Former Carlisle United midfielder Antony Sweeney has a new coaching role in League One.

He has joined Crawley Town as part of new boss Rob Elliot's backrooms staff.

They have joined the Sussex club from Gateshead following previous Red Devils boss Scott Lindsey's move to MK Dons.

That continued the chain of events started by Carlisle United's move to bring in former MK Dons head coach Mike Williamson.

Elliot had been among the leading bookies' contenders for the Blues job after Gateshead's impressive start to the National League season.

Instead he has taken charge at League One's 21st-placed side.

Sweeney, who played for Carlisle from 2014 to 2016, had joined Elliot's backroom staff at Gateshead in the summer, after a spell with Hartlepool United.

He was first-team coach at the International Stadium and will occupy the same role at Crawley, with Louis Storey also making the move from Gateshead as Elliot's assistant.

Sweeney made 58 appearances for the Blues and scored six goals under Graham Kavanagh and Keith Curle.

The midfielder joined United in 2014 after a long-serving stint at boyhood club Hartlepool.

After leaving the Blues in 2016 he had a brief playing spell at Gateshead. He then returned to Hartlepool, where he held coaching roles at academy and first-team level before leaving at the end of last season.

On the appointment of Elliot, meanwhile, Crawley chairman Preston Johnson said: "We couldn’t be more assured and optimistic to have Rob stepping into this crucial role at such an important moment for Crawley Town Football Club.

"Once Scott [Lindsey] informed us of his decision to leave the club, we of course began our due diligence of speaking with various potential candidates — but it quickly became clear to us that Rob is the best fit.

"We believe his style of play will bring continuity and greatly benefit our players — both on the pitch and in the dressing room — as they continue the current League One campaign."

Gateshead have placed Ben Clark in interim charge.