Paul Simpson has returned to club football.

The former Carlisle United boss has landed a role at Bristol City in the Championship club’s new backroom set-up.

The Robins tonight appointed Dean Holden as their new head coach and also confirmed that Simpson would be part of his coaching team.

Simpson, 54, had been out of the club game for four years, having been in charge of England’s Under-20s.

The Cumbrian's involvement with the Football Association saw him famously led England’s Under-20s to World Cup glory in South Korea in 2017.

That saw Carlisle-born Simpson become the first England boss since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966 to deliver a World Cup.

His previous club role was under Steve McClaren at Newcastle, which followed a two-year stint at Derby County.

Managerially, he had a brief spell at Northwich in 2012 after spells with Stockport, Shrewsbury, Preston and home-city club Carlisle, who he memorably led to back-to-back promotions in 2005 and 2006. 

Championship outfit Bristol City also brought in Keith Downing, the England Under-19 boss, to work with Holden.

Downing has also enjoyed success with England, the ex-Cheltenham Town manager having led the Under-19s to the European Championship in 2017.

Holden had been caretaker boss at Ashton Gate since the dismissal of Lee Johnson after more than four years in charge.

Johnson was axed in early July with Bristol City going on to finish 12th in the second tier.

Robins chief executive Mark Ashton said in a statement: “Dean has a clear vision of how he wants to take us forward and we believe that, along with the addition of Keith and Paul, we will have a coaching team that can deliver that vision. Everyone involved with the club should be excited about this next chapter for Bristol City.”

Holden said: “I am honoured to take on the role of head coach - it’s a very proud moment for me and my family. I’m excited about this opportunity and I’m delighted that the board have selected me.

“I want to say we will go into every game wanting to win with attacking and exciting football.

"I’ll be honest with the players, staff and the fans and I’ll graft as hard as I can to bring success.”