Coventry City are back in the Premier League and are looking to secure the Championship title against Portsmouth tonight
16:16, 21 Apr 2026Updated 16:32, 21 Apr 2026
Stoke City manager Mark Robins
Doug King has revealed Mark Robins sent him a message to congratulate Coventry City on their promotion to the Premier League.
The Sky Blues ended their 25-year absence from the top flight when they drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers on Friday night, a late Bobby Thomas equaliser sending 7,000 travelling supporters into raptures.
The triumph was the final step along a long road, most of which had been spent with Robins at the wheel, guiding City from League Two back up the football pyramid and within a penalty shoot-out of taking them into the Premier League himself.
However, King brought Robins’ seven-year tenure to an end in November 2024 and controversially replaced him with Frank Lampard. Both King and Robins have moved on and the Sky Blues owner revealed just how much.
“Only 18 months ago, as you will recall, there was the Mark Robbin’s departure and that tumult, the fallout of that was quite significant,” King told talkSPORT.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
“Mark has been great. He shot me a note and congratulated me, the city and the club for getting out, which is lovely for him, and he’s been very gracious.
“I think we always realise what he’s done for us, but it was only 18 months ago where everybody thought it was the most crazy decision ever made by a new owner, let’s put it like that.
“He’s done an amazing job, Frank, top man, worked really hard. I loved to see his emotion on Friday, that showed me how connected he was with us and I love that.”
King also explained how happy he is for the long-suffering Sky Blues fans: “I’m so delighted for them, you can feel it, it’s like the city is back together. I know the club and the stadium are back together, but the city is back together with optimism, excitement, hope what’s going to happen in the Premier League.
“We haven’t been there for a while They’re all doing their permutations and simulations now, for me that’s magnificent. They’ve got that to look forward to and they’ve got a few weeks now to celebrate because we’re not at the last gasp in a playoff or a final game to get in the playoffs.”
Coventry City are back in the Premier League
The Coventry Telegraph has produced a stunning special edition marking the achievements of Frank Lampard and his men.
And to celebrate, the Coventry Telegraph has produced this stunning 48-page special edition marking the achievements of Frank Lampard and his men.
Since relegation in 2001, the Sky Blues have gone through many well-documented lows, but a quarter of a century later, free-scoring City have earned promotion in emphatic style.
And our bumper special edition is the perfect souvenir to remember that fantastic achievement by.
We’ll have match reports, pics, and reaction from every kick of City’s journey back to English football’s promised land.
It’s all here… the avalanche of goals pre-Christmas that made promotion look nailed on, the brief wobble that followed, and the revival under Lampard to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Plus, Sky Blues writer Andy Turner will have pages and pages of in-depth analysis on the title-winning season, manager Lampard’s success, key players, and what lies ahead for the club in the top flight.
Club historian Jim Brown will also share his fact-filled take on promotion, while there will be pictures and reports from the Sky Blues’ joyful promotion celebrations.
Click here to buy
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Get more Coventry City news and analysis via our FB page
Every day, the CoventryLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Coventry City content.
Our dedicated reporter Andy Turner – who you can follow on X – follows the Sky Blues home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur – that’s why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you’ll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. You can also get all your favourite content from CoventryLive’s Sky Blues team on WhatsApp. Sign up f or breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club.