Former Barnet goalkeeper Kevin Blackwell has returned to the club in a coaching capacity until the end of the season.

The 56-year-old played for the Bees between 1979 and 1980 and had been coaching on an ad-hoc basis earlier in the season before Gary Waddock signed a month-long rolling contract to assist Martin Allen.

Blackwell, who has previously bossed Leeds United, Sheffield United, Luton Town and Bury, has been out of work since leaving the Shakers in October 2013.

Speaking to the club website, head coach Allen said of the appointment: “I needed to make a change. I have been doing all of this on my own now for God knows how long.

"I had Gary Waddock in to help me for a month before he went away to work for another club (Portsmouth). I know I have been off for most of the week but I decided whilst I was away that I needed some help. 

“Stacky (Graham Stack) and (Jon) Nurse do a good job but I thought that I need a bit more experience and somebody with another forthright oninion to help me andeverybody take ourselves to where we want to go." 

Allen added: “He has got a great deal of experience and he’s got belief in what he does. He’s here now to help me until the end of the season which is good news and I have got to be grateful to the chairman for helping me get him in.”