Cheltenham Town are delighted to announce that former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has been appointed as the new first team assistant manager.
The 53-year-old is the newest addition to manager Darrell Clarke's backroom team and has agreed to assist the Robins boss initially until the end of the season.
He takes up the role which has been vacant since the start of the year, following the departure of former assistant Adam Murray.
Baraclough made over 600 career appearances as a player at the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Scunthorpe United, before turning his attentions to coaching during his time at Glanford Park.
He was appointed caretaker manager in September 2010 following the departure of then manager Nigel Adkins before being named as the new boss just weeks later.
The Leicester born coach went on to manage League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers through one of the clubs' most succesful periods, helping them to their first league title in 35 years.
Spells with Scottish Premiership outfit Motherwell and Northern Ireland's U21s followed before Baraclough was appointed as the manager of the senior team in June 2020.
He spent just over two years at the helm, with his side most notably narrowly missing out on the Euro 2020 finals, following a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia in the qualifying play-offs.
Speaking upon his arrival Ian said:
"I'm pleased to be back in football and I'm pleased to be working for someone like Darrell. I have known him a very long time since my playing days at Mansfield.
"Whenever I've played against Cheltenham there's always been a real good feel about the place, a real community club.
"We're in a great position now and we've got a great chance of getting out of it and looking upwards in the league."
Ian will be in the dugout for the first time at this weekend's home clash with Carlisle United, having been involved in training this week.
Welcome to Cheltenham, Ian!