Doug wants to be King.

The first thing I’ve got to do this week is to apologise to all those viewers who watched me scratch my way through our Soccer Sunday show on BeINSPORTS.

I know I could probably do that on any given weekend, but I’m not referring to what I said - simply the fact that I struggled to say it!

I’ve no idea what happened, but it felt as though I’d been hit by a truck Saturday night and the problem got worse during the show. It’s not Covid - I do know that. I tested before I went to work. Anyway - my voice has completely gone now (Monday) much to the amusement of everybody around me. Silenced at last. 😂.

Except…..I can still type. So here we go.

The first thing to address is Mark Robins sacking. Before I say anything else - of course I respect the right of any owner or chair to make decisions about his/her football club.

I was very clear about that during Mike Ashley’s time at Newcastle. Geordies didn’t like many of the decisions Ashley made nor me for appearing to back him. I didn’t defend the decisions he was taking - only his right to make them.

And the same applies to Doug King. He can do as he likes at Coventry. But this time I am happy to pass judgement on his decision to sack Robins. He’s fucked up. What on earth possessed him to make that call?

I don’t want to bore you all by talking about Coventry for too long, but for the few that care let me try and explain the decision.

I believe King has wanted Robins out for a while. Ah bollocks - I’ll go further. I have it on good authority that he has.
He’s been waiting for a chance to pull the trigger for weeks.

Why? Well one reason is that I don’t think he liked the attention Mark got. When a chair has a massive ego decisions are often made to satisfy it. I found myself exchanging messages with a former owner last week- who now earns his money in the media - and I asked him if he recognised that kind of behaviour? He didn’t reply. 😂.

King was at the heart of a terrible summer of transfer business at Coventry. He believes he knows best and wants a say on everything. Again - that’s his prerogative, but when you don’t know what you’re talking about that brings real pressure. And mistakes are made.

He landed Robins with an unbalanced squad - desperate for a 6 and a left full-back - let our best player walk out of the club - lost another on deadline day - signed a bang average goalkeeper who isn’t good enough - paid a small fortune for a League One player - refused to take good loan players - and over time stripped the dressing room bare of men. Warriors.

Is it any wonder we made a bad start? But I didn’t care. Mark Robins saved our club. He took us to Wembley four times. He delivered two promotions - whilst playing home games at Northampton and Birmingham. He is quite simply the best manager we’ve ever had.

And I say that as someone old enough to remember watching Coventry play under Jimmy Hill. Robins’ achievements eclipsed what Jim did.

Robins could’ve taken us down for all I cared. He had so much credit in the bank. He was the best manager in the Championship. A class act. And he’ll turn up somewhere else with a proper job. I wish him nothing but success.

As for King - having ripped Robins from those magnificent fans that took Wembley over as recently as last May - he’d better deliver something special now. Only promotion to the PL will do to make up for this.

As I write King hasn’t delivered a replacement for Robins. I’d go for Rob Edwards and Matt Bloomfield is clearly doing something right at Wycombe - but why replace the best Championship manager with one of the best in League One? A novice.

Only because King could control perogatvie. He couldn’t entirely control Robins and he didn’t like the resistance that Robins often put up.

I’ve seen Frank Lampard’s name mentioned. I can definitely see why King would do that. He’d love to surround himself with some of Frank’s celebrity mates.

King enjoyed his day out at Wembley last May and all the media fuss that went with it. I had a good day too (and we won) but the energy that went into it probably cost us three - maybe six points - and therefore a play-off place. That’s what we should’ve concentrated on - but King told Robins he wanted a cup run.

Whoever gets the job I wish them well, but they’ll have remember one thing - to let Doug be King.

I didn’t enjoy the game at The Bridge. It appeared to me I was watching two teams more concerned about not losing - rather than trying to win. That appears to be Arsenal’s default position. They won’t win the title like that.

Chelsea have clearly made progress and could be good enough for a top four finish.

So might Brighton. It’s brilliant to see them going so well. I didn’t expect it. In fact, I was quite fearful about them at the start of the season, but they’ve been a revelation. Good for them.

I keep reading City’s injury crisis is tearing them apart. Nonsense. Absolute nonsense. How can a team that’s had the best part of £2b spent on it be short of players? They’re not.

But what’s wrong is a puzzle. Might it be the speculation about Guardiola’s future is affecting them?

If he’s staying why can’t he sign a contract now? What’s he holding out for? More money? I doubt it. More control? I doubt that as well. So what’s the issue?

He’s leaving isn’t he? That’s the only conclusion to be drawn. If he’s not why can’t he sign an extension now? Or at least confirm that he’ll be doing so?