Following an extensive recruitment process including interviews with four applications, Adam has accepted an offer to take on the new role, which includes heading up the first-team and having wider responsibility across the clubs to ensure a consistent approach.

All of the candidates was of an extremely high standard and we would like to express our sincere thanks to them for leaving us with a very difficult decision to make.

We would particularly like to thank Lee Joyner and Simon Quinn for stepping into the breach following the mid-season departure of David Kirby. Both have been offered alternative roles within the club but have indicated a desire to move on and we wish them well for the future should that be the case.

Gladiators chairman Jim Green said: "It has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make as a club but we believe Adam is the right man to take us forward.

"We are heading into 2016 on the back of our most successful season to date, not just in terms of trophies won but also, and perhaps more importantly, in terms of junior development with our Mini Gladiators section going from strength to strength.

"Adam has been associated with the club for a long time and has gained plenty of experience as a coach, most notably putting an U13s team together from nothing and taking them on to great success.

"For us, it is essential that our junior and senior sections become even closer entwined and we are able to create a clear pathway from our Tots class right the way through to the first-team, and we believe Adam can help us achieve that."

Adam Turner said: "I would like to thank the club for the opportunity to head up the coaching section of the Chester Gladiators for next season. I also hope it will be for more than one season as I believe we have something special going on at this club. This is a journey we will take together as a club, with the support of players, family and friends, and one which I won't take lightly."