Forest Green Rovers have made Football League history by appointing a woman as their new interim manager after parting ways with Duncan Ferguson.
Daily Mail report that Hannah Dingley took training after Ferguson's sacking this week, with their first League Two fixture coming on August 5 - and it's not the first time she has been a trailblazer.
A female boss has never before taken charge in men's professional English football, with owner Dale Vince known for pushing boundaries.
The report adds that Dingley, who has a UEFA Pro Licence, is set to continue leading sessions with a friendly against Melksham Town on Wednesday night.
READ MORE: Duncan Ferguson sacked by Forest Green Rovers just one month before start of new season
Dingley, who was the first woman in Britain to study BTEC Football Studies in school, has been in charge of Forest Green's academy team.
That role also made history, with Dingley the only woman in charge of a men's academy side before stepping into her new role.
Dingley worked at Burton Albion before moving to The New Lawn Stadium four years ago, saying that she feels a great responsibility as a trailblazer.
Dingley also said earlier this year that a managerial job in men's football was not currently in her plans, backing another boss to be the first.
When asked earlier this year when a men's team might appoint a woman as manager, Dingley told the BBC: "It will come in sooner than you think.
"The success that the Lionesses are having, that Emma Hayes is having at Chelsea.
"There are others, really good female coaches out there who I have more than faith in would be more than capable of coaching at a men's level.
"They're players at the end of the day. It's football at the end of the day, that doesn't change. I don't think it'll be long before you see a female on the touchline."
The decision to appoint the 39-year-old comes the same day that fans were told of Ferguson's exit, days after he had discussed his plans for the new season in an interview posted on the club website.
The shock announcement came alongside a statement from chairman Vince, who had previously backed Ferguson to turn their fortunes around.
It began: "It’d been a privilege to work with Dunc these last few months and this was a very difficult decision to make.
"I’m grateful to Dunc for joining us in such difficult circumstances and for all of his hard work at the club.
"But I feel this is overall the right decision for everyone and I wish Dunc well in his next coaching role. We are parting as friends. You can’t ask for much more than that."
Ferguson, who starred in the top flight for Everton as a player, took charge back in January but the club slipped to relegation from League One.
Ferguson won only one of his 18 matches in charge of the club, but had spoke about preseason plans a matter of days before his exit was confirmed.
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