Wrexham player Ben Sheaf played under Mark Robins at Coventry City. Now, Robins is in charge of Stoke City.
Wrexham’s £6.5million deadline day signing Ben Sheaf will be reunited with Mark Robins this weekend. But the two will be going up against each other with Robins’ Stoke hosting the Dragons.
Sheaf spent four years playing under Robins at Coventry City. He made 144 total appearances for the Sky Blues and Robins made him captain too.
But Robins’ time at Coventry City came to an unexpected end in November 2024. Now, he’s in charge of Stoke City who Wrexham play on Saturday.
What Ben Sheaf said after Mark Robins’ was sacked at Coventry City
Robins was sacked after a slow start to the 2024/25 season which saw the Sky Blues hovering in 17th place of the Championship table. He was the EFL’s longest-serving manager at the time having returned to Coventry in 2017.
Sheaf told BBC Sport after his sacking: “It took us all by surprise, the gaffer has done an amazing job here. When things like that happen, you all feel responsible for it. The lads were fully backing the manager.
“It’s quite clear that I’ve grown a lot under him. I owe him a lot. I’m super grateful for what he has done for me. He [gave] me the armband. I’ve got nothing but good things to say. I wish him all the best.”
Ben Sheaf has a point to prove at Wrexham
Sheaf has split opinion since joining Wrexham from Coventry City on deadline day. He had a stop start pre-season and injury kept him out of the start of the campaign, and he’s steadily showing signs of the quality player he was for Robins.
But there’s an argument that Phil Parkinson’s style of play doesn’t entirely suit Sheaf and so this weekend, Sheaf will surely have an added point to prove given that he’s going up against his former boss.
Equally, Robins might be telling his own players to not give Sheaf any time on the ball, as Robins knows better than anyone how effective Sheaf can be in the middle of the park.