West Ham legend 'closing in' on role as manager of QPR and Millwall rivals

QPR and Millwall rivals Coventry City are 'closing in' on appointing a very familiar face in the dugout as the successor to the recently sacked Mark Robins in Chelsea and West Ham legend Frank Lampard.

The former midfielder has been linked with the vacant Championship role over the past week and The Mirror now claim that the deal is nearing finalisation with Lampard set to return to the second tier for the first time since managing Derby County in 2019. Lampard has not worked as a manager since his brief interim role at Chelsea in 2023.

Coventry City ‘closing in’ on appointing West Ham legend

The Sky Blues parted ways with Mark Robins on Thursday. The 54-year-old had been in charge of the club since 2017 and helped the outfit to promotion into League One in 2018 and then into the Championship in 2020.

Coventry City sat 17th in the Championship after 14 fixtures this term at the time that Robins left his post. The club picked up a good point in a 2-2 draw with league leaders Sunderland on Saturday and a permanent appointment is set to be confirmed over the international break.

Lampard had already been touted a strong candidate for the job as he looks to salvage a reputation marred by recent struggles with Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League. The ex England international has been linked with several jobs in recent months, including roles at Burnley and AS Roma.

Frank Lampard ‘ready’ to return to management

Speaking about a return to management this summer, Lampard had said: "Some opportunities have come my way, they didn't feel right for the time. So I've kind of taken that decision a bit at times. But now I feel ready so we will see what opportunities come up. I'm certainly ready to work. I love doing what I do, so we will see."

Coventry City are six points and seven places ahead of Marti Cifuentes' struggling R's side. The two teams met at Lofts Road last month and played out a 1-1 draw with youngster Kieran Morgan scoring his first goal for the London outfit.

Millwall are yet to meet Coventry City this season but will welcome the club to The Den at the start of December. Neil Harris' side are flying high in the Championship after an impressive run of form and sit eighth in the division.