Former Doncaster Rovers forward named Manchester City Women boss

Taylor - who played for Rovers for 18 months, beginning mid-way through the promotion winning 2007/08 campaign - has signed a three-year deal with the FA Women’s Super League powerhouses.

The 47-year-old had previously been in charge of the U18s in the City male set-up, having returned to the club in 2011 after retiring in playing.

The curtailment of the FAWSL has brought forward Taylor’s appointment. He succeeds Nick Cushing, who is moving to New York City FC.

Taylor said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City Women and I’m extremely excited about the challenge ahead with a very talented group of players and staff who have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years.

“I’m really honoured to have been appointed to this role and I can’t wait to get started with our preparations for another thrilling and competitive Barclays FA WSL season in 2020/21.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with some great people within Manchester City and the Club’s Academy so far, but I’m absolutely relishing my new role within City Football Group and I’ll be giving everything I have to continue Manchester City’s success and growth in the women’s game.”

City’s head of women’s football Gavin Makel said: “Over the last few years, I have been fortunate enough to see first-hand the qualities that Gareth possesses. Not only in terms of his abilities as a coach who develops individuals, but also in the way that he leads, whilst exuberating the values and ethos that we hold dear as a club.” 

Taylor joined Rovers on loan from Tranmere Rovers in January 2008, but the deal was made permanent a month later.

He made 14 appearances as Rovers won promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.

Taylor was a regular starter for Rovers at the beginning of the first season in the second tier but saw his progress halted by injury and became a bit-part player thereafter.

He was loaned to Carlisle United and then released in the summer of 2009, after which he joined future Rovers boss Dean Saunders at Wrexham.

*

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor