New manager David Dunn can't wait to guide Barrow AFC through what will be their first season in the English Football League in 48 years.

Dunn was appointed by the Bluebirds on a two-year contract yesterday as he replaced the man who led the team to a historic promotion from the National League, Ian Evatt.

AFC have moved swiftly to fill the vacancy Evatt left behind when he departed for Bolton Wanderers, with former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Dunn admitting the last week has 'happened so fast.'

He has already started the process of trying to strengthen his squad for whenever the 2020/21 season in League Twp gets under way and he has a solid base to build on, with most of the 11 players already contracted being key members of the previous campaign.

Dunn said: "It was 1972 the last time that they were in the Football League, so I'm very privileged to be leading the team into that first season back up, so it's hopefully going to be a good journey for everybody.

"They're been on a good journey as it is. I thought Ian Evatt did a fabulous job and I've actually been up to a few of the games already last season.

"I really enjoyed watching them and they've got a really good nucleus of players, although a lot of them are untested in League football, so it's going to be a little bit of a jump.

"I'm sure if they can take the momentum on from last season then they will be fine and they can do really well."

It's a second stab at management at senior level for Dunn, who was thrust into the role at Oldham Athletic at the end of his playing career in September 2015, only to be sacked by the Latics just over three months later.

He has since forged a good reputation as a coach, first back with Blackburn and then with Blackpool, where he took caretaker charge for four matches earlier in the year following the sacking of Simon Grayson.

Dunn said: "The Oldham one was difficult because I was player-manager and it is really difficult to do the two. I was really inexperienced at the time - it was my first coaching role then. I'd never even coached before, other than taking my badges and the hours put in on the courses.

"Then I went to do the under-23s at Blackburn and had a really good time there before I went to Blackpool in January and then had them four games when Simon unfortunately got sacked.

"It whetted my appetite to do it [full-time] and I really enjoyed them four games, so it definitely had an influence on my decision to come here."