Newly promoted Barrow have chosen to appoint their new manager this week, replacing Ian Evatt who left for newly relegated Bolton Wanderers.
The 38-year-old guided the Cumbrian side to League Two as National League champions, has signed a deal with the Trotters until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Bluebirds have confirmed that they are delighted to announce former footballer David Dunn as their new boss.
? | BREAKING NEWS:
We are delighted to announce David Dunn as the new manager of Barrow AFC! ?https://t.co/GvjKX1405F#BarrowAFC#BackTheBluebirds pic.twitter.com/JwKSpN7lO7
— Barrow A.F.C. (@BarrowAFC) July 9, 2020
The club statement read: “David has signed a 2 year deal at the Progression Solicitors Stadium, as he takes control of the Bluebirds as we return to the Football League for the first time in 48 years.
“Throughout a distinguished playing career, David has plied his trade at the very highest level with Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham city and others. He has also represented England on the international stage.
“Following the conclusion of his playing career, he is widely regarded as a fine young coach, completing several coaching qualifications including his UEFA A license.
“He has held several coaching roles in recent years, and after a successful spell coaching with Blackburn U23’s, joined Blackpool as Assistant Head Coach from where he joins us.
✍️ David Dunn has left his position at Blackpool Football Club to become manager at @BarrowAFC.
All the best, Dunny!https://t.co/dmGclydUur pic.twitter.com/s1ISX3Kwng
— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) July 9, 2020
Chairman Paul Hornby is delighted to have secured the board of director’s number one target and said: “as soon as we knew David was available and wanted the position we made him our number one target. He is an extremely talented coach and ticked all the boxes with the owners.
“His football philosophy and style of play is completely suited to how we are setup and he also knows a number of our players, which met our requirements for a seamless transition.
“After meeting David we knew he would be the man to take the club onto the next level.”
“Over the coming weeks David will be assembling his backroom management team and strengthening the squad – a task which is already well underway.
“Finally, we would like to thank Blackpool FC for helping David take this opportunity.”
MORE ON DAVID DUNN:
His only other managerial experience was a short spell in charge of Oldham Athletic in 2015/16, winning just three of his 20 matches, picking up a 15.0 win percentage.
He was initially their caretaker, but an unbeaten run of four games, all of which were draws, was enough for the club, who were in League One at the time, to appoint him.
It was just months after he hung up his boots after a remarkable playing career, which saw him make 466 appearances, 378 of those coming at Blackburn Rovers.
He was a caretaker at Blackpool for four matches, winning two as well as drawing and losing one each.
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After his departure from Oldham, Dunn joined Rovers where he worked alongside Damien Johnson in the Under-23s, helping the club win the Premier League 2 Division Two title in 2017/18.
He also had a spell as first-team coach in the final 15 games of the 2016/17 season, before Tony Mowbray came in.
Dunn left Rovers in the summer of 2018 but got back in the game after a short hiatus (in order to concentrate on his family and other business interests outside of football) in January 2020, by being an assistant coach at the Tangerines, after what was a tough time for the club under the Oyston Family.

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Barrow revealed their released and retained list for the forthcoming season.
Under Contract: Dior Angus, Bradley Barry, Patrick Brough, Joel Dixon, Lewis Hardcastle, Sam Hird, Josh Kay, Morgan Penfold, Scott Quigley, John Rooney, Jason Taylor
Offered terms of re-engagement: Connor Brown, Jack Hindle
Released: Matthew Elsdon, Josh Granite, Byron Harrison, Jonathan Saltmer, Luke Simpson, Mark Waddington
Returned To Parent Clubs: Olly Dyson (Huddersfield Town), Daniel Jones (Salford City), Matthew Platt (Blackburn Rovers), Jamie Soule (West Bromwich Albion), Tom White (Blackburn Rovers), Jack Vale (Blackburn Rovers)
Fans and players reacted on social media after seeing Barrow appoint their new manager…
Barrow AKA Blackburn Rovers B ??
— Joe Harvey (@jja_harvey) July 9, 2020
Our U23s are going to take barrow to league one and I absolutely love it
— Finlay ? (@FMcKennaBRFC) July 9, 2020
That was years ago under difficult circumstances. Hardly able to judge him off that.
— Taylor (@TaylorBAFC) July 9, 2020
Welcome to Barrow, David. ??
— Taylor (@TaylorBAFC) July 9, 2020
Best of luck David. ?
— Rob Walker (@TangerineRob) July 9, 2020
Brilliant.
Welcome @David8Dunn to the best club in the world! #BarrowAfc
— Bluebirds around the world (@OurBluebirdsFly) July 9, 2020
Exciting Appointment! Good luck @David8Dunn! ⚽ #BarrowAFC
— Scott Barrow (@ScottBarrow14) July 9, 2020
David Dunns blue and white army
— graham wilcox (@coxywilcox10) July 9, 2020
Announce @Matty_Platt now
— Corey (@CoreyMilby) July 9, 2020
Interesting appointment, will be good to see how he gets on. Just hope he has a better spell than he did at Oldham a fair few years ago. Just being able to stay up will be an achievement imo. Shame Ian Evatt left but time to move on and see what Dunn can do with this squad.
— Jason Lee ?? (@ForeverAYellow) July 9, 2020
Going to have to follow your results now… good luck ledge @David8Dunn
— Andrew Wood (@apwbrfc) July 9, 2020
Good luck David. Thanks for all your efforts at BFC
— Bfclee53 (@bfclee53) July 9, 2020
Well deserved. Stepped up for us well in difficult times & always spoke the truth. All the best.
— Martin Parker (@martinparker8) July 9, 2020
— Dong (@GetYaDongOut) July 9, 2020
You could say it was difficult circumstances for him but he helped create it signing a players contract under the premise that he would get the managers job qfter 6 games
— Tom Butterworth (@tom_db) July 9, 2020
Ex Rabona attempter David Dunn
— Jamie Janner (@jamie_janner) July 9, 2020
Going straight back down!
— Phil (@PhilSipocz) July 9, 2020
Good for him hope he does well . Another young English manager starting in lower league to learn his trade .
— Keith Wilkinson (@KeithTW74) July 9, 2020
Dunn Deal is a headline that writes itself…
— Ian Herbert (@ianherbert) July 9, 2020

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