Forest Green Rovers become first Football League side to appoint female manager

Forest Green Rovers have become history makers in England, becoming the first Football League side to appoint a woman manager for their men's side.

There has been talk in recent years about when a men's team would take the leap to appointing a woman to be in charge of the team.

For a long period Emma Hayes has looked the most likely candidate due to her brilliance in the Women's Super League with Chelsea.

Some Blues fans even wanted her to take charge of the men's side when Frank Lampard was leading them so haphazardly at the end of last season.

However the club left Lampard in charge until the duration of the campaign with the club legend then leaving with his reputation as a manager damaged and he was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.

With Hayes unlikely to leave her team until she's had the chance to bring the Champions League to the club for the first time her time in men's football isn't impending any time soon.

However Hannah Dingley has now become the first woman to take over an English side as she was named as Duncan Ferguson's replacement.

Dingley has been made Forest Green's interim boss for pre season, taking charge of her first game against Melksham Town on Wednesday.

We can confirm that Hannah Dingley has been named our Caretaker Head Coach.

Dingley will take charge of the team for tomorrow night’s friendly at Melksham Town.#WeAreFGR💚

— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) July 4, 2023

A statement from the club said: "Forest Green Rovers - recognised by FIFA and the United Nations as the world’s greenest football club - has today confirmed the appointment of Hannah Dingley as Caretaker Head Coach.

"Dingley joined the club as a coach four years ago and remains the only woman in charge of a men's English Football League Academy.

"During her tenure at the club, she has also initiated the launch of the FGR Girls Academy in 2021, which develops female players - mirroring the men's setup. She takes the reins with immediate effect."

Club chairman Dale Vince said: "Hannah was the natural choice to be first-team interim Head Coach - she’s done a fantastic job leading our Academy and is well aligned with the values of the club.

"It’s perhaps telling for the men’s game that in making this appointment on merit, we’ll break new ground - and Hannah will be the first female Head Coach in English (men’s) football."

Whether or not Dingley gets the job on a more permanent basis may depend on how well the recently relegated side do in their upcoming fixtures.