New Bristol City manager Keith Millen today spoke of his burning ambition to make a name for himself in football management. Although stunned by Steve Coppell's decision to quit as manager after just two games in charge, Millen admitted he did not have to think twice about accepting the job on a permanent basis. And the man who served as assistant to previous boss Gary Johnson for nearly five years is adamant the time has now arrived for him to step out of the shadows and become a number one in his own right. "This is my big chance to prove I can be a manager," declared Millen, who has agreed an upgrade to his current three-year contract and will take charge of his first game as City's new boss at Doncaster Rovers tomorrow.
Bristol Evening Post
Keith Millen insists Bristol City are not a club in crisis ahead of his first game as permanent manager on Saturday. The npower Championship club face something of an upheaval following Steve Coppell's shock resignation and retirement from football management yesterday. Coppell quit after just 112 days citing a lack of passion for the job as the reason behind his decision. Injury-hit City have made a disappointing start to the season, losing their opening league fixture 3-0 at home to newly-promoted Millwall before going out of the Carling Cup at the hands of League Two side Southend on Tuesday night. Millen, who has had two spells as caretaker boss since taking up a coaching role at Ashton Gate in 2004, was immediately handed the reins on a full-time basis following Coppell's departure. He will begin his three-year contract with a trip to Doncaster and expects events this week to have little impact on his players. "I don't think there is a crisis or a lack on confidence in the squad," said Millen.
Sporting Life
Steve Coppell was hailed as the man to take Bristol City to the Premier League when he was unveiled as manager at an Ashton Gate press conference on April 26. Addressing a packed media conference in the Premier Suite prior to the commencement of his contract 15 days later, the former England and Manchester United star spoke of his burning ambition to manage at the top level once more. And his appointment as successor to Gary Johnson was universally welcomed by fans, who believed fervently that the 55-year-old Liverpudlian could do for City what he had done for Reading and Crystal Palace. Understandably, the red half of Bristol's football divide gave way to a wave of optimism that their club could return to English football's top table for the first time since 1980.
Bristol Evening Post
Why this bright, perceptive, football lifer ever thought that the football shop floor was an appropriate theatre for him when he enrolled simultaneously at Liverpool University and Tranmere Rovers in the age of platform shoes and kipper ties? His exit from Bristol City follows the equally abrupt departure from Aston Villa of that other footballing academic, Martin O'Neill. And, of course, it conformed to the rules of the enigmatic denouement established 14 years ago at Manchester City, where, after a vigil of 33 days, Coppell sought the forgiveness of chairman Francis Lee, muttering something about pressure, and was never seen at Maine Road again. That unexplained chapter is no less a mystery today. The blanks were filled in at the time by sundry low life rumour-mongers seeking to nail Coppell with one social stigma or another.
Daily Telegraph
Steve Coppell stunned Bristol City by walking out yesterday just 100 days after taking the job. It means his football management career is over at the age of just 55 after he admitted he'd simply lost the enthusiasm and drive to be a boss. Coppell has never properly explained his exit from Manchester City in 1996 when he resigned after an even shorter reign of only 33 days at Maine Road.
Daily Star
Steve Coppell stunned football yesterday when he resigned as Bristol City boss after just two matches in charge. He also announced his retirement from football management altogether after 26 years.
Daily Express
Steve Coppell walked out of Bristol City yesterday after losing his passion for the job. Following just 112 days at Ashton Gate, the former England international announced his retirement from the game. The stunning announcement came less than one week into the new campaign as the famously secretive ex-Manchester United winger decided that he could carry on no longer.
Daily Mail
"I won't be rushed into anything," said Steve Coppell back in June. Yesterday he walked out of his job at Bristol City after a tenure that lasted two games and 112 days - or rather six days of the season. It was nearly four times as long as he had remained in situ at Manchester City, but still represents a remarkably abrupt end to a management career that began 26 years ago.
Independent
Bristol City's new boss Keith Millen will be without last season's leading scorer Nicky Maynard for between three and four months. The striker underwent surgery on a knee injury on Wednesday and Millen was told yesterday that the 23-year-old faces an extended spell on the sidelines. City had already expected to be without the striker for at least a month after the injury failed to respond to treatment. Meanwhile, City have signed Irish youngsters Jimmy Keohane and Patrick Hoban.
Bristol Evening Post
Nicky Maynard faces up to four months on the sidelines after the Bristol City striker underwent a knee operation. The Championship club were initially optimistic that last season's leading goalscorer would be back from the injury within two months. However, after having surgery on Wednesday, new Robins boss Keith Millen has confirmed the severity of Maynard's injury.
Sky Sports
Much has been made of the injuries which have left Bristol City short of firepower at the start of the season. Certainly, last season's top scorer Nicky Maynard and regular strike partner Danny Haynes have been sorely missed, while the torn hamstring suffered by Sam Vokes 13 minutes into his debut was as cruel as it was unexpected. Yet veteran defender Jamie McAllister believes the chief reasons for City's disappointing start are to be found at the other end. The defensive frailties which surfaced in games against Millwall and Southend United contributed heavily to defeats in the npower Championship and Carling Cup.
Bristol Evening Post
