Is managing Coventry City a desirable job?

Thorn remained gracious and dignified. It's sad to see him go, but his best wasn't quite good enough for the Sky Blues. He worked in wretched managerial conditions, that's a given, but ultimately he took us down to League One. When you do that, your job is never safe.

The board's decision smacks of impatience, but it could similarly be branded as decisiveness. The performance of whoever is installed to replace Thorn will obviously be the deciding factor in determining how the fans view the move.

My view is that the board will opt for someone cheap, Shaw and Carsley being potentially favourable candidates, perhaps even in a joint capacity.

Tuesday night's result certainly didn't harm their cause, but with a wealth of other more accomplished suitors apparently vying for the vacancy you get the impression that even if City clock a 100% record under their temporary stewardship, the position could still be handed to an external applicant.

Dennis Wise remains a popular character at The Ricoh, although this infatuation is borne purely out of his playing exploits at the tail-end of his career. Whether or not this admiration will cloud any judgement surrounding his managerial ability remains to be seen.

It's likely that a name tried-and-tested at this level will appeal most, provided they don't break the bank. Kevin Blackwell has a proven track-record and it therefore wouldn't surprise me should he be chosen to lead the Sky Blues' promotion push.

Whatever happens, I remain fairly confident we won't see a "WOW" appointment, a "yes, that's sensible" appointment being the likely alternative. To be honest, that's what the club needs; someone to steady the ship.

The new manager must be prepared to shoulder the burden of justified optimism amongst the City faithful, a type of optimism that has long been absent from The Ricoh.

For once, the title of Coventry City manager is not a poison chalice.