Reid confirmed as Coventry boss

Peter Reid was today confirmed as Coventry manager with a mandate to take the Sky Blues into "at least" the First Division play-offs next season.

Reid succeeds Eric Black who was sacked at the weekend despite a 5-2 victory at Gillingham in the penultimate game of the season.

The former Sunderland manager has been out of work since parting company with Leeds in November following a 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth which saw the club rooted to the bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership.

Black had been promoted from assistant to manager in January after player-boss Gary McAllister's decision to stand down for personal reasons.

But when he approached chairman Mike McGinnity about the reports linking Reid with the post, Black was told his services would no longer be required along with those of first-team coach Archie Knox and goalkeeping coach Alan Hodgkinson.

McGinnity said: "At the start of the last two seasons I have clearly stated my ambitions were to see us at least achieve a play-off place and that hasn't happened so I reached a point where I believed a change had to be made.

"This decision has ultimately been made because I want us to return to the Premier League and that's all I've ever had in mind."

The 47-year-old Reid has signed a two-year deal which will take him through to the end of the 2005-6 season, the club's projected first campaign at its new 32,000-seater stadium at Foleshill.

McGinnity said: "We are delighted to have secured Peter.

"The man has immense knowledge of the game as both a player and manager and, more importantly, he has had experience of managing in this division.

"He took Sunderland up at a time when they were going through a similar transition phase when they moved from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light."

Reid began his managerial career at Manchester City in 1990 when the took the club to fifth in the old First Division after his first two seasons and ninth in the newly-formed Premiership the following year.

He switched to Sunderland in 1995, instantly turning round the fortunes of a club which was on the brink of relegation to division two, leading them into the top flight the following season.

Reid brings Adrian Heath to Highfield Road as his assistant manager.

Reid, who will take charge for the final game of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday, said: "It's a great opportunity for me at a club that wants to go forward. I know what the finances are like but I'm looking forward to it."

The appointment has not met with universal approval from the Coventry fans but Reid added: "You have to win football matches. That's the bottom line.

"I'm delighted to be here, although it's a surprise to come in so quickly.

"I have to try and get the club out of this league into the Premiership, it's a challenge but I'm delighted to have the opportunity."