Coventry's continual selling of their star players finally caught up with Gordon Strachan as the Scot's five-year spell as manager at Highfield Road ended yesterday.
As Strachan left "by mutual consent", former Coventry stars Mickey Gynn, Keith Houchen and Mick Quinn united in blaming the departure of a stream of big names for his downfall.
Gynn said: "If you sell five or six top quality players and don't replace them with the same quality you are going to struggle. That caused their relegation last season and their miserable start this time."
Gynn believes the loss of Robbie Keane and Gary McAllister, now with Leeds and Liverpool respectively, began the slide which saw the club drop out of the top flight after 34 years.
Announcing Strachan's departure, chairman Bryan Richardson said: "I wish to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation for Gordon's efforts on our behalf both as a player and as manager."
Richardson, who has put Norwegian international defender Roland Nilsson in temporary charge, said: "I had a meeting yesterday with Gordon and we both came to the same conclusion that a change was right for both." Strachan was subjected to the fury of the fans at Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Grimsby.
