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Coppell quits Bristol City and management

Steve Coppell resigned as Bristol City manager after just two competitive matches in charge of the English second-tier side and announced his retirement from football management completely.

Former England winger Coppell, who spent just 33 days as Manchester City boss back in 1996, has been replaced by assistant Keith Millen.

Coppell, who replaced Gary Johnson at the end of last season, saw his time with the west country side get off to a bad start when City were beaten 3-0 by newly-promoted Millwall on the first day of the league season last weekend.

And City were then knocked out of the English League Cup at the first round stage by League Two Southend, two divisions below Coppell’s men, on Tuesday.

‘It is with the deepest regret that I can confirm my departure from Bristol City,’ the 55-year-old Coppell said in a statement released through the League Managers’ Association on Thursday.

‘I have made my decision after very careful consideration and I believe that it is in the best interests of both the club and me personally that we go our separate ways.

‘I am retiring from football management but still feel I have a contribution to make to the game some time in the future,’ added former winger Coppell, who as a player helped Manchester United win the FA Cup in 1977 and was also capped 42 times by England before injury cut short his career

Chairman Steve Lansdown brought Coppell, best known as a manager for guiding Reading to the English Premier League, to Bristol, and before that Crystal Palace to the 1990 FA Cup final, and then allowed him to sign former England goalkeeper David James from Portsmouth.

Lansdown, in a statement, said: ‘Steve’s prestigious career as a player, coupled with his experiences and successes as a manager are in no doubt.

‘His footballing pedigree made him our prime target to manage the club early this year.

‘It is disappointing for any club to part company with its manager at this stage of the season.

‘However, we respect Steve’s decision, one that allows us the opportunity to appoint his successor and give that individual the full season to work with the squad.’

Millen’s first game in charge will be the Championship fixture at Doncaster on Saturday.