Tranmere Rovers have announced that former Premier League manager Nigel Adkins has taken on the role of Technical Director as per the club’s official website.
Adkins comes into the role following a break from football, his last post was at Charlton Athletic, where he was first-team manager for 6 months back in 2021.
Tranmere and Adkins are no strangers to one another, Adkins of course coming from Merseyside himself actually started his playing career with the Superwhites.
Who is Nigel Adkins?
A wealth of managerial experience is what Adkins brings with him having had spells with Bangor, Scunthorpe, Southampton, Reading, Sheffield United, Reading, Hull and Charlton.
His most successful periods could be considered his time with Scunthorpe and Southampton, taking The Iron from League One to the Championship and Southampton from League One to the Premier League.
There’s no doubting his managerial experience but apart from a 10-year spell as a physiotherapist at Scunthorpe before moving to become their first team manager, this is Adkins first role in the backroom.
What is the role and what did the club chairman have to say?
As per the club’s announcement, Nigel will focus his time on key footballing processes such as recruitment, development and management, as well as mentoring newly appointed boss Ian Dawes.
“Nigel will oversee the key football processes within the Club (recruitment, development and management) as well as acting as a mentor and advisor to manager Ian Dawes.”
Here’s what club chairman Mark Palios had to say following the announcement.
“Appointing Nigel to this important role is the final piece in the jigsaw we have been assembling. As a former Tranmere player, a physiotherapist and a hugely experienced manager, Nigel is uniquely well-placed to sit across the Club’s critical football processes. His wise counsel will doubtless be invaluable to Ian Dawes as he seeks to make his mark as an up-and-coming manager. With Nigel, Ian Dawes, Neil Danns, Andy Parkinson and the returning Andy Hodgen all playing integral roles within the team-behind-the-team, I think we have assembled an exciting group of professionals to give us a platform for success.”
What has Nigel Adkins said following the news?
As with most announcements the new recruit normally has a few words to share, here’s what Adkins had to say following the news of his appointment.
“The opportunity to come back to Tranmere Rovers, my hometown club where it all started as an apprentice professional footballer, and to work with my former teammate Mark Palios was too big to turn down. There is a vision to improve and develop and I’m excited to be part of the process.”
Writers View
It’s certainly an interesting appointment in terms of the role that it’s in and the fact that Adkins hasn’t done this role in the past.
But you can’t questions his football CV, he has a wealth of experience and will be a great mentor to new boss Ian Dawes.
There’s no hiding that Tranmere have underachieved this season and from the outside looking in certainly seems they are eager to make sure next season is a successful one.
