Forest Green have appointed former Premier League star Wade Elliott as the new assistant manager of the academy side.

The 37-year-old has been working in an unofficial capacity with the academy squad and will now work under Scott Bartlett at The New Lawn.

“I’m delighted Wade is working with me and the Academy full-time," said Bartlett. "He’s got loads of experience and we dovetail well with each other.

“He’s a good guy and knows his stuff. We share a similar ethos and we’re trying to get our point across to the players in different ways. It has worked really well up to now and long may that continue.”

Elliott spent last season working as under-21s manager at Championship side Bristol City, where he ended his playing days, after an impressive career that saw him progress from non-league to play in the Football League and top flight.

He made over 600 appearances for the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Burnley, Birmingham and Bristol City in a stand out career, which also saw him score the winning goal in the 2009 Championship play-off final, as he helped Burnley into the Premier League in front of over 80,000 spectators at Wembley.

On agreeing a permanent move to FGR, Elliott said: “When I left Bristol City at the end of last season I was midway through my A License, so initially I phoned Mark Cooper and met him to ask if I could come in and do some coaching to finish my hours off.

“I came in and Mark, Scott Lindsey and Scott Bartlett have been brilliant with me, as has everybody at the club.

“It is a really friendly club, it’s progressive, and what’s great for me is that it is a real coaching environment. The manager and the two Scott’s really want to work with the players and make them better.”