The former Northampton boss who's helped Coventry win promotion to the Premier League
Whilst Frank Lampard has rightly earned most of the plaudits for Coventry’s promotion to the Premier League, a former Northampton manager has more than played his part.
Dean Austin was initially appointed Cobblers assistant manager under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at the start of the 2017/18 season before he took caretaker charge following Hasselbaink’s sacking in April 2018. Supported by Jon Brady, he oversaw the final five matches and impressed sufficiently – despite relegation – during that time to earn the full-time job in the summer.
However, the now 55-year-old managed only one win from 12 League Two matches the following season and was sacked after a 4-0 thrashing at Mansfield, where he gave a remarkable post-match interview.
After a spell on the coaching staff at Watford and then a period as sporting director at St Albans, Austin was appointed Coventry City head of recruitment in 2022 and he has remained in that role ever since. He is tasked with the job of ‘spearheading’ the club’s ‘transfer activities’ and has now helped to build a Championship-winning squad.
Some of Coventry’s signings under Austin include Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jack Rudoni and Haji Wright, as well as ex-Cobblers loanee Matt Grimes, who is club captain and has started every single league game this season. In fact, only one outfield player has played more minutes than Grimes in the whole of the Championship.
After the title was secured in midweek, Austin will now be tasked with building a squad capable of surviving in the Premier League.