Gary Bowyer

Gary Bowyer joined the Derby County Under-23s coaching staff ahead of the 2020/21 season following Craig Short’s departure to take up the vacant assistant manager’s position at Oxford United.

Bowyer’s primary role sees him work closely with Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Pat Lyons to oversee the running of Derby’s Under-23 side and his appointment saw him take up a role in the Rams’ youth set-up for the second time in his coaching career.

He spent four years working in Derby’s Academy between 2000 and 2004, during which time played a key role in the development of the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Lee Holmes, Lee Grant, Marcus Tudgay, Lee Camp and Pablo Mills.

Bowyer, a former professional at Hereford United, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United, went on to join Blackburn Rovers as their Under-18s Coach upon leaving Derby and, after two spells in Caretaker Charge in the 2012/13 campaign, he went on to become their first-team manager in May 2013.

He remained in charge at Ewood Park until in November 2015, before returning to management in June 2016 at Blackpool after a brief break. He guided the Seasiders to promotion in his first season in charge, in 2016/17, via the League 2 Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium against Exeter City.

Bowyer left Blackpool ahead of the 2018/19 season and went on to have a spell in charge of Bradford City, between March 2019 and February 2020.