Rochdale Hornets have appointed former favourite Matt Calland as their new head coach on a deal until the end of the 2020 season.
Calland, an England international during his playing days, has replaced Carl Forster after his departure was confirmed by the club on Thursday.
A Championship-winning coach with Halifax in 2010, Calland has most recently been in charge of Rochdale Mayfield, where several players have gone on to play in the professional game.
“I am delighted to be back on board and take on a new challenge,” he said.
“There is a lot of hard work to be done and I can’t wait to get stuck into it. Rochdale Hornets was my first professional club and it is a job I have always wanted.
“Hopefully everyone involved with the club can get behind the team as we look to win some matches.”
Calland is widely remembered for his side’s all-out-attack style of play, which brought great success during his spell at Halifax.
Rochdale Chief Executive Steve Kerr added: “He is a missing piece of the puzzle that we have been trying to put together for a number of years. He is a local coach, whose experience of the game in Rochdale is second to none. He has an unrivalled knowledge of player development through his work managing the Hopwood Hall rugby league academy and I am thoroughly excited to be working with him.
“This is an exciting appointment for the club and I would encourage people in the borough to get behind Matt, his team and their club as we will fight tooth and nail to secure our Championship status.”