Lifelong Coventry supporter and BBC CWR sports editor Rob Gurney has seen pretty much it all in his time covering and following the club.
He says Robin’s departure has once again illustrated the contrasting emotions that are often present between a fan and a journalist.
“Am I devastated? Absolutely. Am I surprised? Not in the least,” he said.
“football does not respect the history or reputation of a manager, but you could argue that Mark Robins was a special case.
“Yes, he left once, under a cloud. But, since his return in March 2017, he has brought the club back from the abyss.
“Winning the EFL Trophy just weeks after his return instantly endeared him to Sky Blues fans again.
“An immediate return from League Two, after another memorable trip to Wembley, further cemented that relationship.
“Then we saw the League One title secured during Covid, we were one missed penalty away from the Premier League and, most heartbreaking of all, a nail in the finger ended the biggest FA Cup comeback.
“Championship form dipped, understandably, after the physical and mental strain of that semi-final.”
Gurney added that the timing of that hangover was unfortunate, given the club’s pronounced public relations strategy heading into this season.
“Then a very aggressive ‘Think Big, Aim High’ summer marketing campaign fueled expectations of a promotion push, but a slow start, for the third season in a row, sealed Robins’ fate.
“My sense is that the back-to-back wins over Luton and Middlesbrough were a major setback for owner and chairman Doug King, particularly the fans’ response to Robins personally, at the 2-0 defeat in the first of those.
“His and his players’ management of the game has been scrutinized in recent weeks, although he seemed to have bought himself a little more time.
“Now that King has made the decision to dispense with the man many fans consider the modern-day Jimmy Hill, the next one could define the city’s destiny for years to come.”
