Laws leaves Rovers to return to Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe United have confirmed today that Brian Laws will take over as their new manager.  This ends Laws’ role as Director of Football with Shamrock Rovers, a position that he took up in September following the departure of Stephen Kenny from the Hoops.

With the Airtricity League Premier Division concluding last Friday, there had been much speculation as to what position Laws would take up next; whether he would take up a full time managerial role with the 2010 and 2011 league champions Shamrock Rovers or would he return to England where he had been linked with a number of managerial roles including Hartlepool.  

Today it was confirmed that Laws has taken the opportunity to return to manage Scunthorpe, a club where he previously had spells both as a player and as a manager.  He will take over from Alan Knill who was relieved of his managerial duties with ‘The Iron’ today.   United currently sit 22^nd in Football League One.

Laws was appointed as Shamrock Rovers Director of Football, as well as taking charge of team affairs, in September when Stephen Kenny departed Rovers.  It wasn’t a great start for Laws who saw his side comprehensible beaten in his first game in charge – a 3-1 defeat to Drogheda United in the EA Sports Cup final in Tallaght Stadium.

However, the Hoops performances did improve under Laws but he couldn’t get his team into third place in the league, which would have guaranteed Rovers European football next season.   He was also advising the Hoops on the club’s short-term strategy, advising the club on what structures needed to be put in place surrounding the playing squad for the club to return to the success of previous seasons.

His overall record in charge of Rovers saw the Hoops win four matches along with three defeats.  The wins included a 7-0 demolition of Dundalk and last Friday’s 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers, on the night the Bit o’ Red were crowned 2012 Airtricity League Champions. 

Rovers thanked Laws for his contribution to the club during his six-week stint in Tallaght. His evaluation report on the football set up at Rovers is currently been prepared and the club has wished him the best in his new position with Scunthorpe and in the future.