YORK City’s new manager Steve Watson will start work at Bootham Crescent on Monday after resigning from his position in charge of Gateshead.

The former Newcastle and Everton right-back, who played under the likes of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, David Moyes and Bryan Robson, has guided National League outfit Gateshead to eighth in the table this season despite off-pitch problems that have resulted in him working under a transfer embargo.

He will be joined at Bootham Crescent by Micky Cummins, who was his assistant manager at the International Athletics Stadium, with City sporting director Dave Penney continuing to oversee training until next week.

The Press exclusively revealed that Watson was set to be named as Sam Collins' successor at noon, with the club confirming his appointment at 1pm, with a statement from City's board of directors reading: "We are delighted to welcome Steve Watson to the club as first-team manager, along with his assistant Micky Cummins.

"The board conducted a series of interviews with a number of candidates, but Steve impressed with his considerable experience as a player and coach, his knowledge of the game at all levels, and his vision for the club. He has demonstrated an ability to be successful on a limited budget at Gateshead and is prepared to step down from a higher league to strive for success at York City.

"The board will now be fully supportive of their aims and ambitions and wish the pair every success in their task."

Watson, 44, had been in charge of the Heed since October 2017, succeeding Neil Aspin and pulling the north-east outfit six points clear of the relegation zone by the end of last term when current City trio Jordan Burrow, Wes York and Macaulay Langstaff were in his ranks.

This season, he has masterminded an unlikely promotion push, although the respective returns of on-loan pair – ten-goal, top-scorer Luke Armstrong and Luke Molyneux - to Middlesbrough and Sunderland has coincided with three straight defeats since the turn of the year. Prior to landing his first manager’s job at Gateshead, Watson was appointed assistant-manager at Macclesfield Town under John Askey, who The Press understands was interviewed for the City vacancy too.

Watson also worked alongside ex-Newcastle team-mate Lee Clark, another candidate believed to be interested in the Bootham Crescent role, in coaching positions with Huddersfield and Birmingham City – the latter at Championship level.

As a player, a long list of Watson’s former team-mates, during 14 campaigns as a Premier League performer, reads like a modern era Who’s Who of footballing greats, having shared dressing rooms with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer, Stuart Pearce, Gareth Southgate, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla, and Andy Cole.

Born in North Shields, City’s new manager is the youngest-ever player to make a senior appearance for Newcastle, making his debut in November 1990 at the age of 16 years and seven months as a substitute during a 2-1 defeat to Wolves.

During nine seasons with the Magpies, he wore every shirt number from 2 to 11, illustrating his versatility, and he was a 76th-minute substitute during the 2-0 1998 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.

He subsequently spent two seasons at Aston Villa, before a five-year spell with Everton.

Ex-England skipper Robson then signed him for West Brom, where Watson plied his trade between 2005 and 2007.

After long-term injury problems, Watson hung up his boots in 2009 at the age of 35 having spent two seasons with Sheffield Wednesday.

In total, he managed 556 professional appearances and scored 38 goals.

He was also capped 12 times and scored once for the England under-21 team and played one match for his country at B level.