Duncan Ferguson speaks for the first time on being appointed new Forest Green head coach, and it’s produced quite the reaction online.
He takes over at League One‘s bottom club parted company with former Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall, who was appointed in May after the departure of Rob Edwards to Watford and Forest Green’s promotion to League One.
However, they have won just five of their 28 league matches this season and are four points from safety.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Duncan Ferguson as the club’s new Head Coach.#WeAreFGRπ
β Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) January 26, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Forest Green Rovers – recognised by FIFA and the United Nations as the βworldβs greenest football clubβ has today confirmed the appointment of Duncan Ferguson as its new Head Coach.
The former Everton striker and Scottish international joins the club with immediate effect.
Ferguson began his career in football in 1990, playing for Rangers, Everton and Newcastle. He also played for the Scottish national side seven times. Ferguson left Everton at the end of last season after a long coaching career with the team, which also saw him as caretaker manager on two occasions.
Duncan Ferguson, Head Coach, Forest Green Rovers, said: βIβm really delighted to join FGR for the next step of my career, and I plan to be here for a while. 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. I want to thank Dale for bringing me in – Iβm looking forward to getting started!β
Dale Vince, Chairman, Forest Green Rovers, commented: βWeβre all excited to welcome Duncan, he is someone I have admired from a far for a while. Itβs just fantastic to have the opportunity to work with him in this next phase of our journey toward the Championship.β
New Forest Green Rovers boss Duncan Ferguson to Sky Sports: “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I really appreciate the opportunity.
“It happened very quickly. I had a phone call the night before yesterday to come down and have a chat. It happened very quickly. I drove down, had the chat, went back to Liverpool, made my decision and came back down.
It has been a long time coming. I’ve been a coach, an assistant, a caretaker, I’ve done them all except permanent manager. This is a great opportunity at a fantastic club.
“I’ve seen bits and pieces of the team. We believe we can climb the table very soon.”
Duncan Ferguson on his links with Everton: “I was always going to be linked with that job. It never happened for me, but I’m delighted to be here.
“This is a fantastic club. There’s a new stadium coming, new training ground coming. It is exciting to be part of.”
Ferguson, speaking to Sky Sports, on Everton: “They’ve had a difficult time. They are bottom of the league, they have lost some games and they are looking for a new manager. I wish them well. It is a fantastic club. There was always a chance [I could get the job], but they’ve gone in a different direction.”
Ferguson on his ambitions: “Stay in the division and then get into the next division, that’s the dream. I am ambitious and so is the chairman.”
π¨ ππ₯πππππ‘π: Duncan Ferguson is the NEW manager of Forest Green Rovers βοΈβ pic.twitter.com/lcnkuQSYjd
β Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 26, 2023
π£ “I look forward to eating that later.” π± π’
New head coach Duncan Ferguson is ready to embrace the meat-free policy at Forest Green Rovers admitting he has never eaten vegan food before pic.twitter.com/GBIHLOMIiB
β Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 26, 2023
This is how social media reacted as Duncan Ferguson speaks for the first time on being appointed new Forest Green head coach…
@ATouchlineRant: Good luck to the person who tells him he now has to be a vegan
@JakeW2311: Scenes when Duncan Ferguson turns up at FGR in a v8 range rover or something like that π€£π€£π€£
@grahamhainesey: The mighty Blues and Rovers linked – Christmas has come early ππ
@TonyYoull: Unreal appointment! Time to kick things into gear!
@pjneedham40: Expect new blue followers. A LOT of us! Best of luck Duncan! Looking forward to seeing where you take FGR. ππ
@Nodge22: Duncan Ferguson as Forest Green manager is pure FM
@silman_clare: Good Luck Dunc we know you will be fantastic π hope the teams ready for you
@Blueman1608: All the best dunc, forest green just gained thousands of new fans , blues π
@chrisjhocking22: Best of luck big man. Think Forest Green will now have to be my second favourite team ππ
@AndyForsyth1878: As a Blue, will be following the fortunes of FGR and hoping you can get out of the rut youβre currently in. Big Dunc is the man, good luck Big Man, and good luck FGR!
@ghjrob: Duncan Fergusonβs vegan army ππΌ
@edward_w97: Doesnβt feel very in line with what I would have expected Forest Green to go for. No idea what kind of tactician he will be at this stage. Saying that, Iβm still excited. Having Big Dunc in League One should be a lot of fun. 11th March for Duncan Ferguson v Joey Barton.
@ianspeny: Good luck Big Dunc – You will always be my hero & now I have a second club to support ππ
@Clarelou1878: Good luck Dunc! And good luck to Forest Green. You have such a lovely man in charge, I wish you all well!
@T2Mardybum: Listening to Duncan Ferguson being brow beaten into pushing the Forest Green Rovers vegan agenda crap live on sky sports is up there with the most cringeworthy tv of all time.
@SwelterTheChef: Good luck, you have appointed an absolute gentleman. Look forward to following your rise with interest.
@LawrenceMealing: Sky have lost the PLOT. Duncan Ferguson gets the forest Green job and the reporter asks him 50 questions about Everton. Then proceeds to ram a vegan burger down his throat. Embarrassing, you could see the chairman cringing
β Ollie Smith (@olliesmith24) January 26, 2023
β Callum (@callumt1878) January 26, 2023
Never thought Iβd see Duncan Ferguson with a vegan burger next to Dale Vince at Forest Green Rovers. π pic.twitter.com/r9GY8c8c69
β Louis Writtle (@LouisWrittle_) January 26, 2023
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