Brabin appointed as new Tranmere Rovers manager

[FF News]

Former Southport boss Gary Brabin has been appointed as new manager at recently relegated Tranmere Rovers

The 44-year-old ex-midfielder started his managerial career with Southport in 2008, achieving immediate success by guiding them into the play-offs, before joining Cambridge. At Cambridge he got the club to the play-off finals in his first season in charge before being voted Conference Manager of the Year in 2009.

The following season he joined Luton Town initially as Chief Scout, then as assistant manager and in 2011 was appointed manager following the departure of Richard Money. In his first year in charge at Luton, they achieved the play-off final, but were defeated on penalties. He left Luton the following season, with the Hatters just outside the play-off places with seven games to go.

In 2014 he re-joined Southport, but was tempted away by Everton FC in January 2015 to take up a coaching role in the Academy. We are grateful to Everton for allowing Gary to move across the river to further his career.

Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios said: “Gary was my main target for this role for a number of reasons, although I knew it would be very difficult to tempt him out of an Everton role he was clearly enjoying. Firstly, he is a manager with a strong win rate (over 48%) and a fantastic track record of getting his clubs into the Conference play offs.

He achieved this feat in all 3 of his full seasons as manager in the Conference, and left Luton when they were still in a very strong position. Importantly, the job requires a strong character and someone who knows what the weight of expectation of managing a larger club in the Conference feels like. Gary has done this at both Cambridge and Luton.

“But he is not someone who relies on playing ugly football to win matches; he is a young progressive manager who has taken the time to study other successful managers both in this country and abroad, and who is very keen to use the best that sports science can offer to ensure that players are at peak fitness and continue to develop throughout their careers.

“Finally, he is a local man. Although that wasn’t a pre-requisite for the job, I do think it means he has both a natural affinity for and understanding of the area and more importantly what Tranmere Rovers means. He also has an excellent knowledge of local born players at all levels and, through his role at Everton, the ability and respect to rebuild links with Everton which have proved so valuable in the past.”

Gary said, “I have gone on record in the past as saying that the role I was doing at Everton was my dream job, and I did not think that anything would tempt me into leaving there. I have had approaches from other Clubs and declined them, but the Tranmere job is special.

The chance to lead one of the three famous old Merseyside Clubs back to where it belongs in the League is a fantastic challenge that is hard to resist. The decision was also partly down to the Chairman: it is unusual to be able to work with a Chairman who is a football man through and through and Mark and I have a shared vision of what was needed to get the foundations right for the future.

“I know that the Club and its fans are hurting right now because of relegation, but I am confident that we can restore the Club to its former glory and play some football that will put a smile back on the fans’ faces.”

Mark Palios concluded, “It was important not to be rushed into an appointment, as it is a critical decision to get right. But appointing Gary now means he will have time to shape a squad of his own over the summer, and have a full pre-season to work with them.

“On Saturday we bowed out of the League for now. But the hard work of rebuilding began well before that. I am delighted that Gary has agreed to come on board and take on that role.”

Source: www.tranmererovers.co.uk

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