Hannah Dingley becomes 1st woman to coach pro men's side in English football

League Two side Forest Green Rovers have become England's first professional men's football team to be managed by a woman after appointing Hannah Dingley as new caretaker boss.

Rovers sacked former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson as manager on Tuesday and later announced that its academy head Dingley would take interim charge.

The club was relegated from League One - the third tier of English football - last season.

The League Two season does not kick off until next month, but Dingley will be in charge for a friendly match against non-league Melksham Town on Wednesday.

"I'm really excited for this next step of my career. Pre-season has just begun, and the full season kicks off very soon," said Dingley, 39.

Club chairman Dale Vince said Dingley was "the natural choice," adding "she's done a fantastic job leading our academy and is well aligned with the values of the club.

"It's perhaps telling for the men's game that in making this appointment on merit, we'll break new ground - and Hannah will be the first female head coach in English (men's) football."

Based in the unlikely setting of rural Gloucestershire, southwest England, Rovers rose through England's non-league football pyramid and achieved league status after promotion to League Two in 2017.

Under Vince's chairmanship, Forest Green became the world's first vegan football club in 2015 and numerous green initiatives have been implemented at its home ground.