Gary Bowyer: Salford City appoint former Blackburn Rovers boss as manager

Gary Bowyer helped Blackpool to promotion from League Two but left the following season amid off-field issues

Former Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City boss Gary Bowyer has been appointed as Salford City's new manager until the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Bowyer is currently Derby County's under-23s boss and will re-join the Rams once the season has finished.

The 49-year-old, who helped Blackpool to promotion from League Two in 2017, replaces Richie Wellens following his departure by mutual consent on Monday.

"I'm delighted to be here," Bowyer told Salford's website.

"I've got to first and foremost thank Wayne Rooney, Darrell Russell at Derby County for being so helpful to allow me to come here.

"Obviously today is a case of meeting the players and setting the expectations of what we expect of them from now until the end of the season."

The former Hereford and Rotherham defender will be assisted by former Manchester United reserves boss Warren Joyce and ex-Manchester United midfielder Darren Gibson.

Salford are currently ninth in League Two, six points off the play-off places after defeat by leaders Cheltenham on Saturday.

Bowyer's first game will be away to Exeter City on Saturday.

"We want them to be playing aggressive football both with and without the ball, and have a right good go at these remaining 11 games," he said.

"We have an opportunity like everybody else in this league to try to force our way into the reckoning to try to get into the play offs and see if we can do that."