BURNLEY first team coach Mark Yates has left the club to become Kidderminster Harriers' new manager.

Yates, who used to play for Harriers, decided to make the switch late last night to take his first managerial role.

Yates, who was appointed by Cotterill when he took over in 2004, was a player with Cotterill at Cheltenham and the Clarets boss said he was sorry to see him go.

He said: "I would just like to go on the record to thank him for what he has done here.

"It's disappointing to lose one of my staff, especially Mark, because he has been with me for quite a few years and we'd like to wish him all the best in his new opportunity.

"It happened quite quickly last night but it probably didn't come out of the blue for me.

"He's a great lad, he has been with me for quite a while as a player and a coach.

"This year has been better for him, last year was a bit of a learning curve for him I would imagine because it was his first coaching job.

"This year he was better and I think he wants to have a crack at being a manager."

Yates first came to Turf Moor as a player in 1991 in a £40,000 switch from Birmingham. He made 11 appearances during a two-year spell.

He was still registered as a player this season.