Forest Green Rovers have recruited Dan Connor as their goalkeeping coach from Championship side Wigan Athletic.

The 36-year-old former Peterborough United player had been head of academy goalkeeping with the Latics as well as the Ireland Under 21 goalkeeping coach before taking up the vacant role at The New Lawn left by David Coles joining England Under 18s.

Connor joined up with the first-team squad for the first time last week, with Kevin Phillips returning to his role with the Academy as head of coaches, and said that the club ticked all the right boxes for him.

“The style of football, the manager and being involved in first-team football were the main draws,” Connor explained.

“I turned down quite a few jobs over the summer because I felt the club or the manager and style of play didn’t really suite me.

“I think at Forest Green Rovers, a lot of things start with the goalkeeper and it is important that we keep them as goalkeepers, preventers, but also make them a key part in how the manager sets up the team.

“We’d like to think we’d have more of the ball over the course of the season, but we still need to be ready for those times where they get called into action, like Joe (Wollacott) at Charlton, where he takes one to the face that ultimately keeps us in the tie.

“I wouldn’t come to a club that didn’t have ambitions, I’ve got ambitions myself, and I think if we continue to grow together, we’ll all be successful and that is ultimately the main aim.”

The Irishman started his career with Peterborough before signing as a professional for five years.

He went on to play in Ireland with Waterford United, Drogheda United, where he won the league and three cups before they went into administration, and Cork City.

He returned to England with Hereford where he started his coaching before moving to Shrewsbury Town as head of academy goalkeeping, with a UEFA A Goalkeeper Diploma and a UEFA B outfield licence.

Connor was with the Irish U21 side for the Toulon Tournament this summer, and having worked with the three goalkeepers at Forest Green in the last week, he says they will all have their chance to impress for the coveted first-team spot.

“We’ve got to get down to it and we take everyone on their own merit straight away,” he added.

“Whatever preconceptions there are of the goalkeepers we have in the building, that doesn’t hold any sway with me and I’ll take them as I find them.

“Build-up play is important, especially at Forest Green, but ultimately, what a goalkeeper is going to be judged on is his goals conceded.”