OTLEY have appointed former Cross Green centre Paul Mackie as club chairman.

Mackie, who is president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, replaces club president David Somers, who is expected to chair meetings if the former – whose son Jack plays for the first team – is ever absent.

Mackie senior, whose dad Norman played for Yorkshire as an Otley first-teamer in the 1950s, brings a wealth of business experience to the club.

He is chairman of construction consultancies Rex Procter & Partners and also sits on Bradford's Producer City Board and chairs the city's Prosperity Board.

Mackie started his playing career at Otley in the mid-1970s before his work took him to Saudi Arabia in 1981. He returned in 1985 to play for over 20 years with Aireborough, seven of those as first-XV captain, and he was also their treasurer and fixture secretary.

Married to Paula with another son Tom, he is excited about chairing the committee at Otley and is relishing the challenge of progressing the club on the field and off.

Mackie, who is passionate about helping young people make the transition from school to work, said: "My skills and experience in business and finance will create the right conditions for the club to thrive and allow Peter Clegg (director of rugby) to develop the team and the club to their greatest potential.

"Creating the transition bridge for aspiring young players in the juniors to achieve senior rugby will be a real focus."

As part of the bridging process, Otley have also formed an under-18 team for next season.

Former director of rugby James Tiffany, first-teamer Kristian Sharples – who is also an RFU community rugby coach – and under-18s coach Matt O'Sullivan spoke at a presentation meeting in the clubhouse when the under-18s were launched.

Meanwhile, Otley have also appointed a new captain in scrum half Stephen Depledge, with former skipper Adam Blades becoming pack leader.

Depledge and winger Harry Hudson have both been named in The Rugby Paper's National League Two North team of the season, as has former Otley centre Joe Barker (Hull Ionians).

Clegg has also made a signing, bringing in fly half Josh Cruse from Yorkshire Division One side Selby.