Oliver Dovin’s imminent arrival at Coventry City poses a big question for the goalkeeper

Coventry City appear to have signed a new goalkeeper in rising Swedish international Oliver Dovin, who is expected to be unveiled by the club soon, be it today, at the weekend or early next week. But what does this mean for the existing pairing of Brad Collins and Ben Wilson?

The Sky Blues had three goalkeepers last season, with Simon Moore opting for his third and final year at the CBS Arena, albeit virtually redundant in terms of playing time, not having played a single game. In fact, the experienced stopper appeared on the team sheet on just two occasions as an unused substitute throughout the entire 2023/24 campaign, standing by to provide emergency support in the EFL Cup defeat at AFC Wimbledon and again in the third round FA Cup. victory over Oxford United.

That’s not to say his time has been entirely wasted, with the 34-year-old a standout professional on the training ground, pushing Collins and Wilson every day at Ryton. But Mark Robins certainly won’t go with three seniors again this time, especially considering he has two talented developing boys in Cian Tyler and Luke Bell.

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Tyler should be ahead of Bell, but is currently recovering from a long-term injury. Bell, an Academy graduate, meanwhile, signed a new contract extension in June.

Although City are on relatively sound financial footing these days, they aren’t exactly awash in cash and so paying the wages of three senior custodians doesn’t really make sense. There’s the added potential problem that anyone who slips to third choice can be very frustrated and unhappy, which is never a good situation in any dressing room.

Injuries have been fairly rare for goalkeepers in recent years and, should the worst come to worst, and the Robins found themselves struggling with more than one sidelined at the same time, they could always get an emergency loan.

So the obvious conclusion is that with Dovin on the way, something has to give. The question is, who makes room?

It is clear that Wilson – the star of the 2022/23 play-off final season – was disappointed to lose his place to Collins last year and then limited in terms of playing time, playing just 18 games of the Championship and four in the FA Cup for the remainder of the campaign. And all indications were that the 31-year-old, with 12 months left on his contract, was on the move this summer.

Collins, meanwhile, was brought in from Barnsley last year, partly on the recommendation of Adi Viveash – the coach worked with the 27-year-old during his time at Chelsea. But with Robins’ former assistant no longer at the club, one wonders if that changes the dynamic.

If City are looking for a fee, they would likely get more for Collins, the younger goalkeeper of the two with 24 months left on his contract, rather than Wilson, who will be a free agent next summer. In terms of quality, there is not much to choose between them and Robins has always maintained that in Wilson and Collins he has two first-team goalkeepers on equal footing rather than a No.1 and understudy, although he felt that Wilson slipped into it. backup role.

Dovin, meanwhile, is regarded as the best goalkeeper in the Swedish top-flight, where he has been Hammarby’s first choice for the past two years, so he clearly won’t be coming to Coventry to be number two. The No.1 jersey, vacated by Moore, is up for grabs and expected to be taken.

That doesn’t mean he won’t have to earn his spot, and he could find himself in the same situation as Collins at the start of last season, when Wilson opened the campaign as the man in possession of the gloves and had to wait. his time and waiting for his chance. There may be some litter in period, adjustment time to a new league and environment.

With all due respect to those who have played in the position, the club has been crying out for an outstanding goalkeeper since Keiren Westwood packed up for Sunderland some 13 years ago. And in Oliver Dovin, fans will be hoping City have found that man.

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