Bowyer leaves Derby for managerial secondment at Salford
Written by Training Ground Guru — March 23, 2021
DERBY COUNTY have allowed their Under-23s assistant, Gary Bowyer, to become temporary manager of Salford City until the end of the season.
The 49-year-old former Blackburn and Blackpool manager replaces Richie Wellens at the League Two club. Wellens was sacked yesterday after just under five months in charge and little more than a week after winning the Papa John's Trophy final at Wembley.
Derby have said that Bowyer, who re-joined their Academy in September 2020, will return to them in the summer. Salford are currently ninth in League Two, six points off the play-off places, and have 11 games of the regular season remaining.
Bowyer, who will be assisted at Salford by Development Squad manager Warren Joyce and player Darron Gibson, said: “I’m delighted to be here. I’ve got to first and foremost thank (first-team manager) Wayne Rooney and (Academy Manager) Darren Wassall at Derby County for being so helpful to allow me to come here.
“Obviously today is a case of meeting the players and setting the expectations of what we expect of them from now until the end of the season. We want them to be playing aggressive football both with and without the ball, and have a right good go at these remaining 11 games.
"We have an opportunity like everybody else in this league to try and force our way into the reckoning to try and get into the play offs and see if we can do that.”
Bowyer assisted Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Pat Lyons with the U23s at Category One Derby. This is his second stint with the Rams, having started his coaching career with the club after retiring from playing in 2000.