Coventry City chief has private messages leaked as he considers legal action

Coventry City’s head of recruitment Dean Austin is considering legal action after private messages on WhatsApp were published on X, CoventryLive understands.

The Sky Blues face Watford in the Championship on Saturday and, ahead of the clash at Vicarage Road, Austin watched the Hornets’ last match, against Swansea on Wednesday night. Watford drew 1-1 against the Swans.

Austin was in contact with Coventry boss Mark Robins and football agent Rob Segal during the match and photos of Austin’s phone, displaying messages in WhatsApp discussing Watford’s performance, were taken by a Watford supporter and published on X after the match. The Athletic report Austin and Segal are “deeply concerned” by the incident and believe their privacy has been breached.

Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and defender Ryan Andrews dropped a clanger for Swansea’s goal as an 18th-minute mix-up gifted the visitors the lead. Andrews stopped Przemyslaw Placheta from reaching a long ball into the inside left channel from Matt Grimes by heading the ball back towards his goalkeeper.

But Bachmann had come rushing off his line without the right-back realising – and both were left watching in horror as the ball bounced into an empty net. Watford manager Valerien Ismael refused to criticise the two players after the final whistle. “It was a lack of communication. It has happened – unfortunately. There is no antidote against making mistakes in football,” he said.

“At half-time we had to clear the air and then we spoke positively. At the minute this is really tough – it is a challenge – but we cannot drop mentally.

“We came back into the game so it is step after step. Just at the minute we need to get all the positives that we can get – and I think we will become stronger after this period.”