COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Coventry City have sacked manager Andy Thorn after 16 months in permanent charge at the Ricoh Arena.



The cash-strapped Sky Blues have drawn their opening three games in League One following relegation last season.

"Last season there were off-the-field matters that affected team affairs," said Coventry chief executive Tim Fisher in a club statment.

"We felt it was right to give Andy the chance to put that right but do not feel that has happened."

Fisher added: "Of course, the fact that we have surrendered the lead in the first three league games has not helped but there are several other factors in this decision - not just three disappointing results.

"We would like to put on record our thanks to Andy for his work in current and previous roles at the club."

Thorn, 45, took charge of Coventry in April 2011 following a stint as caretaker boss when former manager Aidy Boothroyd left the club.

The Sky Blues started this season brightly with a 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the Capital One Cup.

But Thorn's side could only draw against Yeovil, Sheffield United and Bury.

On Saturday, the Sky Blues led at the break at home against the Shakers but let their two-goal advantage slip in the second half and were booed off at the final whistle.

Coventry finished second from bottom in the Championship last season and went down along with Portsmouth and Doncaster Rovers.

They are now in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1964.

Thorn, who was a member of Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup-winning side as a player, took over as caretaker boss in March 2011 and won three, drew three and lost two in temporary charge before being handed the job on a permanent basis.

But since then he has only won nine out of 51 league games.

Coventry are struggling financially and owe £600,000 in rent and bills to Ricoh Arena operators Arena Coventry Limited (ACL).

Former Sky Blues players, assistant manager Richard Shaw and first-team coach Lee Carsley, will take temporary charge.

Coventry City release official statement after sacking Andy Thorn

Here is Coventry City's official statement after sacking manager Andy Thorn today.

Coventry City have parted company with manager Andy Thorn.

Assistant manager Richard Shaw and first team coach Lee Carsley will take temporary charge of team affairs.

Chief executive Tim Fisher said: “We have not taken this decision lightly. We recognised that last season there were off-the-field matters that affected team affairs and felt it was right and proper to give Andy the chance to put that right over the course of the summer and the start of the season.

“We do not feel that has happened. Of course, the fact that we have surrendered the lead in the first three league games has not helped but there are several other factors in this decision – not just three disappointing results.

“Richard and Lee will take charge of first team affairs and we feel that will give us time to ensure we appoint a manager to help us mount a serious challenge for promotion.

“We would like to put on record our thanks to Andy for his work in current and previous roles at the club.”

Development director Steve Waggott added: “We have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to assemble a squad to support Andy that is capable of pushing for promotion this season.

“There is no doubting the ability in the squad – you saw that in the first half against Bury and in much of the second half against Sheffield United.

“It’s vital now that we all pull together as a club and ensure that we start to win matches in the next few weeks.”

Hunt begins for new Coventry City manager to replace sacked Andy Thorn

COVENTRY City are today looking for their 11th manager in 11 years after sacking Andy Thorn four matches into the new season.

Thorn’s assistants Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley – both former Sky Blues favourites – have been put in temporary charge of team affairs, starting with tomorrow night’s Capital One Cup derby against Birmingham City at the Ricoh Arena.

But chief executive Tim Fisher said that the club intend to take their time "to ensure we appoint a manager to help us mount a serious challenge for promotion".

Thorn, who was handed a new rolling one-year contract at the end of last season despite City’s relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1954, has no doubt that ambition will be achieved this term.

And although he refused to comment on his dismissal after 60 matches in charge that produced 13 wins, 20 draws and 27 defeats, he paid a warm tribute to the Sky Blues supporters.

Dennis Wise and Kevin Blackwell among Coventry City applicants



Dennis Wise and Kevin Blackwell are among a large number of applicants for Coventry City's vacant managerial post, reports BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.

The Sky Blues sacked manager Andy Thorn on Sunday following a disappointing start to the season, drawing all three of their opening matches.

The Coventry board have received a high volume of applications vying for the first managerial opening of the season.

Coventry have not yet set a timescale for finding a new manager.

Former Millwall, Swindon and Leeds United manager Wise, 45, finished his playing career with Coventry, scoring six times in a total of 13 league appearances in 2006.

However, he has been without a job since leaving his executive role at Newcastle United in 2009 following a disagreement with then-Magpies manager Kevin Keegan.

Meanwhile Blackwell, who also had a spell in charge of Leeds, left Sheffield United in 2010 by mutual consent and has been out of work since.