Groundbreaking Female Manager of Professional Men's English Team Replaced Just After Two Weeks

 

Forest Green Rovers coach Hannah Dingley's tenure as the first woman to manage a men's professional football team in England will come to a close this week, as the fourth-tier club has appointed David Horseman as their new head coach.

Earlier this month, Dingley, who holds a UEFA pro license, was appointed as the caretaker head coach following Duncan Ferguson's departure. She had also been the only woman to manage a club academy in the English men's league.

Horseman comes from Southampton, where he coached the B team of the south-coast club. However, Dingley will continue to be in charge for their upcoming friendly matches against Coventry City and the Everton Under-21 teams this week.

Forest Green owner Dale Vince expressed gratitude to Hannah for holding the fort during the club's thorough recruitment process. He acknowledged that even though she didn't secure the top job this time, the experience has been valuable and represents a significant step in her career path.

Horseman previously coached the Southampton first team when Ruben Selles was in charge, and he stood out from a pool of over 100 applicants. Vince expressed delight in having David on board as their head coach, citing his extensive experience and modern approach to the game, which aligns well with the club's philosophy.