Former Carlisle United defender Dave Rogers has stepped back into management with a role in Ireland.

He has taken charge of League of Ireland First Division club Finn Harps.

It sees 47-year-old Rogers leave his position as Nottingham Forest's Under-21 manager.

It is the latest role in a varied coaching and managerial career for Rogers, who played for the Blues from 2001-2.

He has worked in the USA, South Korea and India and, speaking of his new role, told Finn Harps' website he was "delighted and excited" to be appointed.

"Once the board made initial contact I could sense and feel the passion and pride they have in taking the club forward both on and off the pitch, and also to speak and deal with positive and realistic football people was a big factor," he said. 

"The fact that I’m am signing a long-term contract and basing myself permanently in Donegal shows the ambition and vision and commitment of both myself and the board of directors to create a real culture and identity for Finn Harps FC and, along with a thriving academy, continuing to implement an array of structures and foundations to enable short term gains and long-term stability."

The former centre-half played for the Cumbrians in the 2001/2 season, making 31 appearances under Roddy Collins.

That spell featured in a playing career which saw the Liverpool-born defender turn out for a host of clubs including Chester, Southport, Dundee and Irish sides such as Shelbourne, Derry City, St Patricks Athletic, Dundalk, Lisburn Distillery, Cork City and Limerick.

Finn Harps were relegated from the Irish top-flight last season.

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