Harris given the nod to lead at The Lawn (From Gazette Series)

Harris given the nod to lead at The Lawn

CARETAKER boss Tim Harris has been rewarded for rejuvenating Forest Green Rovers' playing fortunes after landing the top job at The Lawn.

The recent surge in results has seen the former Newport County boss handed a deal to lead Rovers until the end of the current Conference season.

The 44-year-old former goalkeeper was installed in the role last week after the board met to discuss the vacant managerial position following the departure of former boss Colin Addison in December.

Harris will be assisted by former Rovers star Alan McLoughlin, who retired from playing in the summer and who now runs the club's academy. McLoughlin, the former Republic of Ireland, Swindon Town, Southampton and Portsmouth star, brings a wealth of playing experience to the role, including a World Cup appearance at Italia '90.

Forest Green chairman Ken Boulton was delighted to offer Harris terms until the end of the season.

Boulton said: "Following a meeting this evening, the board were unanimous in agreeing to offer Tim and Alan the positions, and I'm delighted to say that they have accepted."

Boulton pinpointed the recent upturn in form that has seen Rovers beaten only once in the last five games as a factor in the appointment.

"Recent performances and results have been very encouraging and the board felt that the continuity and stability offered by the appointment of Tim and Alan would help maintain the team's progress," added Boulton.

Ironically, Harris now takes over from Addison, the man who brought him to The Lawn last summer as assistant manager.

Harris, who managed Forest Green more than a decade ago after cutting his managerial teeth with Newent Town, fought off a number of high calibre candidates, including former Cheltenham Town boss Graham Allner and former international football stars Paul Bodin and Allan McDonald.

A former goalkeeper with Newport, Cheltenham and Gloucester City, Harris certainly has a strong managerial pedigree. After leaving The Lawn, he managed Cinderford. He then took the Forest of Dean side from the depths of the County League through the Hellenic League and up into the Southern League. His crowning moment at The Causeway saw Cinderford reach the second round of the FA Cup in 1995-96.

Harris then returned to one of his former clubs, Gloucester City, where he assisted then-manager Leroy Rosenior.

From City, he moved to Newport County, where he enjoyed a five-and-half-year managerial association that ended in November 2002.

l Harris was due to take charge of Rovers for his first official game as the new boss in last Saturday's FA Trophy fourth round home clash with Dover. The game was called off due to the weekend's horrendous weather.