‘Really delighted’: Duncan Ferguson confirmed as Forest Green head coach

Duncan Ferguson has been confirmed as the head coach of Forest Green Rovers, League One’s bottom club. The former Everton striker and assistant manager was approached on Wednesday, after the dismissal of Ian Burchnall, to take his first full-time managerial role.

“I’m really delighted to join FGR for the next step of my career and I plan to be here for a while,” Ferguson said. “We have a bit of a fight on our hands to stay up in League One and I am ready for the challenge. I am grateful for the opportunity to come and lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club too. Their world-leading green creds are seriously impressive.”

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Ferguson has spent six months out of the game to pursue managerial opportunities after eight years on the staff at Everton under managers including Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benítez and Sam Allardyce. Ferguson had two spells in caretaker charge.

Ferguson, who has a Uefa pro licence, takes over a team who have 21 points from 28 games and are four points from safety.

“We’re all excited to welcome Duncan – he is someone I have admired from afar for a while,” the chairman, Dale Vince, said. “It’s just fantastic to have the opportunity to work with him in this next phase of our journey toward the Championship.”