Former Premier League star is set to make managerial debut after being released earlier in the year by 13th club of his career

Nathan Delfouneso is set to take charge of National League North side AFC Fylde on a temporary basis.

The 33-year-old striker will prepare the the National League side for their next match against Southend, after manager Chris Beech and assistant Nick Anderton left the club over the weekend.

Delfouneso will be joined by former Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal to manage The Coasters.

Fylde have struggled to get points on the board so far this season, managing just one win in their first eight games. They currently sit in 23rd place in the division.

Delfouneso made seven appearances for Fylde, scoring once, when he signed for the Lancashire team in 2023.

The Birmingham-born player began his career with Aston Villa in their youth set-up, before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2008,

He made 52 appearances and scored nine goals for the Villains, across five seasons between 2008 and 2014.

He left Villa Park for Blackpool on a permanent deal in July 2014, having spent two seasons on loan with The Seasiders between 2012 and 2013.

After a loan at Bury and a stint at Swindon Town, he returned to the Seasiders.

During another three-year spell at Bloomfield road, between 2017 and 2020, Delfouneso notched 125 league games and and 24 goals.

He has since had a two-year stint at Bolton, and spells at Accrington Stanley, Flyde, Chorley before joining Hednesford in February earlier this year.

Although Delfuoneso never earned a cap for the senior men's national side, he enjoyed a prolific career in England's Under-16s, U17s, U18s, U21s sides, scoring 19 goals over 55 appearances.