Ashvir Singh Johal has made history as the first Sikh to manage a professional British football club, being appointed head coach of Morecambe.
Idman.biz, citing BBC, reports that at 30, he also becomes the youngest manager across the top five tiers of English football. Johal replaces Derek Adams, who was sacked earlier this week, following the club’s takeover by the Panjab Warriors consortium, ending months of uncertainty.
Johal, who has never managed a first-team side, previously worked under Kolo Toure at Wigan and assisted Cesc Fabregas at Italian side Como’s youth setup. He also spent a decade in Leicester City’s academy and recently earned his UEFA Pro Licence, becoming one of the youngest in English football to do so.
Despite his historic appointment, Morecambe face immediate challenges. The club has only five contracted players and is currently not insured to train. Their opening fixture against Altrincham this Saturday may be postponed, following the National League’s earlier suspension of the club for regulatory non-compliance.
Johal expressed ambition to create a professional environment that develops a clear team identity and maximizes player potential.
Idman.biz
