A FORMER Preston Athletic manager is now on the coaching staff at Manchester United.

Willie Kirk, who was in charge of the Pennypit side between September 2014 and May 2015, has been appointed assistant manager of the Premier League giants' new women's side.

He will work with head coach Casey Stoney at the newly-formed United women’s team which will compete in the second-tier FA Women’s Championship.

He joins having spent three years as head coach of Bristol City Women, where he led the team to promotion to the top flight from WSL2 in 2016.

The 40-year-old, who was also a youth coach at Hibs, said: "To have the chance to work with Casey Stoney and to be part of a team that is being set up from scratch, to me, is an opportunity not to be missed.

"Manchester United is renowned around the globe for developing young talent and that will continue in the women’s team.

“I would like to thank Casey for giving me this opportunity and I know that our skills and experience will complement each other as we work together to develop an exciting new team.”

And on Twitter, he added: "An absolute honour and privilege to be named women’s assistant coach, with the biggest club in the world."

Ex-England international Stoney, 36, said she was "over the moon" to have the ex-Preston boss on her coaching staff.