Former Carlisle United boss Chris Beech has been handed the head coach job at AFC Fylde.

Beech has been in interim charge at the National League strugglers.

But he now takes the reins on a full-time basis until the end of the season.

Beech, originally brought in as director of football at Fylde, stepped up as caretaker after fellow ex-Carlisle man Adam Murray was sacked earlier this season.

Murray departed in October and has since become assistant manager at United's opponents this weekend, Cheltenham Town.

Fylde chairman David Haythornthwaite said of the decision on Beech: "I’m delighted to give Chris this extended opportunity.

"We’re going to work closely together to ensure we’re playing football in this division next year.”

Fylde sit bottom of non-league's top division after taking 18 points from their first 23 games.

It sees a permanent return to the dugout for Beech following his spell at the United helm from November 2019 to October 2021.

That stint saw Beech guide Carlisle to safety in the Covid-shortened 2019/20 season before leading them to the top of League Two midway through 2020/21 before the Blues fell away to tenth.

A poor start to the 2021/22 campaign then saw him axed by the Cumbrians.

The 49-year-old's first game at the full-time helm with Fylde comes at home to Dagenham & Redbridge today.