JUST-IN: According to reports this evening from Sky Sports and others, Coventry City has unexpectedly appointed a former Barcelona manager as their new coach.

Frank Lampard is said to be in advanced talks with Coventry over succeeding Mark Robins

Coventry City have confirmed Rhys Carr will hold a press conference on Friday ahead of their Championship clash against Sheffield United.

Carr has been in interim charge of the Sky Blues since club owner Doug King sacked Mark Robins on November 7. He took charge of Coventry as they drew 2-2 with Championship leaders Sunderland in their last match before the November international break and he now looks a certainty to be in the dugout when they face the Blades at the CBS Arena on Saturday (12:30pm).

Frank Lampard is said to be in advanced talks with Coventry over succeeding Robins, but confirmation that Carr will be on pre-match media duties suggests no deal, if any deal, is close to being finalised.

King revealed last week at a fans’ forum to explain his dismissal of Robins that the club were now looking to appoint a head coach rather than manager, with a sporting director overseeing the football operation as a whole. “We want someone who is an elite head coach on the grass with tactics, with the ability to motivate and focus on the players and getting the maximum out of the players. What we put around the club is a great support network to put the players in the best condition and get them available as much as possible,” he told CoventryLive.

“We work with the players quite a bit to increase longevity of their careers through choices now, as they handle their bodies. Some players can play to 34/35 if they handle their bodies well now, so we are trying to look after our players in every way.

“And what we want from our head coach is for them to focus on the football, on the tactics and developing our players to become the best that they can be. And I don’t need them to be in any other aspect (of the club). Yes, I need them in recruitment, of course I do. Of course a head coach has to sign off new players because he won’t pick them otherwise, so it’s ridiculous to think that they wouldn’t be involved in that.

“Dean Austin (head of recruitment) and myself will work closely with the head coach to try and fill the gaps that come up in the next window to ensure that we get what’s required to either provide cover or sparkle, whatever he thinks is the right thing to do.”