Atkinson pops up again at Poppies

Ron Atkinson has returned to the game after being appointed director of football at Kettering until the end of the season.

The Nationwide Conference North side have turned to the man who led them to double Southern League title success in the 1970s before going on to manage West Brom, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.

Atkinson admitted he was surprised to be approached about the position but insisted it was an easy decision to make, telling Sky Sports News: "If you had said this a week ago I would have said you were potty."

He added: "He (Chairman Imraan Ladak) asked me if I would be interested in helping the club to promotion. It's a place I have always had an affection for.

"They've slipped down a bit over the last few years but hopefully they can get back where they belong."

Ladak - whose decision to appoint Paul Gascoigne last season ended in acrimony after 39 days - has confirmed the 67-year-old will join the Rockingham Road club to oversee football matters.

In April 2004 Atkinson resigned as a television pundit after making racist comments about then Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly live on air.

He has had brief but unsuccessful spells back in the game at Swindon and Peterborough since then.

On his role alongside manager Morell Maison he added: "For the first week I will just be observing, but then if I see things that I think could be improved, I will make those points."