It would appear the long search to find a new manager for Coventry City has ended. The search began a fortnight ago when the previous manager Chris Coleman was sacked.
Coventry City chairman Ray Ranson said in a statement last night, “Our search for a new manager gathered pace yesterday and we hope to make an announcement today.”
It is widely believed the new manager will be Aidy Boothroyd who was previously in charge of League one outfit Colchester United.
It had already been confirmed that Coventry City and Colchester United had agreed a compensation package for the 39 year old Yorkshire man after City were given permission by The U's to speak to their manager.
Boothroyd met with Mr Ranson yesterday and is thought to be returning to The Ricoh sometime today to sign a three year deal.
Boothroyd had an undistinguished career as a footballer. He p[played at full back at the likes of Huddersfield Town, Bristol Rovers, Mansfield Town, Hearts and Peterborough.
His career was cut short at the age of 26, by injury at Peterborough. He went into coaching being employed as coach to the youth ans reserve teams at The Posh before spending two years as Norwich youth team coach. He held a similar role at West Bromwich Albion until he was offered the position of first team coach at Leeds United in 2004.
He left Leeds to become manager of Watford near the end of the 2004 season with the brief to avoid relegation, which he achieved. In his first full season at Watford, he won a place in the top six and in the play off final, beat Leeds 3-0 to gain promotion to The Premiership for the 2006/7 season. Watford reached the semi finals of the FA cup, but finished the season in 29th place and were relegated back to The Championship.
After a good start to their first year back in The Championship, their form dwindled, but they still finished in the top six but missed out to Hull in the play offs. By 2008 the situation at Watford had changed and Boothroyd left the club by mutual consent and joined Colchester United as their manager where he had an undistinguished time.
As a tactician he does favour the long ball philosophy despised by many Coventry City fans, but he has promised Mr Ranson he will provide exciting attacking and aggressive football. He has been promised funds to strengthen the squad, but how much money will be available is not known.