Gloucester City name former Shots number two James Rowe as manager

Former Aldershot number two James Rowe is the new manager of National League North Gloucester City.
The 36-year-old was unveiled as the successor to Mike Cook on Tuesday night, three days after his predecessor’s surprise sacking by the Tigers.
Rowe, pictured, has signed a two year deal as full-time manager running until the end of the 2021-22 season.
He is not short on experience to add to the two fifth placed finished he helped the Shots secure as assistant manager.
After playing in the National League and the Isthmian League‘s top flight, Rowe first moved into coaching as manager of Nottingham Trent University. A two year stint was followed by three years at as Lead Youth Development Coach at Birmingham City.
A UEFA A and B licence holder, as assistant academy director at West Ham United Rowe helped to  develop and mentor a number of top players as youngsters such as Declan Rice and Leicester City’s Demarari Gray.
As part of his professional development, Row has also spent time on observational visits with Steve McClaren at Derby County, Wim Jonk at Ajax Amsterdam and Alex Inglethorpe at Liverpool.
According to a club statement, City’s players met their new boss at training on Tuesday night.
Gloucester City co-chairman Alex Petheram said: “We see him very much as the missing piece of the puzzle for the long-term. James is a young manager so different styles, different types of thinking, different types of management.
“The key thing for us was someone who’s used to full-time football and gone through the transition of part-time to full-time, someone that’s been involved in the highest level of English football in some form of capacity and James has got that from his days at Birmingham and West Ham.
“The Premier League link for us is huge because it means we can grow our community programme. He’s the first manager to be based at Meadow Park ever full-time and he’s the first manager to be at Meadow Park in 12 years.”
He added: “The whole reason James has got an office at Meadow Park is because this is going to be his home. It’s going to be a bit noisy, especially after Christmas.”
Rowe told fans he was impressed with the club’s vision and potential. “I was really impressed with the vision of where the club wants to be and the potential here is huge with coming back to the city,” said the new Tigers boss.
“I’m really proud that I’m hopefully going to be part of leading the team back out at Meadow Park.”
Rowe – who will take charge for the first time on Saturday for the visit of Bradford Park Avenue in the third qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy –  has told the Tigers squad they were starting his reign with a “clean slate”.
“At the moment everyone gets an opportunity that’s in the squad. It’s a completely clean slate. It’s not just for now it’s, ‘do you want to be part of something going forwards here?
“Coming back to Meadow Park especially for the city and the club is something to be excited about. So there’s something to play for, for everybody.”

Cook, 51, had been in charge since succeeding Chris Todd in January and guiding them to safety last term.
Cook left with City sitting in 12th spot in the table, his departure announced after the club’s game at Alfreton Town on Saturday fell foul of the weather.