Troy Deeney has been announced player-head coach on a permanent basis at Forest Green Rovers, who have parted company with head coach David Horseman, Sky Sports News understands.

Forest Green are second-bottom in League Two and have won only twice in their last 14 league matches.

Horseman was appointed in July following the club's relegation, replacing caretaker manager Hannah Dingley, who had stepped into the role which made her the first woman to take charge of a men's senior English professional football team following the departure of Duncan Ferguson.

Deeney, 35, holds a UEFA A coaching license and joined Forest Green in August as a player-coach. He is now set to take on his first management role with the Gloucestershire-based club hosting Gillingham in League Two on Friday.

Deeney left his hometown club Birmingham at the end of last season having joined in 2021. The striker previously spent more than a decade with Watford as captain and was part of the squads that won two promotions to the Premier League in 2015 and 2021.

At the Hornets, Deeney became friends with Horseman, who worked in the club's academy.

Deeney began his career with Halesowen and Walsall before moving to Watford in 2010 where He made 419 appearances and scored 140 goals.