Coventry City manager, Tony Mowbray will this week sit down with the clubs owner Joy Seppala to discuss the future of the struggling League 1 club with the clear message that if things don’t drastically change in the summer, the popular boss will not be sticking around.
In an interview with the Coventry Telegraph, Mowbray stated:
“If they’re happy to plod along with the same scenario as it has got going at the moment then I’m probably not the right man because I like structure, I like organisation and I like processes behind the scenes.”
Since joining Coventry City in March, Mowbray has publically bemoaned the lack of scouting system in place at the club and has placed great emphasis on the club to improve its recruiting policy before he will contemplate signing a more permanent deal, with his short term contract with Coventry ending following their 2-1 victory over relegated Crawley Town on Sunday.
When asked whether he would be willing to stick around if his demands were not met by the club, Mowbray said:
“Not at the moment, no. We’re at the bottom end of the league and could have got relegated on the last day of the season so something’s hugely wrong and it needs to change.
“I can see what’s wrong but it’s whether the owners want to make the changes to make this club better and strong to move forward.”
“So I won’t be staying on if things don’t change.”
Following Steven Pressley’s departure from Coventry City at the beginning of March, Mowbray managed to drag City out of the relegation places, eventually securing survival on Sunday ending 5 points clear of the drop in 17th place.
Coventry have won 5 of the 13 games under the Mowbray’s guidance which along the way included a 6 game unbeaten run on the road and since his arrival. The experienced manager has proved instantly popular with the Coventry supporters for his frank and honest assessment of what needs to be done at the beleaguered club.
In an interview with BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry City Chief Executive Steve Waggott told the station this morning that in order for the club to end the decade of decline at the club, Mowbray must be signed up on a longer term deal:
“His main job was survival and he’s done that, and his management of players has been outstanding.”
“We’ve had long discussions with Tony Mowbray over a range of things, and he’s very focused in what he wants.”
Further discussions to take place this week will see Mowbray once more seeking assurances over improvements at the club regarding recruitment, investment and a genuine sign of ambition from the clubs owners to push Coventry City from relegation fodder to promotion hopefuls in League 1 next season.
Mowbray’s ultimate decision following these talks of whether to continue what he has started at Coventry City or to move on to pastures new will prove to be a clear indication to Coventry’s supporters regarding the ambition of the owners of Coventry City Football Club. Are they willing to move the club forward or to continue to preside over the cycle of decline that saw the club just about maintaining their League 1 status on Sunday.
