IAN King has provided Worcester City with a “network of contacts” at Football League clubs across the East Midlands, according to manager Carl Heeley.

The 41-year-old has joined City as first team coach and Heeley believes he will add "great value” to the Vanarama National League North club.

Daventry-based King, who was a youngster at Aston Villa before moving to Stoke City, has previously played for Rushden and Diamonds, Stevenage and Nuneaton.

Although Heeley remembered facing the former skilful midfielder, he admitted he was unaware of his coaching credentials until he contacted Leamington manager Paul Holleran.

“I was looking around to see who was available and Paul, who I get on really well with, said to me Ian has been working with him at Leamington and wants work at a higher level,” Heeley said.

“Paul spoke very highly of him and, after doing a bit of background on him, I realised there was another link to an old manager of mine who knew him well, so it just spiralled from there.

“When I had a chat with him, I liked his ideas straight away and what his philosophies were on the game and we struck a deal, so I am delighted to get him on board.”

As well as coaching at Worcester, King will continue to work as a regional officer for the League Football Education (LFE).

The LFE is a partnership between The Football League and The Professional Footballers’ Association responsible for managing the apprenticeship programme across 76 professional football clubs.

King is also a former head of education at Birmingham City and Heeley says he will “fit in nicely” with him and assistant boss John Snape.

“Part of the remit of his job at the League Football Education is to go around clubs, predominantly in the East Midlands,” Heeley said.

“They deal with the education side of the apprentices, so it opens up a network of contacts within those clubs.

“There is also an existing relationship there, so it is easy to pick the phone up to people, but when you have already got a relationship which has developed there, it makes life a lot easier.

“Ian will bring that with him, so I think he is a very good acquisition.”

Heeley added: “We have had lots of constructive conversations about players and I think he will fit in nicely with me and John.

“He will add great value to the backroom team and I am looking forward to working with him.”