GUISBOROUGH Town have announced the appointment of their highly successful former under-23 development manager Gary Forster as their new manager.

The 38-year-old impressed enormously during his tenure at the helm of the development side at the KGV Stadium over four successive seasons between 2011 and 2016.

Middlesbrough-born Forster left Guisborough’s development side a few months ago to take up an important new recruitment role with Darlington FC to improve the club’s reserve, under-17 and under-18 sides. But the opportunity to return to Guisborough and step up to first team manager was too exciting an opportunity to miss for Forster, who has become a hugely popular personality at the KGV over the past few years.

He enjoyed phenomenal success with the development side, guiding them to every possible honour available to them. His record was outstanding and, after finishing runner-up in league and cup competitions in his first season, he followed up with a hat-trick of league championship wins and numerous cup final wins.

Forster is under no illusions about the huge challenge ahead in trying to keep Guisborough in the Ebac Northern League division one, particularly bearing in mind the team’s recent record of only two victories in the last 15 games.

He said: “Clearly, it’s going to be a massive challenge – probably the toughest I have ever had in football – but I will give it my total commitment and endeavour to try to turn things around at this super club. I hope that in time I will be able to replicate the success with the senior team that I enjoyed with the development side.”

Forster has already added to his managerial team by bringing back former Town player Lee Farrington to the coaching staff and he will also retain the services of bright young coach Chris Fairless, who has done an admirable job as caretaker manager.

Guisborough Town chairman Don Cowan said: “There has been tremendous interest in our vacancy for a new manager, which is a tribute in itself to the standing of our club, and in deciding to give the job to Gary Forster we already know we have got a first class new man at the helm.

"He is extremely knowledgeable about the game, well-qualified on the coaching side and is naturally very enthusiastic about tackling the challenge of keeping Guisborough Town in division one of the Ebac Northern League.”

Guisborough’s next game is at home to Newcastle Benfield tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.