Brown moved out of Peterborough Sports manager role

Former Derby County, Hull City and Preston boss Phil Brown has been switched to a director of football role by non-league Peterborough Sports at his own suggestion.

Brown was appointed as manager by the National League North club in September but they have not won any of their last seven games and are in the relegation places.

His last game in charge was a 3-0 defeat by his home-town club South Shields and he told the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast that the change was his idea, and was accepted unanimously by the board.

"It was one of those moments that come to you in management when you think 'is there somebody better than me in the changing room?'," Brown said.

"We didn't look like we knew how to win in the last couple of games, especially South Shields on Saturday just gone, so I suggested to the owner that I take a step out of the changing room to director of football level and let Michael Gash take over as manager."

Forward Gash, who was in joint charge of The Turbines with Luke Steele prior to Brown's arrival at Pims Park, will now lead the team for the rest of the season.

Brown said being around the boardroom would be like entering a foreign country but added: "I'm still there to help the manager - to see if we can win six or seven games out of the last 11.

"I was brought to the club after eight games and four points on board to give the club a chance to survive and I think that's what we've done.

"Am I done in management? No. When you're in a boardroom making decisions, it's still part of senior management and I'm there to support the guy because at the end of the day I've got all that wealth of experience. I've been in the game 47 years.

"I'm going to support the guy to the very bitter end and if anyone is going to lose their job, it'll be me."

Previously an assistant to Sam Allardyce for six years, Brown's managerial career began at Derby and his list of former clubs also includes Southend United, Swindon Town, Barrow and Kidderminster Harriers.

He guided Hull to promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and won the League Two play-off final in 2015 with Southend.

The 66-year-old former full-back also had a 13-month spell in Indian football with Hyderabad, which came to an end in January 2020.

Brown has managed in the top five divisions of English football but told BBC Look East in November that taking a job in the sixth tier was an adjustment.

"Everybody remembers the highest level [with Hull], but if I did something here with Peterborough Sports, there's no doubt in my mind it would be a great achievement," he said.

"If I can keep Peterborough Sports in this division, first and foremost... if we survive this year, which is our first goal, then it's all about next year and can we get promoted? Can we move this club on?"

Chairman Tim Woodward said thanked Brown for his "commitment and contribution" as manager in an "extremely hard season".

He added: "We find ourselves in a precarious position with 11 games to go; I know I can rely on everyone's full support for Gashy and the whole team in what will be 11 cup finals to maintain our position in the National League North."