iNTERESTED iN vAcANcy BUT fOcUSED ON cUP TiE
RICHARD Shaw confirmed today that he is interested in becoming Coventry City's full-time boss.
But, speaking for the first time since he was installed as the Sky Blues' caretaker manager, he insisted that he is fully focused on tonight's Capital One Cup tie against Birmingham City.
“This is a club that is very dear to me and always has been,“ said the man who chalked up more than 350 appearances during his 11-year stint at the club and returned to the Ricoh Arena as Andy Thorn's assistant two months ago.
“I would be stupid to say I wasn't interested in the job but genuinely my focus is on doing well to help the club in the next few games.
“I am concentrating very much on helping it through what has happened and obviously want to be successful.“
Shaw and Lee Carsley are in charge of the Sky Blues after Thorn was sacked on Sunday just four unbeaten games into the new campaign.
They conducted a series of meetings with the staff yesterday and Shaw confirmed: “We got straight into training today.
“We're working on general things because it's not been an easy 72 hours for the players or anybody else at the club.
“If I'm being honest it would have been nice to have a free week to work on certain things but it's always the same at this stage. It's obviously a busy time of the season with games midweek and weekends but the players, I have to say, responded extremely well.“
Shaw confirmed that there are no fresh injuries to report after Saturday's 2-2 draw against Bury ­ the match that prompted the Sky Blues board to ditch Thorn ­ although midfielder John Fleck and full-back Jordan Clark will again be missing for tonight's derby clash against the Blues. “We haven't tried to second guess the Birmingham team because they lost to Watford and they might make changes,“ said Shaw. “We've been concentrating on what we do.
“There are several players in the team who missed large parts of pre-season ­ Steve Jennings, Adam Barton and Stephen Elliott ­ and we are mindful of what has happened late in matches.
“And it doesn't matter whether it's a league game or a cup game, it's a competi tion we want to do well in.“
Chief executive Tim Fisher said yesterday that Shaw and Carsley will be in charge while the search for a new manager goes on.
Former Forest and Derby boss Billy Davies is the early fans' favourite to succeed Thorn full-time although Harry Redknapp and Stuart Pearce are among the more fanciful suggestions.
One realistic candidate who seems to fit the bill as an available, experienced boss is Kevin Blackwell.
The 53-year-old has been out of work for two years after being sacked by Leeds, Luton and Sheffield United, having led the two Yorkshire clubs to the Championship play-off final.
Ironically enough, he was at the Rioch on Saturday working as a radio pundit hours before Thorn was axed.
Eric Black would certainly be a highly popular choice.
Despite making an instant impact after Gary McAllister's departure for family reasons, he was ditched by Mike McGinity in 2004 to make room for Peter Reid. Having been Steve Bruce's assistant at Birmingham and Sunderland he is currently Steve Kean's No.2 at Blackburn Rovers but is still based in Leamington.
RICHARD Shaw confirmed today that he is interested in becoming Coventry City's full-time boss.
But, speaking for the first time since he was installed as the Sky Blues' caretaker manager, he insisted that he is fully focused on tonight's Capital One Cup tie against Birmingham City.
“This is a club that is very dear to me and always has been,“ said the man who chalked up more than 350 appearances during his 11-year stint at the club and returned to the Ricoh Arena as Andy Thorn's assistant two months ago.
“I would be stupid to say I wasn't interested in the job but genuinely my focus is on doing well to help the club in the next few games.
“I am concentrating very much on helping it through what has happened and obviously want to be successful.“
Shaw and Lee Carsley are in charge of the Sky Blues after Thorn was sacked on Sunday just four unbeaten games into the new campaign.
They conducted a series of meetings with the staff yesterday and Shaw confirmed: “We got straight into training today.
“We're working on general things because it's not been an easy 72 hours for the players or anybody else at the club.
“If I'm being honest it would have been nice to have a free week to work on certain things but it's always the same at this stage. It's obviously a busy time of the season with games midweek and weekends but the players, I have to say, responded extremely well.“
Shaw confirmed that there are no fresh injuries to report after Saturday's 2-2 draw against Bury ­ the match that prompted the Sky Blues board to ditch Thorn ­ although midfielder John Fleck and full-back Jordan Clark will again be missing for tonight's derby clash against the Blues. “We haven't tried to second guess the Birmingham team because they lost to Watford and they might make changes,“ said Shaw. “We've been concentrating on what we do.
“There are several players in the team who missed large parts of pre-season ­ Steve Jennings, Adam Barton and Stephen Elliott ­ and we are mindful of what has happened late in matches.
“And it doesn't matter whether it's a league game or a cup game, it's a competi tion we want to do well in.“
Chief executive Tim Fisher said yesterday that Shaw and Carsley will be in charge while the search for a new manager goes on.
Former Forest and Derby boss Billy Davies is the early fans' favourite to succeed Thorn full-time although Harry Redknapp and Stuart Pearce are among the more fanciful suggestions.
One realistic candidate who seems to fit the bill as an available, experienced boss is Kevin Blackwell.
The 53-year-old has been out of work for two years after being sacked by Leeds, Luton and Sheffield United, having led the two Yorkshire clubs to the Championship play-off final.
Ironically enough, he was at the Rioch on Saturday working as a radio pundit hours before Thorn was axed.
Eric Black would certainly be a highly popular choice.
Despite making an instant impact after Gary McAllister's departure for family reasons, he was ditched by Mike McGinity in 2004 to make room for Peter Reid. Having been Steve Bruce's assistant at Birmingham and Sunderland he is currently Steve Kean's No.2 at Blackburn Rovers but is still based in Leamington.