FORMER Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers striker Colin Walker, 47, has joined Billy McEwan's coaching team at York City.

Walker, who also played for New Zealand, will assist McEwan with first-team coaching duties next season after leaving his job at Leeds United's youth academy.

After cutting his coaching teeth as manager of non-league Maltby Main in the early 1990s, Walker landed a job in charge of Barnsley's youth team and McEwan is delighted with the first addition to his backroom staff, which has been severely depleted after the recent departures of Paul Stancliffe and Brian Neaves, following on from the termination of Viv Busby and Lee Nogan's contracts in February.

The City boss said: "He has come in as a coach and he's an experienced lad who has been in the game a long time. I need experienced, football people around me and that's what he is.

"He will do a good job for York City. I have not worked with him before but I have come across him locally and he has got a very good reputation in the game so that's why he's here. He will bring honesty and commitment to the club, as well as a lot of knowledge."

Walker had two spells in New Zealand with Gisborne City, hence his international selection.

Updated: 12:08 Saturday, May 28, 2005