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Paul Hurst has returned to manage National League side Boston United almost 15 years after he left the club.
The 51-year-old, who replaces Graham Coughlan, was joint boss of the Pilgrims with Rob Scott before the pair resigned to take the Grimsby job together in 2011.
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Hurst went on manage Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United and had two spells with Grimsby and Shrewsbury Town, where he most recently worked.
His second spell in Shropshire ended in November 2024 after nine months.
Boston chairman David Newton said he was "delighted" to have Hurst back, but was quick acknowledge that "some will point to the way" the manager left the non-league side more than a decade ago.
"I had no issue with their ambition to manage at a higher level – but did not feel that it was done in the correct manner," Newton told the club website.
"The matter was dealt with at the time – and the club received the right compensation for their move.
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"That drew a line under things for me, and I was delighted when Paul continued to bring teams over for pre-season fixtures, and we have kept in touch ever since."
Hurst and Scott guided Boston to promotion to what is now known as National League North.
They were second in the division when the pair stepped down to join Grimsby.
Hurst's return to Lincolnshire with Boston sees him take the helm of a side that is 17th in the table, four places and three points above the relegation places.
A five-game winless league run cost Coughlan his job, with the Irishman departing following Saturday's 0-0 draw at Braintree Town.
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Coughlan's assistant Lee Bullen has since also left, with Hurst bringing in Chris Doig as his number two.
"This is a key appointment for the club as we seek to not only cement our place in the National League but hopefully build on that going forward," Newton said.
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