Frank Lampard’s Coventry seal promotion to Premier League after 25-year absence

Promotion to the top flight brings an end to a turbulent quarter of a century for the club, including the disastrous construction of the Ricoh Arena, which financially crippled it and years of mismanagement under former owners Sisu leading to administration, docked points, two relegations, fan boycotts, angry pitch invasions and twice having to move homes.

Frank Lampard has overseen Coventry City’s return to the Premier League after more than two decades away (Getty)

But after relegation to League Two in 2017 things began to look up, with Mark Robins returning as manager and steering the club back to the third tier a year later before climbing further to the Championship in 2020.

Robins was sacked by new owner Doug King, who took over in 2023, with Lampard appointed in November 2024. He continued to build on the club’s improving fortunes, leading them to a fifth-place finish last season before a defeat to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals, while the stadium - now called the CBS Arena - came back under the club’s ownership last summer.

However no play-offs were needed this season as Coventry dominated the standings, with automatic promotion capping a remarkable reverse in fortunes over the past two decades.

Now attention turns to the summer, transfer business and preparations for the new campaign, while the 2026/27 Premier League fixtures will be released on 19 June.

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