Soccer:Brian Laws has left Shamrock Rovers to take up the position of manager at Scunthorpe United. The former Nottingham Forest defender was installed as temporary director of football at Rovers after former manager Stephen Kenny was sacked in early September.

“Shamrock Rovers would like to thank temporary director of football, Brian Laws for his contribution to the club over the last six weeks,” a statement read today.

“Brian was brought in to lead the first team until the end of the season and also to evaluate the football set up at the club.

“The board of directors has met with Brian and he is preparing a report which will be useful to the club into the future. The director of football position was always a temporary one until the end of the 2012 season.

“Shamrock Rovers would like to wish Brian the very best in his new position as manager at Scunthorpe United and in all his endeavours in the future.”

Laws is taking over from Alan Knill, who was sacked today by League One strugglers Scunthorpe.

The 51-year-old will be taking charge of The Iron for the third time after spells at the club between 1997 and March 2004 and April 2004 to 2006. Laws was sacked by Scunthorpe in March 2004 before being reinstated three weeks later.

Laws, who is due to start work at the club tomorrow, will take over with club sitting 22nd in the table, having lost five of their last seven games.