DOUBLE Wembley-winning former York City boss Gary Mills has returned to Bootham Crescent as manager.

After The Press’ website exclusively revealed that Mills was taking training at Wigginton Road today and would be in charge of the team for tomorrow night’s FA Cup replay at Curzon Ashton, a club statement followed to confirm his appointment.

His predecessor Jackie McNamara, meanwhile, will remain at the club as chief executive, while assistant-manager Simon Donnelly has left, but goalkeeper-coach Craig Hinchliffe will carry on in his role.

Youth-team coach Steve Torpey will be Mills’ number two for the Curzon clash.

Speculation of a Mills return began when a picture of him meeting City chairman Jason McGill and McNamara at the Fairfield Manor Mercure Hotel in Skelton emerged on social media sites after Saturday’s 1-1 fourth round qualifying draw against the Manchester part-timers.

Mills parted company with Wrexham last week and will now start his second spell with City having guided the club to success in the Conference play-off final and FA Trophy during 2012.

He was sacked by City the following season after an 11-game win-less run but, confirming his return, the club statement read: “The club received a deluge of applications from candidates at all levels in football who were both available immediately and also currently working as first team managers.

“After careful consideration and upon completion of the interview process with a selection of potential candidates, it was decided that Gary Mills was the person most qualified to take the team forward and was consequently offered the role of first-team manager. Gary was delighted to accept the offer and once the terms of his employment had been agreed with the chairman, a meeting was arranged, at short notice, with Jackie McNamara to discuss his assessment of the current playing squad.

“Gary is looking forward to returning to York City and making an immediate impact with both players and results. Gary brings with him a depth of knowledge and experience at this level, together with a track record of getting the most out of players and is well known for his exciting, attacking and, when necessary, pragmatic brand of football to achieve positive results.

“The club would like to ask the supporters to join them in welcoming Gary back to York City and to get behind him and the players, to achieve all our ambitions and goals, not only for the remainder of this season, but also for the important period leading up to the completion of the new Community Stadium in 2018.”

On McNamara’s new role, a further statement read: “Jackie will focus on all operational aspects of the club with specific attention paid to the development of a communication strategy, effective both internally and externally, administration management, aspects of the Academy, aspects of the Foundation and commerciality to name just a few of the areas of his involvement. When required by the first-team manager, assistance will also be provided by the chairman and chief executive, especially in relation to certain financial aspects of the playing budget.

“It is imperative that we support the first-team manager by taking away the non-playing issues so he can focus on results. It has become abundantly clear that a full-time chief executive is required at York City and Jackie is keen to implement and conclude the work we began to overhaul the club from top to bottom, confirmed in the chairman’s statement in April this year.

“The appointment of Jackie McNamara will also allow the chairman, who will still be responsible for football club strategy, to focus more of his time to JM Packaging, which has seen substantial growth over the last six months, with the successful gaining of significant new customers. This will enable the chairman to ensure there is financial security and longevity for both JM Packaging and York City.”