20 December 2023 , 16:34
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Troy Deeney has landed his first job in management after being named player-manager at Forest Green Rovers.
The League Two outfit are currently 23rd in the fourth tier as they face the prospect of back-to-back relegations. Deeney joined Forest Green as player-coach in August but has now landed the top job after David Horseman was axed after just a matter of months.
Deeney earned several promotions in his career, both with Watford, with whom he spent more than a decade at. He was playing for Birmingham City before his switch to Forest Green and the new boss is ready for his fresh challenge.
The 35-year-old told the club's website: “I am very pleased and honoured to be appointed as the new head coach. I know the fans will have many questions, which will be answered as soon as possible. We will not hide from the task at hand and will be open and honest along the way.
“One thing I can assure everyone is that we will work our very hardest to bring this wonderful club back to success. This is an exciting new role with many challenges that I’ll embrace and there’s a lot of work for us to do, which has already started.”
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Deeney has become the second youngest manager in the football league. Only Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Röhl is more junior than the former Premier League striker.
Forest Green chairman Dale Vince said: “Troy came to us to begin his career in coaching and take the next step of his career – this is happening sooner than expected but he’s built strong relationships already with our staff, squad and fans – and is well placed for the challenge.
Forest Green Rovers are in the League Two relegation zone“We’ll strengthen our squad in the coming transfer window as well, to give ourselves the best chance of first securing our place in League Two before looking upward once more, toward League One and beyond.”
Deeney will take charge for the first time at home to Gillingham on Friday. Forest Green have only won four of their 20 league games so far this term and are five points from safety. The Gloucestershire based outfit, who lost 3-0 at Blackpool on Saturday, have only been in the football league for less than a decade.
They won promotion from the National League in 2017 but are in danger of heading back to the fifth tier if results do not improve at The New Lawn.