FORMER Stourbridge forward Karl Hawley has been appointed as first team coach at League Two side Mansfield Town.

Last season's top goalscorer for the Glassboys was a free agent after his spell at the War Memorial Ground ended.

Boss Gary Hackett had offered a new deal to the experienced striker over the summer but has also been making plans to find a replacement in recent weeks.

Hawley, 34, is expected to settle in to his new role immediately after being brought in as a striker-coach in the last two months of last season, which coincided with an increase in goals for the Stags.

A vastly experienced striker, he was a regular goalscorer in the Football League, most notably at Carlisle United, where he achieved two promotions, scoring an average of one goal in every two games.

In a professional career which has spanned over 15 years, he also enjoyed spells at clubs including Scunthorpe United, Preston North End and Notts County, where he was a key figure in helping the Magpies’ secure the League Two championship in 2010.

Hawley led the line at Amblecote throughout last season and scooped a host of awards for his performances in the Northern Premier League last term.

Mansfield manager Adam Murray believes that Hawley will further boost his backroom team.

“We’re very pleased to have Karl on board," he said. "He is driven and very focussed on helping Mansfield Town Football Club progress.

“He brings to the club a wealth of experience in the league, which we feel will be vitally important to move forward.

“He will add another dimension to our attacking play, which will be an asset to us in our ambition of progressing on last season.

“Karl is someone I have known for many years now and is someone who I trust implicitly.”