The 42-year-old, who holds a UEFA A coaching license, replaces Lee Fowler, who left the Robins recently, and returns to the New Manor Ground after enjoying four spells at Ilkeston Town as a player, joining from Mansfield Town where he made a handful of League appearances, and winning several promotions before he went on to play in the League again with Boston United, for whom he appeared 56 times.

He has spent the last four years at Basford United, the majority of that time as assistant-manager to Martin Carruthers as they enjoyed a great deal of success, including promotion to the NPL Premier Division.

Clifford worked through the ranks at Basford from under-21 manager in 2015 through to joining Carruthers in 2016 as number two and embarking on a 2017/18 campaign that saw Basford win the NPL South Division at a canter registering over 100 points.

Following the exit of Carruthers in March 2019, Clifford showed loyalty in walking away from his front-line management position at Basford but re-joined the club in July.