Gordon Strachan signed the Norwegian winger from Lillestrom in the summer of 1999. Runar had paid his own way to have a trial with the Sky Blues during their pre-season tour of Germany and City ended up paying Lillestrom almost £1 million. The slight wide player did not have much luck at Coventry. An ankle injury picked up pre-season delayed his debut for several months but after some good displays for the reserves he made his bow against Charlton in the FA Cup. A dazzling first half saw him have a hand in both City’s goals but he faded after the break as Second Division Charlton came from behind to win 3-2.

He suffered the ignominy of being substituted as a substitute at Watford that season and after that Strachan kept him in the cold for a whole season. It was Roland Nilsson who gave him a chance again in 2001-02 with two unimpressive appearances from the bench. The following season Gary McAllister gave him another chance and although he scored a headed goal against Sheffield Wednesday his contract was cancelled soon afterwards.