Joe Edwards Sends Coventry City Challenge as Rivals Prepare to Raise the Bar
Coventry City assistant head coach Joe Edwards has warned that the Sky Blues must hit new heights this season — because their Championship rivals certainly will.
Edwards, who arrived at the CBS Arena last term alongside Frank Lampard and fellow assistant Chris Jones, played a key role in revitalising a City side that had been hovering dangerously close to the relegation places. Under the new coaching trio, Coventry surged up the table, mounting a remarkable run that culminated in a play-off place. However, their promotion dream was crushed by Sunderland, ending hopes of a return to the Premier League.
Now, as pre-season preparations intensify, Edwards believes the Sky Blues have no choice but to step up again if they want to stay in the race for the top six — or better.
Speaking to *CoventryLive*, Edwards said:
*”We gave ourselves a chance last season by working incredibly hard and sticking together. But we know full well that it’s going to be even harder this year because other teams are going to be stronger too.”*
The assistant boss pointed to the nature of the Championship — a league known for its unpredictability and relentless competition — and insisted complacency has no place at Coventry.
*”The Championship moves fast,”* Edwards continued. *”Clubs invest, managers change, squads get stronger. What we did last season counts for nothing now. It’s about raising our own levels, because if we stand still, we’ll be left behind.”*
Coventry’s improvement under Lampard’s leadership drew plenty of praise, not least for the team spirit and attacking football that became a hallmark in the latter half of the campaign. But Edwards knows that play-off heartbreak can’t be a crutch — it has to be a platform.
*”We took a lot from the play-off run, even though it ended in disappointment. The players felt that taste of big games, and that’s got to drive them forward. This is a fresh start and we want to build on what we’ve done — not live off it.”*
Lampard, Edwards, and Jones have been working hard behind the scenes in pre-season, shaping the squad and pushing fitness levels. With a handful of summer signings already on board, the mood at Ryton is focused and ambitious.
*”We’re demanding more from the lads every day,”* Edwards added. *”There’s a real hunger in the group, and we’ll need that when the season kicks off. The margins in this league are so fine — it’s about who’s prepared to go that extra mile.”*
With Lampard at the helm, Edwards confident in his role, and a fanbase eager to see the Sky Blues build on last season’s progress, expectations are growing. But as Edwards rightly points out, nothing comes easy in the Championship.
Coventry’s task is clear: if they want to be in the promotion conversation again, they’ll have to match — and surpass — the efforts of their ambitious rivals.
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