Two former Rangers managers and ex-Celtic gaffer amongst contenders for vacant EFL Championship boss role

Former Rangers bosses Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale are two of the early contenders for the Coventry City job. Meanwhile, ex-Celtic manager Tony Mowbray is also in the frame.

The Sky Blues are in the hunt for a new manager after deciding to sack Mark Robins. They will now be weighing up their options as they decide who to bring in next.

As per the bookmakers, Gerrard is 8/1, Beale is 20/1 and Mowbray is 25/1. Frank Lampard is the favourite at 2/1 and is followed by Lee Carsley at 5/2, Ruben Selles at 3/1, Des Buckingham at 3/1, Ryan Lowe at 7/2 and Steven Schumacher at 7/2.

Alex Neil, who has been at Hamilton Academical in the past, is an outsider at 40/1. Meanwhile, Neil Warnock is 50/1 following his spell at Aberdeen last season.

In an official club statement, Coventry have announced Robins’ exit with a heavy heart: “The Club is well aware that this is a difficult moment after over seven very successful years at the helm and this decision is not taken lightly.

“The performance of the team over an extended period however have just not been good enough and as such the board of the Club has decided to make an immediate change in leadership. The Club will take its time to appoint a successor to Mark, although the position will be that of Head Coach working within the new structure set up by the Club over the last two years.

“The club will shortly appoint an ‘Interim Head Coach’ who will take charge of the team against Sunderland on Saturday. The Club will also be organising a “Fans Forum” next week where the Chairman of the club will answer any and all questions on this subjectand other affairs/concerns. The details of this will follow in due course.

“Mark’s achievements at the Sky Blues, often against a backdrop of uncertainty and financial restrictions, will see him remembered and lauded as one of the Club’s greatest ever managers, who was able to galvanise players, staff, fans and the Club as a whole to incredible feats. We all wish Mark the best of luck for the future.”

Gerrard managed Rangers from 2018 to 2021 and is currently working in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq. He guided the Gers to the Scottish Premiership title during his days in Glasgow.

Beale was brought to Ibrox back in 2022 after catching the eye at QPR. He had previously been the number two under Gerrard before eventually returning back as the number one. However, his spell in the dugout didn’t work out in the end and he was sacked and replaced by Philippe Clement.

As for Mowbray, he spent four years as a player at Celtic during his playing days. They appointed him back in 2009 and he has also had managerial spells at Hibs, West Brom, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers.