What Mark Robins had to say about Coventry City’s plans and ambitions for the transfer window

With just two weeks until Coventry City’s players report for pre-season training, fans are still eagerly awaiting – some anxiously – news of more summer signings to add to the two already over the line.

Powerful left-back Ephron Mason-Clark was secured in January from Peterborough United, while 20-year-old right winger Raphael Borges Rodrigues became the Sky Blues’ first official signing of the close season, joining on a deal four years for an undisclosed deal. fee from Macarthur FC in Australia.

Reports in Serbia claim New Zealand international midfielder Marko Stamenic is joining from Red Star Belgrade, although City are refusing to confirm or deny interest in the 22-year-old. However, City are not the only ones to have completed just a handful of deals at this stage of the proceedings, with the transfer window only officially opening last Friday (June 14). And they’ve actually done more than most of their Championship rivals.

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With that in mind, CoventryLive took a look back at what Mark Robins had to say regarding his hopes, plans and ambitions for what he said will be a summer of “not insignificant” business.

Exciting times ahead

Speaking at the end of the season, I asked the City boss if there was any excitement over the summer, especially given how well the new players developed last summer to provide positive foundations ahead of another opportunity to add and to consolidate.

“One hundred percent there is (excitement),” he said. “Some of the football we’ve played this season has been as good as anything we’ve seen. We know we must add. Ephron Mason-Clark is a player coming through the door for the preseason and we still have some work to do.”

Robins said he had meetings in the week immediately following the final game of the season when he and his recruiting team were still in the ‘planning’ stage and revealed: ‘The execution stage will come later. But we’ll see what happens because we’ve got to start switching things up as soon as possible to try and get a really good team look going into pre-season.

He added: “And the pre-season looks really good and quite challenging to be honest with you and that’s exciting for people as well when it’s revealed. It’s exciting and what we want to try to do.”

Timing and recruiting complexities explained

Asked about the timing of the club’s recruitment and whether he was hoping to bring in players a bit earlier this summer than he managed to do last year, he explained: “We tried last year but it’s the market, the agents and the players. , individuals and their whereabouts. If we buy, what about the sales club? They have to be willing sellers, so it’s a lot of things and very complicated, so I’m not going to put anybody under any pressure for that, but yes, we need them as quickly as we can and if we can get them in for the first day of pre- season and I’m sure we’ll get some for then, but I don’t think it’ll be all the ones we want to do.

“I don’t think we’ll have every position covered by then, and maybe even the start of the season like it was this year, so it is what it is. We’re just at a better starting point now. But we’ll look forward to that after we recharge.”

The numbers

Asked if he had any idea about the numbers, he was tight-lipped and simply replied, “Yes.”

Outgoing business and building for the future

As for whether any contract players are expected to go, he was quite blunt and clear about the club’s position, insisting: “We’re in a strong position from that perspective, so if anyone were to go, it would be need record offers. We don’t want to sell anyone, that’s the position. We want to keep everyone together and build.”

Ben Sheaf is currently one of the club’s most sold assets, with the key midfielder already linked with interest from other clubs. But the manager remains firm in his views that he wants to build with continuity in mind.

“I’m sick of people coming in and… If people want to come in and use us as a stepping stone, then nah… I’m looking for people who, like Kels (Liam Kelly), and I said it in dressing room, who came in and said ‘this is my home, this is what I do and I’m going to help this club get to where it wants to go.

“And though he never meant to stay for seven years, because I don’t think he ever thought of it in his wildest dreams, just like I never did. But ultimately, there’s a player out there who’s taken over mind, body and soul, and that’s what I’m looking for, because that’s how you’re going to take it to the next level; not because people come and try to get everything they can and get away at the first opportunity. It’s not ideal and you can’t build something like that.

“I think you have to look at it because if you’re a trading club, which every club has to be, then it has to be done methodically and in a way that’s sustainable and helps you become sustainable. And that’s the ultimate goal of any football club, I suppose. And while there are things you want to have tight control over, there are human elements to consider. But ultimately we want to go for it, really go for it and build something that everyone is really proud of. And every transfer window gives you a chance.”

He added: “I’m excited about it and excited about the players we’ve already added. I think Victor Torp was great and I got it early and I tasted it because it was one for the summer. Obviously he found out how hard it is to adjust to the frequency and intensity and that’s something every player has to get used to from abroad.

“But even players like Bobby Thomas and Kitch, they played a long season for Barnsley last season and that has had an impact on them as well and the level has changed so there is a lot to go through. But let’s build and see where we can go.”

Are you getting flustered by the city’s lack of business so far, or are you completely cool and confident in the process? Tell us what you think in the comments section HERE.