Former Carlisle United boss Chris Beech is back in the hot seat - two years after leaving the Blues.

The ex-United head coach is in caretaker charge at National League strugglers AFC Fylde.

It follows the sacking of Beech's fellow ex-Carlisle man Adam Murray.

Beech is director of football at Fylde but will now step up to take the team whilst the club look for a permanent successor to Murray.

It sees the 49-year-old back in the front line almost a year to the day that his Blues tenure ended.

He was United's head coach from November 2019 to October 2021, first helping the club stay in the Football League in the curtailed Covid-hit season of 2019/20.

Beech then took Carlisle to the top of League Two before their challenge tailed off into tenth position in 2020/21.

News and Star: Beech was dismissed by Carlisle after a 3-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers in October 2021Beech was dismissed by Carlisle after a 3-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers in October 2021 (Image: Richard Parkes)

And a poor start to the following campaign saw the former Rochdale No2 dismissed by the Cumbrians.

He was appointed director of football at Fylde last December, working with Murray who led the club to the National League North title in April.

But they have struggled since promotion and sit bottom of the National League with just nine points from 15 games.

The club removed Murray - a Carlisle player from 2005-6 and a member of successive promotion teams under Paul Simpson - following Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Oxford City.

A club statement said: "Following the recent run of results, the board of directors have today decided to relieve head coach Adam Murray of his duties with immediate effect.

"The board would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Adam for achieving last year’s promotion to the National League and wish him all the best for the future. 

"The club will now begin an immediate search for a new head coach, but in the meantime, director of football Chris Beech will take over the running of the team, starting with Saturday’s important FA Cup tie against Leek Town."

Beech is the second ex-United boss to assume caretaker manager duties in recent days, after Keith Millen stepped up at League Two club Gillingham after the sacking of Neil Harris.

Millen enjoyed a 2-1 win over MK Dons in his first game in temporary charge.