Mansfield Town

In accepting the new role, Mike has left his position as academy manager at EFL Championship club Burton Albion.

Mike returns to One Call Stadium following a spell as Centre of Excellence manager in 2009/10.

The UEFA A licensed coach then enjoyed a successful six-year-spell at the Pirelli Stadium.

As a player, Mike made over 400 appearances in a professional career which lasted almost 20 years.

A Coca Cola Cup winner with Leicester City and former Players’ Player of the Season with Bolton Wanderers, Mike was also a part of the Leeds United squad which won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in the early 1990s.

Ending his career at Notts County, he became the Magpies’ youth and reserve coach as he embarked on a career in coaching young players.

On  accepting the new position at One Call Stadium, Mike told www.mansfieldtown.net: “This is a great opportunity for me. I want to be out ‘on the grass’ day in day out and this new role allows me to do that.

“I am already looking forward to meeting the players in the new U21 set up and helping them develop.

“The club has certainly progressed since I was last here and it was very promising meeting with the gaffer (Adam Murray), who clearly has a very pro-active attitude in developing young players, as was emphasised last season with the manager utilising some of the youngsters in his first team.

“It’s important to be at a club which wants to progress young players and I know that Mansfield Town are that type of club.”

The 48-year-old added: “I came to Brooksby College earlier today for a look around (home of the club’s youth set up), where I met with John Dempster (youth team manager) and his staff who made me feel very welcome.

“They are dedicated to doing their utmost to help our young players develop to give them every possible chance of earning a professional deal.”

This season, the U21s will compete in the Central League against Chesterfield, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Rotherham and York City.