Frank Lampard has been linked with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Chelsea after leading Coventry to the Premier League, with talks planned with Sky Blues owner Doug King.
Frank Lampard’s managerial stock is at an all-time high (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The sky blue confetti may have just been dusted off, but the rumors about Frank Lampard’s future have already begun. Crystal Palace? Fulham? Will he return to Chelsea?
Lampard’s stock as a manager has soared after leading Coventry City to the Championship title and he deserves praise. The Chelsea legend was a modest leader during the Sky Blues’ return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.
There was some skepticism as he was expected to succeed Coventry’s much-loved Mark Robins, but his consistent growth has won over the fan base. They deserve to be champions. But ahead of Saturday’s final game of the season against Watford, thoughts are already turning to what happens next.
When Lampard was inevitably asked about his job at Chelsea following Liam Rosenior’s sacking, he said: “I’m the manager of Coventry. I’m enjoying the moment of promotion and winning the title, that’s all.”
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Unfortunately, the fun doesn’t last long. Sooner or later, Lampard’s thoughts will turn to how he can keep Coventry in the Premier League. He has climbed an uphill climb to the top and wants to ensure he has the resources to avoid repeating the same pattern, starting with the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Karl Rushworth.
Lampard has just over 12 months left on his current contract. Coventry owner Doug King hopes to agree new terms. However, the 47-year-old will only do so if he is given guarantees regarding his transfer plans. “We have to be ambitious. We know what the Premier League is and it’s going to be a challenge,” Lampard recently stressed.
Everything he has said suggests that Lampard is ready to battle next season. And it will be an almighty battle. Last season, the three teams that were relegated were Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester, three teams that had made it out of the Championship the season before – while Burnley were relegated again this season, forever moving between the two divisions.
Frank Lampard’s young family is still based in London (Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
The odds against Coventry next season will be even better. But Lampard should absolutely stay, try out and try to recreate Sunderland’s success, despite the lure of returning to London, where he still lives with his young family.
He knows how fickle the game of management can be, having struggled mightily in his previous two roles at Everton and Chelsea. The timing and opportunity have to be right. And a move to his beloved Chelsea’s rivals Fulham just doesn’t seem right.
Doug King is desperate to keep Frank Lampard next season (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace would be a better fit, but the magnitude of the task facing the player who replaces Oliver Glasner this summer should not be underestimated, given the long term nature of their squad and the possibility that star players could be poached in other transfer windows.
“You can see how emotionally connected[Lampard]is to the city. You can see what promotion and winning the title means to him. I think he’s found his happy place now,” King recently told BBC CWR. Of course he would say that, given how desperate he is to keep his manager. But Lampard shouldn’t take those connections or the good times for granted.
It was worth the drive up and down the highway. Now he should have a gun and stay put.
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