TURF Moor boss Adrian Heath has named John Ward as his new assistant manager.

The experienced former Bristol Rovers and York chief was appointed as Heath's number two today and was introduced to the first team squad when they reported for pre-season training at Gawthorpe this morning.

The Ward appointment is a major coup for Heath.

Ward, who has agreed a two-year deal with Burnley, succeeds Clive Middlemass. He will remain at Burnley as a valuable member of the Turf Moor backroom staff.

"I'm delighted to welcome John Ward and I know he will be a great asset to Burnley," said Heath.

"He has a tremendous record in management and has a lot of experience in the game. He did a great job at both York City and Bristol Rovers in his own right."

Heath and Ward first linked up at Aston Villa in the late-80s when Ward had spells as assistant to former England chief Graham Taylor and Hungarian Dr Jozef Venglos. "I picked up a lot from John Ward in that time and he was very much in my mind when I knew he was available this summer," added Heath.

Recently linked to posts at Blackpool and Scarborough, Ward enjoyed a successful period with York City from 1991 to 1993 before joining Bristol Rovers in the same year.

He replaced Malcolm Allison at Twerton Park and guided Rovers to eighth spot in Division Two in his first full season in charge.

The following season Bristol reached a Wembley play-off before losing out narrowly in the final to Huddersfield Town.

Ward finally parted company with Rovers in May - despite missing out on the play-offs by just two points.

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