Football League manager Gary Bowyer has shared the story about being appointed Salford City boss after a loan deal was struck with Derby County in 2021.
Bowyer is currently in charge of Burton Albion, having previously managed Blackburn, Blackpool, Bradford, Salford and Dundee. The Englishman left Bradford in February 2020 and became the coach of the Derby County U21s side a few months later, but in March 2021 Salford signed him on loan until the end of the 2020/21 season.
Salford paid no fee to Derby to bring Bowyer in, but did cover his wages as part of the loan agreement. While at Moor Lane, he worked directly with the famous Class of '92 from Manchester United, in what proved a bizarre set of circumstances.
EFL manager Gary Bowyer recalls being loaned as a manager
"It was completely different, as you can imagine. I was fortunate to move there, initially on loan, from Derby Under-21s," Gary Bowyer exclusively tells FourFourTwo. "I may be the only manager who’s ever gone out on loan! We had a good go at getting into the play-offs, missing out on the final day. My line manager was Gary Neville, so I’d chat to him regularly, and occasionally with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes too. I loved the history and where the club came from."
He impressed in his eight games in charge, almost earning a play-off spot, and was appointed by Salford on a full-time basis at the end of the campaign. Bowyer, though, admits that he didn't always have his sights set on management, despite moving into coaching after having to retire from playing at 25.
"I never set myself that target," Bowyer tells FourFourTwo. "I found myself in a situation at Blackburn where I was asked to take charge of the team. It was only supposed to be for the one game, away at Barnsley; we won 3-1, so that extended for a period.
"Later on I was made caretaker again – I think I was the fifth boss in a season of chaos – and once I’d led them to the end of the campaign, I’d got the bug for it. I’m grateful to Anuradha Desai for giving me a chance to be a full-time manager."
He admits that stepping into the permenant manager's role at Blackburn in May 2013 taught him "a hell of a lot", not least because he had to work with the Venky's.
"I learned a huge amount about Indian culture, which was really interesting," Bowyer adds. "I liked working closely with the board, learning about the business, contract negotiations and player agents. Ultimately you’re learning about people – and about yourself. I made mistakes at Blackburn, but the important thing is to learn from them. I had a wonderful opportunity and it stood me in very good stead for the rest of my career."
After leaving Blackburn, Bowyer took over at Blackpool, leading them to promotion in League Two via the play-offs at the end of the 2016/17 season. He managed that in his first season, all while fans were protesting the Oystons' ownership.
"It was total chaos," Bowyer recalls. "Blackpool had been through back-to-back relegations and the supporters were boycotting. I can’t give the staff and players enough praise for that first year. We didn’t allow an environment for excuses; we assembled a good set of lads and were somehow able to make memories to last a lifetime. I still keep in touch with plenty of them. Leading your team out at Wembley is one of the highest points of your career – to win just topped the day off."
Upon departing Dundee in May 2023, Bowyer spent 18 months out of management before finally stepping back in at Burton in December, though the Brewers were 23rd in League One and staring down the barrel of relegation. While they're still in the relegation zone, Bowyer has certainly ensured Burton have an opportunity to survive in the final few weeks of the season.
"It was a fantastic opportunity," Bowyer says. "I’d been out of work since I won the Scottish Championship with Dundee. I’d missed out on a couple of jobs in League One, turned down several offers in England and abroad, then I got this chance and, after speaking to the people here, I saw it was exciting. I already knew one or two, which made it much easier to settle in. Everybody’s been working together to try to get us out of the bottom four.
"Many managers are out of work and, mentally, it’s difficult. The day-to-day routine, dealing with players, being out on the grass – everything you worked for – is suddenly taken away. You have to be very disciplined. Luckily, people allowed me to watch their teams train, and I went on university courses through the LMA and PFA. BBC Radio Lancashire also looked after me so well with games to co-commentate on. We have to keep checking in on managers out of work, because it’s a lonely place."
