Coventry owner Doug King: 'I had no doubt Lampard would do well' after promotion to the PL

Owner Doug King reflects on promotion night and Lampard's impact

Doug King, the owner of Coventry City, has described the moment his club secured promotion to the Premier League after 25 years away and said he had "no doubt Lampard would do well" as manager. King recalled the emotional scene at Ewood Park when Coventry clinched promotion and later celebrated intensely, including an anecdote about retreating to a Travelodge beside a service station on the M65 before joining supporters for the victory celebrations.

Celebrations, the open-top bus parade and a historic return

Having overseen what King described as a "historic return" to the top flight, the owner recounted the club's open-top bus parade that began on Jimmy Hill Way after Coventry were crowned Championship champions. King spoke about the moment of lifting the trophy and the spontaneous nature of the celebrations, saying he did not expect the trophy lid to come off and that he wanted to "make the most of that".

Why it matters for Coventry and Lampard

King's public backing of Frank Lampard underscores the significance of the promotion for both the club and the manager. The return to the Premier League ends a 25-year absence from the top tier and represents a major milestone for Coventry's ownership, playing staff and supporters.

• Coventry City were crowned Championship champions and promoted to the Premier League after 25 years away (source: The Guardian).
• Owner Doug King described an emotional promotion night at Ewood Park and subsequent celebrations (source: The Guardian).
• An open-top bus parade began on Jimmy Hill Way following the title confirmation (source: The Guardian).
• King said he "had no doubt Lampard would do well," signalling strong public support for manager Frank Lampard (source: The Guardian).
• King described a celebratory moment with the trophy and a light-hearted anecdote about a Travelodge next to the M65 (source: The Guardian).

Context: The Guardian's interview frames the promotion as a turning point for Coventry under King's ownership and Lampard's management. The club's coronation as Championship champions and the open-top parade tie into a broader narrative of revival and expectation as Coventry prepare to return to the Premier League after a long absence.

What happens next

King's comments and the public celebration set a positive tone ahead of Coventry's preparations for the Premier League season. Further details on the club's plans for the summer — including recruitment, squad planning, and financial strategy — were not included in the supplied metadata and should be confirmed from the full interview or official club communications.