Sacking Coyle was "harsh" claims Robins boss
4:08pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Sport
BRISTOL City boss Derek McInnes has branded Wanderers’ decision to sack Owen Coyle as “harsh.”
The Scot, who will be masterminding the Robins at the Reebok tomorrow, took over from Coyle at St Johnstone in 2007 and also played under the former Whites boss.
And he feels the decision to axe his fellow Glaswegian after 10 games was taken too hastily.
“Nothing surprises me in football these days,” he said. “I think the decision was harsh and was probably based on the aftermath of last season.
“On a personal level, I’m gutted for Owen and his staff. He is a very good person and a very good manager, someone who I think will go on to be a success in his next job.
“He made an okay start to the season, but that is not enough when you have just come down from the Premier League and he has paid the ultimate price.”
McInnes believes he will come up against a different tactical prospect today than he would have done in Coyle had remained in charge.
“Regardless of who the manager is, this was always going to be a tough game for us,” he told the Bristol Post.
“It makes it a bit more unpredictable in terms of what they are going to do. New people taking over will probably want to tinker with the team in some, whether it be with formation or personnel.
“They have a lot of options and I think we will see some change from the last four or five games, but it is all about what we do.”
Goals, it would seem, are a given this afternoon with both sides sharing just one clean sheet between them in the league all season. Bristol City have not managed to shut a single team out since April, but McInnes has urged his side to show no fear against a squad he admits is high on star quality.
“They have got real quality in the team but we will look to give a good account of ourselves and cause them problems,” he said. “Their squad is full of household names but our lads will relish coming up against them and hopefully we will come back to Bristol with three points.”
