Mark Robins takes charge at struggling Coventry

Mark Robins (GETTY IMAGES)

Struggling Coventry have confirmed the appointment of Mark Robins as the club's new manager as they look to turn around their early-season woes.

Robins, 42, enjoyed a successful two-year spell in charge of Rotherham between 2007 and 2009 before taking the reins at Barnsley, a position he also performed strongly in until May last year when differences with the Oakwell board forced him to resign.

But the former Manchester United, Norwich and Leicester striker is certain to have his work cut out with Coventry who, aside from their ongoing financial concerns off the pitch, are struggling to adapt to life in npower League One following relegation last season.

The Sky Blues, competing in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1964, are still awaiting their first league win of the campaign and went down to a fourth successive defeat last night, losing 4-1 at Shrewsbury.

Robins, who has penned a three-year deal, told the club's official website: "This is a great opportunity. Coventry is a club with great tradition and, although we find ourselves in League One, the squad that has been assembled is better than the results so far have shown.

"I am relishing the opportunity to turn things around and bring better times for the Sky Blues supporters. There is a lot to be done and I will get straight to work with the players and backroom staff."

Assistant manager Richard Shaw, aided by Lee Carsley, has been holding the fort in a caretaker capacity for the past three-and-a-half weeks since Andy Thorn was given his marching orders.

But the joy of an opening Capital One Cup win over midlands neighbours Birmingham soon disappeared and Coventry currently find themselves jointly propping up the League One table.

City's hierarchy announced 10 days ago they had narrowed their search to a nine-man shortlist, with a series of interviews subsequently understood to have further whittled that list of names down to Shaw, Robins and former Blackburn, MK Dons and Notts County boss Paul Ince.

But it is Robins who has come out on top and, after a 16-month hiatus from management, he will now get back to work as he looks to put Coventry back on the right path.

Meanwhile, Shaw and Carsley have returned to their roles as assistant manager and first-team coach respectively.

PA