BROMSGROVE Rovers' new manager Rod Brown made a plea for unity by asking the club's disgruntled fans to get behind the team.

Brown, who replaced Jimmy Mullen as manager on Thursday, January 5, wants fans to forget the last few weeks and concentrate on the team's good form.

Many fans are unhappy with the way Mullen was treated before he resigned and feel chairman Tom Herbert forced him out so he could replace him with Brown.

Former Stourport Swifts and Redditch United boss Brown though believes the most important thing now is to concentrate on trying to win promotion from the Southern League Division One West.

He said: "I'm fully aware of what happened before I came and that the fans weren't happy with it. But I'm not interested in politics, I'm a football manager and I'm really excited to be here.

"I don't want to get involved with all the politics and the ill feeling with the chairman. That's nothing to do with me.

"What I want is the fans to get behind the team. We've had four good results and it's important that we keep that going. If we can win our games in hand then we are right up there with the main sides.

"I've always got on with the fans at Redditch and Stourport and hopefully the Rovers supporters and I can get along."

The new manager has wasted little time in trying to bolster a small squad. With the departure of Phil Male to Willenhall and Scott Hadland to Halesowen in recent weeks Rovers' first team squad is down to the bare bones.

Moor Green defender John Snape will come in as player/coach, while 20-year-old centre back Gavin Hurren has joined from Kidderminster Harriers' on a month's loan.

Hurren, who was groomed at Nottingham Forest's academy, made a full debut for Harriers in the 3-1 win over Dagenham and Redbridge. Brown is also set to speak with former Worcester City striker Mark Owen, after the club put in a seven-day request on Friday, January 6, to Malvern.

Owen has been in good form for Malvern this season and Brown is aware that Rovers' need to find a regular goal scorer.

He said: "We do need someone to convert the chances we make. But the defenders need more communication. We're a very quiet team and John (Snape) could be a bit of a general for us."

Herbert admitted he was pleased to have Brown on board after Mullen's departure.

He said: "Jim left the club on Thursday morning and left us in the lurch. I called Rod Brown after about the job and I'm glad to say he accepted our offer.

"I feel he's the manager with the pedigree to get this club promoted. He has the experience, the connections and the know-how.

"I did speak to Rod before Jim left to see if he was interested in the manager's post, but he's been a long term target of mine."

Former manager Mullen blamed the sacking of assistant manager Bernard Mackie over Christmas as the reason why he left Rovers last week. Mackie was sacked by the board in a bid to cut the budget.

Mullen said: "I'm disappointed to be going because I've always felt that the club is a sleeping giant.

"There are lots of very good people at the club who have given me tremendous support.

"The fans have been fantastic to me and Bernard (Mackie) since the very first day and their support has been brilliant."

"There isn't a problem between me and the chairman. He actually asked me to stay, but I thought my position was untenable."

By Peter McKinney