Former Carlisle United boss Chris Beech has been handed an extended deal as head coach of AFC Fylde.

He has been rewarded for keeping Fylde in the National League last season.

Fylde have announced that the ex-Blues chief will now remain in charge for the 2024/25 campaign as part of a two-year extension.

Beech was former director of football at Fylde then stepped up as caretaker manager after the departure of fellow former United man Adam Murray last season.

The 49-year-old was then handed the reins until the end of the season - and now remains in charge.

He led Fylde on a significantly improved run in the second half of 2023/24 as they fended off relegation worries.

News and Star: Beech was in charge at United from 2019 to 2021Beech was in charge at United from 2019 to 2021 (Image: PA)

They finished 18th, three points above the relegation zone.

Fylde chairman David Haythornthwaite said in a statement: “I’m delighted to give Chris this extended opportunity.

"We’re going to work closely together to ensure we begin to kick off up the league table when the season begins.”

Beech added: “I am delighted the deal is done and I can’t wait to dig in and get the season started.”

The former Rochdale No2 was in charge at Brunton Park from November 2019 to October 2021.

In that time he guided United away from relegation trouble in the Covid-shortened 2019/20 League Two campaign.

Beech then led the Blues to the top of the table midway through the following season before they fell away to tenth.

A poor start to 2021/22 then saw Beech sacked and replaced by Keith Millen, who was himself replaced by the returning Paul Simpson months later.

Last season, meanwhile, Beech brought in ex-Blues defender Nick Anderton, his former captain at Carlisle, as an assistant first team coach.

It is Anderton's first role back in football after his recovery from the bone cancer osteosarcoma which ended his playing career last year.