Former Carlisle United manager lands National League role

The ex-Blues boss has linked up with new manager Phil Brown at struggling Kidderminster Harriers.

McDonald, 58, has joined the Aggborough club as assistant to the experienced Brown.

The former United chief had previously been No2 at Indian Premier League club Bengaluru, where he had succeeded former Blues colleague Eric Kinder as Simon Grayson's assistant.

He now returns to the English game in an attempt to help Brown lift Kidderminster out of trouble.

Brown was appointed Kiddy boss in place of another ex-Carlisle man, Russell Penn, who was sacked last week.

Brown says he and McDonald, who have worked together at previous clubs including, most recently, Barrow, want to put their stamp on Kidderminster and do all they can to help them survive. They are four points adrift at the foot of the table.

“I really want people to now say it’s my team," said Brown in the Express and Star.

Phil Brown and McDonald have worked together on a number of occasions, most recently at Barrow in 2022 (Image: Barrow AFC)

"Albeit I have inherited the problem and the club, it is now my team and we’re talking about ‘we’ now. It’s a massive ‘we’ project.

"I want people to understand that Kidderminster Harriers is now managed by Phil Brown and Neil McDonald, and whatever happens between now and the end of the season will be our responsibility.”

McDonald was in charge at Carlisle in the 2006/07 season, leading the Blues to an eighth-placed finish in League One after he replaced Preston-bound Paul Simpson at the helm.

He was sacked after one game of the following campaign.

McDonald went on to manage Swedish club Ostersunds and has also been in the top job at Blackpool and Limerick.

The former Carlisle schoolboy player has also had a number of assistant manager spells at clubs including West Ham United, Lincoln City, Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Swindon Town.