BURY AFC have appointed Andy Welsh as their first manager.

The 36-year-old, most recently Ossett United boss, has been tasked with leading the fan-owned club in their inaugural season in the North West Counties First Division North.

The former winger played for Sunderland in the Premier League and also had spells with Stockport, Toronto, Blackpool, Yeovil, Carlisle and FC United among others.

He is no stranger to leading a new club having been chosen as the manager of United when Ossett Albion merged with Ossett Town.

Welsh led the club to the Northern Premier League First Division South East play-offs in the 2018/19 season, their first, leaving the club last November.

He also won the West Riding FA County Cup during his time in West Yorkshire.

Plenty of attention will be on the phoenix club and how they progress when the new campaign begins in September, but chairman Chris Murray insists no unrealistic goals have been set for the man in charge.

“When we interviewed Andy it was very apparent that he was the man to lead Bury AFC forward,” he said.

“He immediately got the ethos of the club and what we want to achieve both in the short and long term.

“We’ve set Andy realistic expectations that we feel match the expectations of the fanbase.

“Obviously first and foremost we want the fans to buy into the way Andy wants the team to play and to create a team that the fans can be proud of on the pitch.”

Appointing a manger represents the latest major announcement from Bury AFC.

Having had their league placing confirmed by the FA, this week they have revealed their club crest, kit supplier and put out an appeal for volunteers to help them on match days when they start life in the 10th tier.

Final arrangements of their groundshare are also being sorted, the new club set to play their home matches away from the Shakers’ traditional Gigg Lane home.