"Unfinished business" - Coventry City: Mark Robins to Burnley speculation played down | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Burnley are preparing for life back in the Championship after their relegation from the Premier League.

The Clarets were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Championship title with an impressive 101 points last season, and many had expected them to seamlessly make the step up to the top flight, but it did not work out that way.

Having won just five games all season, Burnley were relegated following their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and they will finish a disappointing campaign at home to Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Given the success he enjoyed in the Championship in 2022/23, it seemed likely that Kompany would remain in charge at Burnley, but according to Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, the Clarets are weighing up whether to make a managerial change, and the Belgian is also said to be considering his future.

Kompany is reportedly on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, who could both lose their respective managers this summer and if he departs, Coventry City manager Mark Robins is thought to be under consideration as a potential replacement, along with Birmingham City coach Ashley Cole.

Robins has done an outstanding job since returning for a second spell at the CBS Arena in March 2017, leading the Sky Blues from League Two to the brink of the Premier League, and while his side missed out on the play-offs this season, they did reach the FA Cup semi-final.

Coventry City fan pundit reacts to Mark Robins to Burnley rumours

FLW's Coventry City fan pundit Neil Littlewood is not concerned by reports of Burnley's interest in Robins, and he believes Manchester United are the only club that could tempt him to leave the Sky Blues.

"I think there's more chance of me getting the Burnley job than Mark Robins," Neil said.

"Robins has got a job for life here, he knows that, he lives quite locally.

"He's been approached by clubs like Sunderland, but I think there's only one club he'd leave for and that is Man United, which to be fair, any manager in the world would.

"He said when he came back that he had a mission and unfinished business, and everything is now about getting to the Premier League. "We got within a penalty kick away from it last season, and the season just gone we got to an FA Cup final. "Burnley have got a couple of quid, they've just been a Premier League side so they've got a decent squad. "I don't know what he'd get out of going there, I think they'll stick with Kompany personally and I think they should as well, the football they played in the Championship the year they won it was brilliant. "I can't see it happening personally, but they can always try.

"I think he could be a good fit for them, but I genuinely can't see it happening."

Coventry City should not be worried by Mark Robins speculation

It is difficult to disagree with Neil that Robins is unlikely to have his head turned by Burnley.

Burnley will be strong in the Championship next season, but Coventry also have an excellent squad, and with the right additions this summer, the Sky Blues could be up there challenging alongside the Clarets next season.

Robins is under contract at the CBS Arena until 2027, and given his connection to the club, it is hard to see him leaving Coventry for anything other than a Premier League job.

He turned down Sunderland in 2019, signing a new deal after their reported advances, and it would be a shock to see him move on this time either.

It would be a surprise if Kompany was to depart Burnley this summer, but even if the Belgian does move on, Robins will not be tempted to make the switch to Turf Moor.