Buzzin Championship Football

steve coppell

Bristol City have confirmed that former Reading manager Steve Coppell will take over the reins at the West country club, effectively replacing Gary Johnson who left the club back in March.

Caretaker manager Keith Millen will remain in charge of the team for the final two games of the season. Millen had put himself into the frame for the Ashton Gate job, and will remain with the club as Coppell’s right hand man as assistant manager and will play a key part in rebuilding the team during this summer.

With Coppell’s history it is no surprise that Bristol City see him as the man to lead the club to promotion from the Championship during next season and Coppell is relishing the opportunity to prove them right.

City have not been in the top flight for thirty years, but chairman Steve Lansdown says: “Steve arrives with a track record and pedigree that shows the ambition this club has. We are aiming to play at the highest possible level.”

Coppell has won promotion to the top flight on three occasions and that makes him the perfect candidate for Bristol City, wherever he has been the players and fans generally speak highly of the 54 year old former England player and he has the ability to bring out the best in otherwise mediocre players. His Reading side set a Championship points record four years ago when promoted with 106 points.

Coppell said; “Every manager knows that promotion is his brief and I’m no different. No one person can do it by themselves and we will need to work as a team. Football is a week-to-week industry and I will be looking for improvement. Everyone is judged on results and we need to win games but we need to finish strongly this season and look to kick on.”

He added that he will take over as manager of Bristol City at the end of the season and expected a busy summer identifying new players for the club and although no budget has been set, the chairman has promised his full support.

Steve Lansdown added:

“I’m delighted that Steve has agreed to become the new manager of Bristol City. I’d also like to thank Keith Millen for the hard work he has put in over the past seven games and I’m pleased he will stay on as assistant.”

Coppell and Bristol City have agreed a twelve month rolling contract.