Don Hutchison: Coventry City boss Frank Lampard won’t follow Rob Edwards’ lead

Former Sheffield United, Sunderland and Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison believes Frank Lampard is fully committed to Coventry City and will not be tempted by potential Premier League job offers, even from struggling sides.

Lampard has led the Sky Blues to the top of the Championship table with an impressive attacking brand of football.

Ephron Mason-Clark’s spectacular bicycle kick sealed victory over fellow promotion contenders Stoke City at the weekend, maintaining Coventry’s five-point cushion at the summit.

Elsewhere, promotion contenders Middlesbrough were dealt a blow when manager Rob Edwards stepped down to pursue talks with Premier League strugglers Wolves.

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Momentum

His departure was confirmed on Wednesday, leaving Boro without a manager despite battling to a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City.

Hutchison, however, insists Coventry’s momentum under Lampard will not be affected by the upheaval elsewhere in the promotion race.

Speaking exclusively to www.sportscasting.com, he said: “I actually feel really uncomfortable about Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves – 40 odd days, 50 odd days after saying he’s happy, he moves.

“I don’t think it’s a good look from Rob Edwards, to be honest.

“I know he can lean on the fact that he’s an ex-player, but I mean, who’s got more chance of being in the Premier League next season, Boro or Wolves?

“Wolves are going to go down. It doesn’t matter if Edwards is in charge or not. They’re not staying up, so the move, I think, is really uncomfortable.

“I still think Frank will just look at his own team. The average, I think, is three goals a game. Their goal difference is plus 30.

“It’s incredible, so they are favourites to go up regardless of Rob Edwards.”

Appreciate

Hutchison went as far as to dismiss any suggestion that Lampard could walk away from Coventry if a Premier League club came calling.

“No, absolutely not,” the 54-year-old insisted. “I don’t see it – I just don’t see it.

“I think Frank will appreciate the job that he’s doing. The job, the chance, the players that he’s got, a crop of young players to work with, they’re all learning, they’re all taking on board what Frank wants.

“They’re playing good football, scoring goals, they’re sitting top of the league. There is no reason for Frank to leave Coventry.

“Because if you think of who’s going to come in for him, it’s probably not going to be one of the top 10 teams in the Premier League.

“Would you leave Coventry to go to any of the bottom four or five? I don’t see it whatsoever. I think Frank will be happy where he’s at – I think he’ll stay.”

READ MORE: Don Hutchison believes Michael Carrick “would be a good fit again” for Middlesbrough