Steven Pressley sacked as Coventry City manager

Steven Pressley has been sacked by Coventry. Picture: PA

The Sky Blues lost a 2-0 lead against ten men at Sheffield United in the final ten minutes of Saturday’s match to draw 2-2 and fall into the bottom four of the league. It was their seventh game without a win.

Pressley joined the club from Falkirk in 2013 and was under contract until 2018.

Coventry chief executive Steve Waggott said: “This has been a very difficult decision from a personal and professional point of view, and we would like to place on record our thanks to Steven for his efforts over the last two years.

“But results over recent weeks and months, and our precarious position in the league table, means that a change of direction at first-team level is needed.

“Neil MacFarlane and Dave Hockaday have been placed in temporary charge.”

Coventry only won six of their last 28 games under Pressley, a run which has seen them drop into the relegation zone.

They are a point from the safety line with a game in hand and host MK Dons on Saturday. Wiggot added: “While clubs are sometimes labelled as being ‘trigger happy’ when it comes to letting managers go, that’s not the way I operate. But the performances and the results of the first team are always under scrutiny.

“So, while you always want to look long term, you have to take a view of the shorter term too and, with no league win at home since October, a slide into the bottom four in League One and what happened in the FA Cup, we came to the very difficult decision that it was time for a change.

“I know the question will be raised about the ‘backing’ he has had but our budget (money spent on players’ wages) is up there in the top six for this division”.

During Pressley’s reign, the club has had to contend with significant off-field troubles – having twice been docked ten points as a result of the club’s owners going into administration, and also enduring an entire season of playing home games at Northampton because of a dispute with the landlords at their own stadium.

They have also had to share the Ricoh Arena with rugby side London Wasps.

The weekend draw was Pressley’s 100th, and final, game in charge.