FORMER Worcester City midfield favourite John Snape has returned to the club as first team coach.

Snape, at St George’s Lane between 2002 and 2005, has been drafted in to work alongside manager Carl Heeley and assistant Matt Gardiner.

The 44-year-old, who also played for Hereford United, will also be deployed as a scout once the new season gets underway next month.

Heeley said: “He brings a wealth of experience with him. He’s a winner and Matt and I know him very well and can trust him.

“We definitely needed another person to come in to do some coaching and scouting so we will share the workload. He will be a valuable asset to us.”

After leaving City, Snape went on to be manager at Bromsgrove Rovers, who went out of business in 2010, but has not been involved in coaching since.

He appeared at the Lane for the legends match against Liverpool last month to mark the end of 108 years of football at the ground.

Meanwhile, Worcester have arranged a behind-closed-doors friendly against Birmingham City at the Championship club’s Wast Hills training ground on Saturday, July 13.

More than 30 players were involved when the squad returned for pre-season training last Tuesday as the management ran the rule over potential new players.