HULL City Academy have announced that former Bantams striker Billy Clarke has joined the coaching staff as the new assistant manager for their Under-18s.

The 33-year-old joins after calling time on a 16-year playing career, which ended when he was released in May after a third spell at Valley Parade.

He made over 450 appearances in his career, representing the likes of Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic, as well as the Bantams.

The former Republic of Ireland youth international has two career promotions to his name - Blackpool in the Championship (2010) and Crawley Town in League Two (2012) - and joins the Tigers’ Academy in his first full-time coaching position.

“I’m over the moon to come to a club of Hull City’s stature and it’s a real big step for me personally,” Clarke told Hull’s official club website.

“It’s my first full-time coaching role and I’m really excited to be here.

“I’m ready to get into this role straight away as it’s a fantastic opportunity for me and one I’m very grateful to have. I’ve spoken to academy manager Richard Naylor regularly and I’m keen to help the team any way I can.

“I hope my playing experience will help, but I understand it’s a different skill set. I like to think I can lean on the experiences that I have had and pass it on to the players by guiding them the best I can.”

He added: “My targets for the team are just to help them as best I can both on and off the pitch. The goal is to develop players and get them ready to make the next step up to the Under-23s and further on.

“Plus, if they take life lessons and skills that we teach them through their scholarship, then as an academy we’ve done well.”