Mark Robins calls in SAS as Stoke boss seeks psychological edge ahead of Coventry City return
Coventry City opposition news from CoventryLive as we take a look at what former Sky Blues boss Mark Robins has been doing as he prepares for first return to the CBS Arena
Mark Robins called in the SAS this week as the former Coventry City boss attempts to inspire his inherited Stoke squad to better results.
The legendary Sky Blues boss faces his first return to the CBS Arena on Saturday, and has been trying to give his Potters’ players a psychological edge after a difficult bedding in period as manager at the bet365 Stadium.
And while in no way comparing the challenges of a Championship footballer to the life and death missions of special forces operations in Bosnia or Iraq, there is still a fear factor that he wants his players to get over in order to play with positivity in difficult moments.
We had this talk from the SAS and a Stoke City supporter (in Melvyn Downes) on Thursday,” said Robins, speaking to our sister title the Stoke Sentinel
“He was good. Listening to different people from different walks of life and experiences is always interesting. His story is a really interesting one and he comes from a tough environment – it was a tough environment wherever he went in his career – and he’s still here to tell the tale.
“It’s inspiring to listen to people who have had those experiences in life and how they’ve dealt with them. What soldiers go through and what the SAS go through as trained specialists has an impact on you for the rest of your life as well. He was inspiring to listen to.”
