YORK City have confirmed the appointment of Sam Collins as youth team manager.

Collins, who was previously the professional development coach at League One club Bradford City, will take charge of City's side in the National League Under-19 Alliance next season.

He fills the gap vacated by Steve Torpey who left City in March to take up a coaching role with the Professional Footballers' Association.

Collins, 41, played nearly 600 senior games during a professional career that spanned nearly two decades.

A tough-tackling centre-back, he played at Huddersfield Town, Bury, Port Vale, Swindon Town, Hull City and Hartlepool United. He also served as caretaker manager at Hartlepool on three separate occasions.

City's sporting director Dave Penney said: "We needed a new youth team manager after Steve Torpey left for a job with the PFA.

"We had more than 100 quality applicants and Sam impressed in his interview. He coached the under-23s at Bradford last season and knows what he is talking about. He has great connections, he is at a good age and he wants to do well in his career. We are delighted to have him on board."

Collins will be in charge of the day-to-day training of the Under-19s and will work alongside Dan Wilson who was promoted to head of youth development this summer.

"I am really excited and looking forward to getting into my new role," said Collins. "The end product is getting young players coming through into the first team. That's something that, over the years, York City have always done.

"The young players are back on July 16," he added. "I am new in the building and there is a lot I will need to sort out in a short period of time - but Dan and I will be a doing a lot of work over the next two weeks, planning pre-season, fixtures and training schedules."