Grey skies for Sky Blues

Coventry need to lift the gloom around Highfield Road

By BBC Sport Online's John May

Coventry fans were certain of one thing last autumn. They had come out on top in a managerial merry-go-round.

After all, Roland Nilsson had guided them to the top of Division One, while the man he replaced, Gordon Strachan, was struggling to haul Southampton out of the Premiership's bottom three.

It looked likely the two clubs would be swapping places, with Coventry's first relegation from the top flight they entered in 1967 a mere hiccup.

There is absolutely no question why they've been sacked. It is because of who gave them the jobs

Former Coventry chairman Bryan Richardson

Nilsson made an immediate impact on taking over the reins.

He won the Division One manager of the month award for October, as Coventry surfed to the top of the table on the back of a 13-match run in which their only setback was a Worthington Cup defeat by Chelsea.

The Sky Blue skies of an Indian Summer evaporated into a winter of discontent, and Nilsson's failure to bounce Coventry back into the Premiership cost him his job.

Nilsson discovered the harsh price of failing to deliver, and leaves a club with an uncertain future and a finger-pointing blame culture.

Former chairman Bryan Richardson claimed his successor Mike McGinnity sacked Nilsson and assistant Jim Smith out of spite towards him.

Nilsson (left) and Smith paid the price for failing to deliver promotion

Richardson said: "There is absolutely no question why they've been sacked. It is not because of results but because of who gave them the jobs.

"I'm appalled by the decision, but I'm not necessarily surprised."

McGinnity scoffed at such suggestions and in turn blamed Coventry's players.

McGinnity said: "The players should start looking in the mirror and ask themselves 'how much are we to blame for bringing this on to Roland?'"

McGinnity confirmed Nilsson's failure to provide the instant success of propelling Coventry straight back into the Premiership cost him his job.

The Coventry chairman said: "We need to be back in the Premier League - our finances stipulate that because we are committed to contracts with Premier League wages.

We have still got to get money in from sales to satisfy the short term problems with the bank

Coventry chairman Mike McGinnity

"What is disappointing is that we had an inexperienced but an absolutely top guy in Roland, and a very experienced man in Jim who we thought would gel together."

McGinnity has promised he will act quickly to replace Nilsson.

Former Coventry favourite Gary McAllister, ex-England captain Stuart Pearce, and recently-sacked Walsall manager Ray Graydon lead the list to fill the vacancy.

But any new manager will face some harsh home truths from McGinnity.

Coventry have worked hard to reduce debts of £30m and McGinnity hinted the failure to instantly regain Premiership status will lead to the sale of players.

Midfielders David Thompson and Youssef Safri, goalkeeper Marcus Hedman and striker Lee Hughes are among the prize assets coveted by top clubs.

The likes of Marcus Hall, Gary Breen, Marc Edworthy and Richard Shaw are on Premiership wages.

McGinnity said: "I will give the new manager the total truth as to what our situation is.

Gordon Strachan recovered from his sacking at Coventry

"There is a need to satisfy the requirements of the bank and we have assets in players.

"We have still got to get money in from sales to satisfy the short term problems with the bank.

Coventry's failure to feature in the promotion scene comes when west midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolves could both be in the Premiership next season.

It will particularly gall former West Brom director McGinnity that Albion are on the brink of automatic promotion with a squad that does not compare in terms of talent with Coventry's.

More galling to Coventry fans will be Strachan's success at Southampton.

The former boss returned to Coventry to take Paul Williams and Paul Telfer, who both played big roles in keeping Saints in the Premiership.

Coventry may not be in a position to beat off expected summer interest from their former manager in Safri.