KEITH Hill has been appointed as the new manager of Bolton Wanderers.

The Bolton-born former Rochdale and Barnsley boss succeeds Phil Parkinson, who resigned on August 22.

Another Boltonian, David Flitcroft, has been handed the assistant manager’s job – the pair reuniting after spells at Spotland and Oakwell.

“It is an absolute privilege to become the manager of such a big club like Bolton Wanderers,” Hill said. “David and I are extremely grateful for the opportunity to manage our hometown club.

“My first job is to recruit a number of players ahead of Monday’s deadline.

“The young lads have done really well and worn their heart on their sleeve and we’re not looking to replace them but they need help and we need to strengthen the squad.”

Bolton-born Hill started his playing career at Blackburn Rovers in the late eighties and moved on to represent Plymouth Argyle, Rochdale, Cheltenham, Wrexham (loan) and Morecambe.

He moved into management at Spotland in 2006 after a spell as youth team boss, succeeding former Wanderers number two Steve Parkin.

Hill and Flitcroft took Rochdale out of the bottom division in 2010 and the pair earned a move to Barnsley, where he helped the Tykes avoid relegation from the Championship in his first season.

After leaving Oakwell, Hill returned to Rochdale in 2013. Flitcroft branched out alone, managing Bury, Swindon and Mansfield Town.

Hill led the Spotland side to promotion once again in 2016 and kept them in League One until leaving in March this year.