'Coventry players would listen to Lampard' - Davies

Former Derby defender Curtis Davies believes Frank Lampard would command the Coventry City players' respect if he becomes the club's new head coach.

Ex-England midfielder Lampard remains the favourite to replace Mark Robins, who was sacked earlier this month.

"I was his captain at Derby but then got injured quite early so I got to see Frank, I guess, from the outside looking in and standing beside him at times," Davies told the BBC Sport's 72+ EFL podcast.

"If he said something to players, usually they'd take it on board because of the level he had played at."

Lampard took Derby to the Championship play-offs in 2019 where they lost to Aston Villa in the final.

Sky Blues owner Doug King is planning a reorganisation of the club's management set-up with a sporting director to be appointed, which Davies believes would suit Lampard.

"I think being a head coach (rather than the manager) would be fine for Frank," he added.

"While he'd want the final say on what players are brought in he wouldn't be offended if they're going out recruiting players for the Championship because you're going to have a director of football, who probably knows more about the Championship than Frank currently does."

After relative success at Derby, Lampard suffered mixed fortunes in two subsequent managerial stints with Chelsea and one at Everton.

"When you carry a name like Frank Lampard you've always got that slight chance (of getting another job) so I don't think this would be his last chance but he wants to be that Championship manager pushing towards the Premier League," Davies added.

"I don't think he ever envisaged his career being in the lower leagues of the EFL so I think depending on how he does (if he gets the job) it's more about his motivation to continue doing it if it doesn't work out."