HARTLEPOOL United have appointed former Queens Park Rangers and Rangers defender Clint Hill as their new assistant manager. 

Hill has been with the clubs for a number of weeks watching training and attending games and the club have now moved appoint Hill into the vacant position. 

Former assistant Joe Parkinson left the club last month due to personal reasons.

The 42-year-old has recently been on the coaching staff and Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers alongside manager Joey Barton. However, he left the club in August due to personal family reasons. 

Hill and Dave Challinor have spent time together in their playing careers when the pair were both at Tranmere Rovers and the Pools boss says he'll bring something new to the coaching team.

Speaking on the appointment, manager Challinor said: “It was always going to be difficult to replace Joe but I think Clint will certainly add to the management dynamic we’ve got within the group.

“He came in with us a few weeks back, with nothing really in it, for a few days as he’d gone round some clubs. I obviously played with him as a player and have kept in touch with him.

“I tried to sign as a player towards the end of his career when I was at my previous club and he went to Carlisle funnily enough.

“He got involved with Joey (Barton) at Fleetwood and then went to Bristol Rovers.

“He’s left there and he’s been doing his pro license so we’ve been chatting over the past few weeks so I’m delighted he’s decided to come in and be involved with us.

“I’m sure he will be a huge asset and we’re really looking forward to it.

“Lidds played with him at Carlisle and obviously speaks highly of Clint because as a player, he was an unbelievable professional and played as long as he did because of how he went about things.

“He’ll be a real big plus for the group and I’m sure his minimal experience he’s got as a coach, even though he’s been at Fleetwood and League One and League Two with Bristol Rovers is really important and I think he’ll fit in seamlessly.

“He already wants to get his hands dirty, wants to be involved on the training ground and I’m sure we’ll see much more of that."