FORMER York City manager Alan Little is back in the professional game.

Little has been appointed chief scout at Nationwide League Division Two outfit Stockport County from where he was contacted by boss Carlton Palmer.

Little, who had been out of football for the first time in almost three decades when he was sacked by Halifax Town last summer, said he was delighted to back in the groove.

"My name was put forward and Stockport contacted us and we took it from there," he explained.

"It's got me out and about again at games and it's great to be back. Being involved on a week to week basis and meeting people involved at the heart of the game is so good because with all that's happened football is still in my blood."

Little spent 11 years at Bootham Crescent after arriving from Hartlepool as coach under the then boss John Bird.

After serving as number two to both Bird and John Ward he was appointed manager in 1993, leading the Minstermen out at their historic and only appearance at Wembley in the play-off final against Crewe. He was manager of City for six years before he was sacked.

Little later managed Torquay and Halifax, two of the clubs he also served as a player.

Updated: 11:16 Friday, April 18, 2003