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Duncan Ferguson is up for the challenge, says Forest Green Rovers vice-chairman Phil Butterworth

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Friday, 27th January 2023, 09:00

Forest Green Rovers have named Duncan Ferguson as their new head coach

“If anyone can keep us in League One then it’s Duncan Ferguson.”

Those are the words of Forest Green Rovers vice-chairman Phil Butterworth after the former Everton, Rangers and Newcastle centre-forward was confirmed as the club’s new head coach.

The 51-year-old replaces Ian Burchnall, who left the club after a run of one draw and six defeats in the league.

It’s a run that has left them bottom of the table, four points from safety having played more games than all the other teams in the relegation battle. The last time they collected three points was when they beat Cheltenham Town 1-0 at the beginning of December.

But despite the magnitude of the job facing Ferguson, whose only previous managerial experience came in two spells as interim boss at Everton, there is still plenty of optimism at Forest Green.

“I’m sure Duncan Ferguson is going to be a good appointment,” continued Butterworth. “He’s a very well respected person in football, not just as a player but as a coach as well.

“He’s up for a challenge and he’s got a huge challenge to keep us in League One, but he’s been there and seen it all before.”

Ferguson, who was capped seven times by Scotland, has spent much of his footballing career in the big cities of Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Now he’s moving to a club in Nailsworth, a town with a population of around 6,000, and Butterworth said: “It’s phenomenal, he’ll fit in really well. We’ve got a number of Scottish players at the club and our director of football Stevie Grieve is Scottish.

“We’re an ambitious club and Duncan has got the full backing of the board.”

Forest Green, who were League Two champions last season, travel to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

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Duncan Ferguson is up for the challenge, says Forest Green Rovers vice-chairman Phil Butterworth

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