FORMER West Bromwich Albion star and Northern Ireland international Bernard McNally has come on board to help Droitwich Spa relaunch a second-string side.

An initiative between Droitwich Spa and Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls will see the town's two clubs reinstate a reserve team after an absence of four seasons.

McNally who made more than 150 appearances for the Baggies between 1989 and 1995 has agreed to run open trials later this month.

The 55-year-old also won five caps for Northern Ireland during his playing career which includes spells at Shrewsbury Town and Hednesford Town before moving into management.

Joint manager Mark Owen said: “Bernard is close friends with my assistant Wayne Oliver. They go back a few years so he has been asked to come in and run the rule over the trials and see how it goes from there.

“The more players you can get within your club the greater spectrum you have got to work from.

“We have been quite lucky with the first team as I think everyone is from within a 15-mile radius of the club.

“All local players who want to play for an up and coming club are welcome.”

The trials will take place on Sunday, July 22 from 10am until 2pm at the astro turf pitches behind Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre.

Players aged over 16 will need to bring astro turf trainers, shin pads and water.

The club say the open trials are the first step towards building a squad who will play a series of friendlies over the course of the next 12 months with a view to joining competitive football within the non-league pyramid for the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

The side is expected to bridge the current gap for talented players in the town to progress through the Boys and Girls' youth ranks to under 18s, under 21s and Droitwich’s reserve and first teams.

Owen added: “The reserve team is something that we have got in the pipeline and we are looking at doing now as we are in a better financial position.

“From when we took over four years the club is on a totally different platform now.

“Having only a few people watching us at Droitwich to now ground-sharing at Stourport just shows how far we have come in a small space of time.

“We are really proud of what we have achieved there but it is about kicking on to next level now.”