Forbes seeks new challenge after Texas adventure

A former Norwich City and Luton Town player has left the US club he helped set up from nothing.

In 2024, Adrian Forbes was recruited via the LinkedIn business website from an academy coaching role at Luton to become sporting director of Texoma FC.

He was responsible for recruiting an entire squad of players and then, having also been given the head coach role, for managing them as well.

They finished 12th in USL League One in 2025 but, in a post on LinkedIn, external, 47-year-old Forbes has confirmed that his time with Texoma has come to an end.

"While this wasn't an outcome I had planned, I am proud of what we built and the progress made during my tenure. It was a privilege to work with a committed group of players and sporting department staff," he said.

"The plan from the outset was for me to create a person first environment that allowed all players and staff to be the best form of themselves and for those of you that worked alongside me, I hope I created that environment for you.

"Whilst I am disappointed to no longer be in the role I am proud in what was achieved by the players and sporting department in setting up a year one soccer/ football club from scratch."

Forbes brought in players from Poland, South Africa, Ghana, Gambia and Canada, as well as the US, along with two from England - Luke McCormick and Teddy Baker, who began in the academies at Nottingham Forest and Ipswich.

And he told BBC Radio Norfolk in June last year: "We are all gearing up to make this team as successful as it can be. Our first key aim is to get promoted from USL League One into the USL Championship."

But they won only seven out of 30 games in their debut season, and finished seven points outside the play-off places in the 14-team league.

And last October, the owners of Texoma - who were based at the 6,500-capacity Historic Bearcat Stadium in Sherman, north Texas - decided the club should drop down to USL Two in 2026, the fourth tier of US soccer.

That announcement was followed two months later by the appointment of Steven De Luna as the club's general manager and the promotion of Ben Charvis from academy director to head coach, the role Forbes had previously filled.

"I'm now focused on the next step and open to new opportunities where I can bring my knowledge and experience and continue making a positive impact on players and coaches," he said.

Meanwhile, Texoma owners Jacob West and Ben Watson have formed another new club, Rodeo SC, who plan to play in USL One in 2027, with a base in Celina, 27 miles south of Sherman.