Women's Super League: Doncaster Rovers Belles appoint Glen Harris as head coach

Doncaster Rovers Belles have appointed former Lincoln Ladies manager Glen Harris as head coach as they bid for promotion back to the top tier of women's football.

Harris was a key figure at Lincoln Ladies, managing them until 2004 and then taking over again in 2011. During his second spell he took them to a fifth place finish in the FA Women's Super League 1.

He left in October 2012 to become technical director at the Lincoln Centre of Excellence and oversaw the centre’s Under-17 side who won their league last season whilst seeing a number of players advance into senior football.

Doncaster are in League 2 and Harris, who takes over ahead of the 2015 season, will be targeting one of the two promotion spots into the top tier.

He said: “I'm really honoured to be asked to be the new Doncaster Rovers Belles head coach. It's a well established women's club with a great history in the game and it's an honour to be a part of the Belles.

“I’m excited to be back involved in the FAWSL after a couple of years out, although I've been involved with the Lincoln Centre of Excellence since then. I'm really looking forward to the start of the season and bringing the success to the Belles that they greatly deserve.”

The Belles' Director of Football, Julie Chipchase, added: "Glen has experience at the top level of the women's game, knows many of our players and brings an impressive footballing philosophy to the Belles. I am particularly excited to be working with Glen on the next stages of developing our younger players and academy structure.”

The club said it had applicants from Italy, Belgium, Croatia and the UK, including some with experience of international football.