Frank Lampard could have been next Gary Lineker but is proving managerial decision right

Frank Lampard had the option of a post-playing career in front of a TV camera but is hell-bent on being a successful manager and is proving the decision right at Coventry

Even before he had finished playing, television companies had their eyes on Frank Lampard. In particular, there were certain executives at Sky Sports who had a masterplan.

The Premier League’s main broadcasters since day one, Sky have always had a stellar roster of pundits – the best in the business. But they have not had a Gary Lineker, a blue-chip footballing name who could actually carry a programme, not just appear on it.

Lineker was the face of BBC Sport. There would have been a lot of imponderables and hurdles to get over but there were some at the channel who envisaged Lampard as the face of Sky Sports.

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And whenever Lampard has appeared as a pundit, he has come across very well, as you would expect. But television has always been a way for Lampard to keep his footballing mind ticking over when between proper jobs.

If his fantastic start to the Championship with Coventry City this season does not convince you that Lampard is a very capable manager, it should at least remind you of his perseverance. For him, there is always an easier gig waiting in front of a TV camera.

And after the strictly underwhelming year at Everton – where he won only 12 of 44 games in charge – and a disastrous return to Chelsea where he won only one of 11 matches (losing eight), there were some who thought Lampard might turn to TV with more serious intent. But it seems it has never been in his plan to do a full Wayne Rooney, who now appears to have fully embraced a media career after largely undistinguished managerial efforts at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle.

There is nothing wrong with the path Rooney has taken, of course. And he is proving himself adept at punditry. Plus, having an unsuccessful CV as a manager should not stop someone passing judgement on a current manager’s work. After all, plenty do it without ever having managed.

But there can be no doubt a working manager being criticised by Rooney will find it a touch ironic. And perhaps that is one of the reasons why Lampard has always been determined to prove himself.

Don’t forget, he did reasonably well at Derby before his first managerial stint at Chelsea came too soon. His Everton time and stand-in spell at Stamford Bridge were setbacks but he is doing a fantastic job at Coventry.

When he took over in late November of last year, the Sky Blues were 17th in the Championship. Lampard took them to the play-offs where they were narrowly beaten by Sunderland (losing to a goal in the 122nd minute of the second leg).

To kick on from that agonising loss is outstanding, especially when you consider Coventry’s summer spending amounted to a mere £3.5million. And even the very basic statistics tell you Lampard has constructed a team – and masterminded a game plan – that makes Coventry the most exciting team in the Championship.

After 12 matches, his unbeaten side have scored 34 goals, 14 more than any other team in the division and four more than the combined total scored by Middlesbrough and Millwall, who sit second and third in the table. Unsurprisingly, Coventry head the stats tables when it comes to shots, shots on target and chances created.

On Friday night, they face a Wrexham team who have managed only three Championship wins. Lampard is not getting carried away, as you would expect.

But in a season in which the teams relegated from the top flight appear to be struggling, the path to the Premier League looks inviting. There is a long way to go but Lampard is at least proving that it is nowhere near time for life in the TV studio.

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