Mark Robins was more than a manager to Coventry City fans. He was family.
Driving to St George’s Park yesterday for the England squad announcement, I received a call from a distraught Coventry City-supporting friend. From his voice cracked with emotion, I feared there had been a death in the family. And, in a way, there had been. CJ is a home-and-away devotee, his wedding had Sky Blue flags, and he was ringing to say that Mark Robins had gone, sacked by Coventry’s owner Doug King. CJ was in shock and mourning.
Managers do come and go, it’s a brutal, results-based profession, but Robins was more than a manager to supporters like CJ and countless others numbed by the news. Robins was family to them. They didn’t judge Robins solely on results, which certainly haven’t been good enough this season, especially with King’s investment.
Robins was family because he cared for them as people. He saw Coventry as flesh and blood not simply points and performances. The outpouring of anger over the decision showed the disconnect between owners’ views and fans’, the difference between those pulled by purse-strings and heart-strings. A special connection built up over seven years has been thrown away by a new owner.
Of all the many beautiful paeans to Robins was the very simple: “He brought families together”. And he did. He brought a city together, rallying around the club of Jimmy Hill again. Kids took off their red Manchester United and Liverpool shirts and donned Sky Blue again. Robins restored pride in the shirt. Coventry were respected again, even envied. Look at them, heading off in their 10s of thousands down to Wembley again. Four times Robins took them there. Four times! Look at them, a team chasing silverware, a club reviving, a family on the move under a manager with strong values.
Robins was such family that some fans posted emotional recollections of the times they met Robins, how he stopped and chatted, asked about them. He listened to them. How many managers do that? How many owners? One fan even posted a picture on X of his family on holiday with Robins.