Former Birmingham City manager Steve Cotterill has been appointed Forest Green boss after they sacked Troy Deeney.
Ex-Blues captain Deeney was axed by Forest Green owner Dale Vince last week after six winless games in charge. The 35-year-old initially joined Forest Green in a player-coach capacity last summer and made 16 appearances in League Two, scoring four goals, before stepping up to managerial duties in December.
Deeney’s furious post-match rant after Forest Green’s 2-0 defeat to Harrogate Town on January 13 proved to be the final straw and he left Forest Green bottom of League Two with 19 points from 27 matches.
Cotterill has been hired to arrest the slide. The 59-year-old left League One side Shrewsbury Town last summer after a three-year tenure.
READ: Bacuna drops out of Birmingham City predicted XI for Leicester tie
READ: Korean football expert tells Blues what to expect from Paik Seung-ho
He has managed Forest Green’s local rivals Cheltenham Town and Bristol City before and takes charge of his first game against Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
Cotterill lost 15 of his 27 matches during a five-month spell as Blues manager after replacing Harry Redknapp in 2017.
Forest Green owner Vince said: “I’m delighted to welcome Steve to FGR. His record speaks for itself with over 25 years of experience in all leagues of the EFL, spanning nearly 900 games.
“Steve knows what it takes at this level and shares our determination to avoid relegation this season, then build our way back up to League One and looking upward again. I’m sure our fans will welcome this appointment and Steve to our club.”
