Interim boss Carr says Robins sacking was 'shock'

Rhys Carr was appointed as first-team coach in the summer

Coventry City interim boss Rhys Carr says being asked to take charge following the sacking of Mark Robins came as an "absolute shock".

Robins was the English Football League's longest serving manager, having returned to Coventry for a second spell in March 2017 leading the Sky Blues from League Two into the Championship.

But they have won only four out of 14 league games this season and his departure followed Wednesday's 2-1 home defeat by Derby County.

"It's been a brilliant opportunity to work with him, but this situation has happened now, I've been asked to lead the team and I'll do my best with that for as long as I'm needed to do so," Carr told BBC CWR.

He and former City midfielder George Boateng joined Robins as first-team coaches in the summer after his long-term number two Adi Viveash left the club.

Carr was previously a development coach at Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers and Wolves, worked as an assistant coach with the Republic of Ireland women's team and was head of sports science at Bristol City.

His first task as interim boss is to lead the Sky Blues against Championship leaders Sunderland at the Stadium Of Light on Saturday.

"I want to pay my respects to Mark, who's been an incredible manager for this football club. It's an absolute shock but there's another game tomorrow - and a big game - so that's where our full focus has to go on to," he said.

"Coming to the club over the summer, one of the first things that blew me away was the people are fantastic. There's a lot of people who really care about the football club.

"I've been asked to take this game and I'll do that to the best of my ability. That's how all the guys are approaching it, coaching staff, guys in the kitchen, the analysts, sports science, a lot of people want this club to do well.

"It's not about me. I've been asked to do a job for Coventry City going into the game and we'll go day by day after that."

Robins' exit prompted criticism from a number of supporters and club alumni, but although they are 17th in the table, they are only above the relegation places on goal difference.

Asked whether the players wanted to win at Sunderland for their former boss, Carr replied: "In any human dynamic like that, there's so many different people, so many different personalities, certainly they were in shock initially but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"We all want to do right by Coventry City Football Club which is ultimately why we're all here.

"They're (Sunderland) a good team, they're top of the league but we've got good players as well so we're going to go there full of belief, confident, and have a go at the game.

"We want to get a result for ourselves, we want to get a result for the football club and whatever drives individuals to be motivated to perform, that's fine."