YORK'S former community stadium boss Tim Atkins will take up a senior role at Cheltenham Borough Council on Monday.

Mr Atkins, who left City of York Council this week, is the Gloucestershire authority's new managing director of place and economic development.

He was appointed as York's community stadium project manager in 2008, but left with the delay-hit building yet to start.

Mr Atkins had been tasked with ending the long wait for a new home for York City FC and York City Knights RLFC.

His intention to depart after seven years in post was exclusively revealed by The Press last month.

He declined to comment when approached by The Press on Friday, and a council spokeswoman said it could not discuss personal details or information relating to individual employees, other than for assistant directors and directors.

But she added: “Tim’s departure does not change the timescales.”

Cheltenham Borough Council's press release states that Mr Atkins has "a strong track record in the development industry having worked as a planner, developer, consultant and project manager across private and public sectors".

Referring to his time in York, the release added: "It was then that Tim took up a new role as project manager for the delivery of a new community stadium in York, becoming programme director for a range of other development and regeneration projects".

Mr Atkins, who is relocating to Cheltenham with his young family, said in the release: "I'm delighted to be joining the borough council and contributing to the future development of the town.

"This new role offers real opportunity to further shape Cheltenham's services so that they can drive forward the borough’s long term growth and investment.

"I have already spent some time meeting businesses and stakeholders and will officially take up my role within the senior leadership team in February."

Andrew North, chief executive, added: "I'm looking forward to welcoming Tim to our senior leadership team next month.

"He is bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience with him, which will strengthen our economic prospects and opportunities for long-term growth."