BISHOP Auckland have appointed former Whitby Town manager Chris Hardy as their new boss. 

Hardy has been out of football for around a year since leaving the Northern Premier League side last October for a break away from football.

He's enjoyed over 1,000 games in management, firstly with a nine year spell at fellow Northern League side Guisborough Town, before making the switch to the Seasiders in 2015, where he spent the next five.

Upon the appointment, Hardy said: “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity to manage Bishop Auckland Football Club.

"The infrastructure at the club is second to none and along with the support and backing from the board, I feel that everyone at the football club should be excited for what the future holds."

Hardy's will take charge of the club on next Saturday on 16th October with his first game being the following week away to Whickham.