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On Wednesday, 23 July 2008 Coleman was a guest of Rob Gurney on his breakfast show and the pair were joined on the phone by Ranson.

Also in the studio was Â鶹ԼÅÄ Coventry & Warwickshire's Clive Eakin.

To listen to the interview click on the links on the right-hand side of this page but to get a taster I've selected a few of my highlights.

The Sky Blues manager discussed a variety of topics, including tactics, team selection, transfer targets and the clubs promotion prospects for next season.

Coleman watches the Sky Blues last season

Coleman also emphasised the importance of having quality over quantity of players, having a hungry squad fighting for their first team places. He discussed bringing in a physical presence to the team and admitted that the team lacked a playmaker last season. Here are some of the highlights of the manager’s interview:

Coleman on pre-season

“We’ve not really put too much emphasis on the results, you always want to win in a football match of course but it’s more important that we get as many minutes under the players belts without putting them in danger of getting an injury. We have seen them progressing�

Coleman on next season

“I’m pleased to say now that it’s definitely running in the right direction, the infrastructure of the club is much stronger, and on the playing side we are putting a squad together that’s capable of being in the top half of the league, certainly the top ten.�

Coleman on the importance of strength

“A lot of teams ran over us last season. We tried to play the football that we did because we couldn’t compete in that we weren’t big or strong enough. This league is a big physical strong league. But I think you can have both, and we’re trying to get big strong boys who can also pass the ball.�

Mifsud celebrates a famous goal against Blackburn

Colemen on promotion

“We are probably looking at something like 15 points every 10 games to give ourselves a great chance at a playoff place. We’re going to try and aim for that because we’ve got to take it step by step. The aim is …lets get to Christmas, lets be in the right half of the table, maybe on the coat-tails of the clubs in fifth, sixth, seventh or eight position, if we can be close to them in terms of points who knows what can happen after Christmas.�

THE PLAYERS

Coleman on his new-look midfield

“Beuzelin is an excellent passer, very good on the ball, good awareness. Gunnarsson has an incredible engine, he’s up and down the pitch, he’s only 19, but he’s an Icelandic international.�

Coleman on Michael Mifsud

“It’s a shame because Michael was our top scorer last season, but he’s got 12 months left on his contract, and he will be handing in a transfer request, so we can’t keep anybody here who doesn’t want to be here.�

Leon McKenzie

Coleman on Leon McKenzie

“We can’t push him too quickly; it’s taken a long time to get him back. He’s looked good and it’ll be like having a new player again next season.�

Coleman on Clinton Morrison

“Clinton and Leon McKenzie were mine and Richard Shaw apprentices at Crystal Palace. If I give Clinton a slap on the head it won’t be the first time!�

To hear the Chris Coleman and Ray Ranson interview in full click on the links on the right-hand side of this page. They continue to talk about:

• last season’s performance
• the size of the squad he inherited
• his transfer policies and potential targets
• pursuing Gary McSheffrey
• knowledge of the Spanish second division
• the current crop of Sky Blues players
• a change of formation for next season