Former Carlisle United manager Neil McDonald has returned to Barrow for a third spell.
The ex-Blues boss has joined the Holker Street club as joint assistant coach.
McDonald heads to south Cumbria to join League Two's 17th-placed club as part of Andy Whing's backroom team.
Barrow AFC are delighted to announce the return of Neil McDonald as Joint Assistant Head Coach 🙌
Welcome back, Neil 🤝#WeAreBarrow— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) November 27, 2025
He will share assistant duties with Craig Pead as he adds a third spell to his previous stints at Barrow in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.
McDonald replaces Rob Kelly, who recently left Barrow in order to join Reading as assistant manager.
The man who managed Carlisle in 2006/07, speaking on Barrow's website, said: "As soon as I spoke with Andy and Craig, I was impressed by their passion and eagerness to succeed and was a very appealing factor in re-joining the club.
"I have been in this week and been very impressed with the standard in training and quality we have in the squad and am very excited for the weekend and what we can achieve together."
McDonald, 60, was previously at Hartlepool United as assistant to Simon Grayson, leaving the Monkey Hangers in October.
Barrow boss Whing added: "We’re delighted to bring in someone of Neil’s experience to the football club. He’s been here before so gets what the football club is about and I’m really looking forward to working with Neil and lean on that experience and knowledge."
The former Brunton Park schoolboy player, who went on to star for Newcastle United and Everton in his playing days, was Carlisle manager from the summer of 2006 after replacing Preston North End-bound Paul Simpson.
He led the Cumbrians to eighth in their first season back in League One, before being sacked after one game of the following campaign.
He has since managed Swedish side Ostersunds, Blackpool and Irish outfit Limerick, and has held numerous coaching positions at clubs such as Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United, Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, Lincoln City, Hull City, Scunthorpe United, Swindon Town, Walsall, Hartlepool, Kidderminster and Indian clubs Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Carlisle also made a bid to bring McDonald back for a second spell as manager in 2014 before the appointment of Keith Curle, at a time McDonald was assistant to Sam Allardyce at West Ham.
His first game back at Barrow will be Saturday's trip to Newport County.
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