Former Hatters coach Alan Neilson throws his hat into the ring for the Forst Green Rovers job

Former Luton assistant manager Alan Neilson has thrown his hat into the ring to become new boss at Town’s Skrill Premier rivals Forest Green Rovers, writes Mark Wood.
Stockport County v Luton Town. wk 10. Pictures by Liam Smith.Stockport County v Luton Town. wk 10. Pictures by Liam Smith.
Stockport County v Luton Town. wk 10. Pictures by Liam Smith.

He is teaming up with ex-Telford caretaker manager John Psaras to apply for the job following Dave Hockaday’s departure last week.

FGR had appointed assistant Gary Seward as interim boss, but he has now departed as it became clear he was not in the running.

Neilson said: “I spoke to my friend John Psaras who used to be at Telford, I get on well with him.

“We’ve both got the same philosophy of football and Forest Green have got a good side of players.

“I thought I would put it in because I haven’t got a full-time hob at them moment and I’m still looking to get back into football.”

FGR number former Luton stars George Pilkington, Matthew Barnes-Homer and Ed Asafu-Adjaye in their ranks, and Neilson believes with the financial backing they have, they have the ability to go a long way.

He said: “I spoke to Ed and he says it’s a really good set-up there.

“Whoever gets the job there, there are a lot of good things in place.

“With the backing it has massive potential. It’s not just the potential to do well in the Conference, but it’s got the backing to go places and go up quite a few leagues.

“If you look at it, it could be a Fleetwood. The chairman is chairman by himself.”

Rovers had approached Gateshead boss Gary Mills about the vacancy, but their advances were rejected.

“I’m just waiting to hear,” said Neilson, who took temporary charge of the Hatters three times during his stay at the club. “I think there will be lots of applicants with managers with experience in the Football League and the Conference.

“I thought I should put my name in and try and if anything should come of it then good.

“I’ve had three little stints. The first one went extremely well, the second one not as good and the third one not as good.

“Football is not a smooth path, you get your highs and lows.

“My football at the minutes is a bit of a low, but I try not to get too low.”

Neilson left Kenilworth Road in the summer after being part of the coaching team for five years, serving as youth development coach, first team development manager, assistant manager and caretaker manager.

However, he was left in the lurch when he and goalkeeping coach Dmitri Kharine were relieved of their duties on the first day of pre-season training.

He added: “I take great memories away from my time as a player, coach and caretaker and all the different roles I did at the club.

“It just leaves a little bit of a sour test when it happened. It was just the timing on July 3.

“Everybody understands a manager comes in and looks at the staff. I’ve always worked hard and to the best of my ability.

“It is just the timing of it was the worst thing. Sometimes these things happen and they test you and you have to move on.

“I’m not a person that holds grievances, it’s just the timing of it all.”

Related topics: