FORMER coach Stewart Horton has made a surprise return to York Wasps, three and a half years after his acrimonius departure.

Horton's nine-year association with the club as a player and coach came to an end in December 1996 when he was sacked after two years in charge.

Now he is back in an unpaid capacity, helping out the Wasps caretaker coach Garry Atkins.

The former team-mates have been friends for a number of years and Atkins has called on Horton to assist with the coaching of the forwards.

Atkins has been finding it increasingly difficult to handle training sessions without the help of another experienced coach.

So Atkins, who is a stand-off or centre, is concentrating on the backs while Horton is taking responsibility for the forwards.

He has been in the dug-out for the last couple of games and, judging by the Wasps' performance in yesterday's 33-10 win at Batley, is doing something right.