COVENTRY City boss Chris Coleman believes Jim Magilton will still be managing in 20 years time.The two lock horns at the Ricoh Stadium tomorrow and Coleman, who went from the dressing room to the boss's chair at Fulham before being sacked, has backed beleaguered Magilton.

Derek Davis

COVENTRY City boss Chris Coleman believes Jim Magilton will still be managing in 20 years time.

The two lock horns at the Ricoh Stadium tomorrow and Coleman, who went from the dressing room to the boss's chair at Fulham before being sacked, has backed beleaguered Magilton.

Coleman said: “I have been on coaching courses with him and he's a good fella.

“They are giving him time at Ipswich, which is right. They finished eighth last year and it is his first job.

“They always say your second season is the tough one. If you can get through that, an experienced manager once told me, you will still be doing it in 20 years - although I am not sure I want to be doing it in 20 years given the stress it brings.”

Magilton, in his third season as Town boss, has come under fire from Ipswich supporters for an indifferent first half of this campaign, while Coventry are not much better off after failing to win their past six home games

Coleman said: “His philosophy is to pass the ball, same as us, but that can be very hard in this league because it's so fast and furious.

“Ipswich are similar to us. Both teams are knocking at the door of the top half but haven't got that consistency.

“They've been up and down like us, so who knows what we're going to get from them tomorrow?

“They've got some good players, but so have we.”

If City were to win at the Ricoh Stadium for the first time since they beat Norwich City at the beginning of October, it would put them level on points with 12th-placed Town.

Coleman said: “They are a good footballing team who can be anything or nothing, which is this league to be honest.

“You have got a chance against anyone and also a chance to lose against anyone, of course.

“It is an exciting but unforgiving league, and very frustrating because most games you play there is not a lot in it, so this will be a big three points for us if we get them on Saturday.”

Like Magilton, Coleman hopes to off-load a few of his unwanted Coventry City players as well as drafting in new ones in January.

The Sky Blues currently have seven players out on loan with some due back at the end of the month and others having already severed their ties with the club.

But Coleman is hoping that some of those due back will have done enough to earn themselves extended stays or find themselves new clubs in the transfer window to help balance the books.

Kevin Kyle is currently playing regularly for Hartlepool where he has made 12 appearances to date and scored three goals, making his one of the more successful moves.

Left-back Gary Borrowdale is still yet to get a game for QPR but is hopeful that he will be offered a more permanent deal at Loftus Road where he is currently cover for first choice Damien Delaney.