it's up to the players that cross that white line to do the job for the team and the club because I think we all recognise that we're failing right now,“ said Kilbane “I think we all recognise that had we got some decent results for Richard Shaw he'd be in the box seat right now.
“The players have the utmost respect for him. I actually played against him so that probably shows my age and recognise what a good player he was along with Lee Carsley and Steve Ogrizovic.
“There is the utmost respect for these people because of what they have achieved in their careers and there is no lack of effort in going out to play for them. But, unfortunately, we're just switching off at key times and that's what is costing us on the pitch at the moment, as well as costing results for Richard, Lee and Steve.“
He added: “The club are obviously taking time over the appointment and it's not up to the players to make these decisions. We go out to win the games and we went out in the right manner to do that on Sunday knowing how Stevenage could be undone and it worked for the majority of the first half.
“But when you come in and you are drawing 1-1 it doesn't matter who is in charge, I suppose, because we are putting ourselves on the back foot on the pitch right now and that appears to be our Achilles heel at the moment.“
Wonder-goal scorer David McGoldrick is particularly frustrated that results haven't helped Shaw's cause, saying: “I'm disappointed, particularly in the league, because Shawsy has brought me in and I wanted to help get wins for him. That hasn't happened but I personally hope he gets the job because he's a good bloke, as is Lee Carsley.
“They have to decide upstairs and hopefully, if they are going to keep Shawsy, they will back him quickly because I feel we need to move forward.
“If they stick with Shawsy, great, but if they are going to bring in a new manager he needs to come in and work with the players.
“But no matter who is in charge at Tranmere on Saturday we have got to go up there and grind out that first win and as soon as we do that I think we'll be all right.“
Summer signing Stephen Elliott agreed: “The results haven't helped Richard who is probably more angry than any of us. The manager often takes the blame but as players we have got to be better on the pitch, mentally stronger and see games over the line which we are not doing at the moment. “We all like Richard and we're all disappointed with ourselves because we are obviously not good enough at the moment and results are proving that. But we have to keep going and digging in because it's going to be a long old season and we need to do something quick on the pitch to change things.“
COVENTRY City captain Kevin Kilbane admits the players need to take greater responsibility to stop the side gifting games to more seasoned League One campaigners.
Like the rest of his team-mates, the Sky Blues skipper is disappointed that they haven't done more to help caretaker boss Richard Shaw earn the full-time manager's job with a couple of uplifting results in the league.
Shaw is due to have his formal interview for the post this week when he will be up against eight others including, the Telegraph understands, former Academy director Richard Money.
The 56-year-old, who has a good reputation as a coach, guided Walsall to the League Two title in 2007 and missed out on the League One play-offs the following season when he lost a certain Scott Dann and Danny Fox to City. “The players have to stand up and be counted because it's up to the players that cross that white line to do the job for the team and the club because I think we all recognise that we're failing right now,“ said Kilbane “I think we all recognise that had we got some decent results for Richard Shaw he'd be in the box seat right now.
“The players have the utmost respect for him. I actually played against him so that probably shows my age and recognise what a good player he was along with Lee Carsley and Steve Ogrizovic.
“There is the utmost respect for these people because of what they have achieved in their careers and there is no lack of effort in going out to play for them. But, unfortunately, we're just switching off at key times and that's what is costing us on the pitch at the moment, as well as costing results for Richard, Lee and Steve.“
He added: “The club are obviously taking time over the appointment and it's not up to the players to make these decisions. We go out to win the games and we went out in the right manner to do that on Sunday knowing how Stevenage could be undone and it worked for the majority of the first half.
“But when you come in and you are drawing 1-1 it doesn't matter who is in charge, I suppose, because we are putting ourselves on the back foot on the pitch right now and that appears to be our Achilles heel at the moment.“
Wonder-goal scorer David McGoldrick is particularly frustrated that results haven't helped Shaw's cause, saying: “I'm disappointed, particularly in the league, because Shawsy has brought me in and I wanted to help get wins for him. That hasn't happened but I personally hope he gets the job because he's a good bloke, as is Lee Carsley.
“They have to decide upstairs and hopefully, if they are going to keep Shawsy, they will back him quickly because I feel we need to move forward.
“If they stick with Shawsy, great, but if they are going to bring in a new manager he needs to come in and work with the players.
“But no matter who is in charge at Tranmere on Saturday we have got to go up there and grind out that first win and as soon as we do that I think we'll be all right.“
Summer signing Stephen Elliott agreed: “The results haven't helped Richard who is probably more angry than any of us. The manager often takes the blame but as players we have got to be better on the pitch, mentally stronger and see games over the line which we are not doing at the moment. “We all like Richard and we're all disappointed with ourselves because we are obviously not good enough at the moment and results are proving that. But we have to keep going and digging in because it's going to be a long old season and we need to do something quick on the pitch to change things.“
