Bernard McNally has been handed the challenge of reviving the fortunes of Welsh Premier club Newtown following this summer’s management upheaval at Latham Park.

The former Shrewsbury Town player and boss of AFC Telford United becomes the third manager for the Robins in the last month following the departures of Andy Cale and then Darren Ryan.

Former Northern Ireland international midfielder McNally, who holds the Uefa Pro Licence, will be assisted by Peter Carter, who has been holding the reins for the past week.

Newtown officials were delighted to secure the services of the 48-year-old, who was most recently caretaker manager of Southern League premier division side Hednesford

“The club were impressed with his player contacts, and his understanding of the limited budget available at Newtown this season, which he is very confident of being able to operate efficiently with,” said a Board statement.

“We are delighted to have such an eminently qualified and well connected professional working with the team and look forward to seeing all the existing players working with someone they are guaranteed to find enthusiastic, motivational and positive about our ability to perform well this season.

“Over the course of the last five days there have been approaches from about a dozen managers, four of whom held the requisite qualifications to meet the desired level the club were seeking, but Mr McNally was a clear favourite with the Board.”

He is now looking forward to meeting the players as he takes his first training session this weekend.”

McNally had a distinguished club career with Shrewsbury Town and West Brom, scoring 33 goals from 435 Football League appearances.

He then went on to play for Hednesford Town and Telford United, later managing both clubs and his five caps for Northern Ireland included a place in the 1986 World Cup squad.

A native of Shrewbury, McNally was a key member of the Town side that established themselves as second division regulars during the mid-80s.

He made a £385,000 move to West Brom in 1989 and was voted the Throstle’s player of the season in his one and only season at the Hawthorns.

Later, McNally featured in Hednesford’s 1996/7 FA Cup run which saw them eventually beaten 3-2 by Middlesbrough in the fourth round.

He was appointed the first-ever manager of phoenix club AFC Telford United in

2004 and led the Bucks to the play-offs, where they beat Kendal Town 2-1.

But, after the club struggled in the Northern Premier League, McNally was sacked and went on to manage Indian club Pune FC.

In September 2009 he was appointed caretaker manager of Southern League premier pivision side Hednesford but, despite guiding the Pitmen to the play-offs, he left the Pitmen..

• Newtown’s former chairman Elwyn Preece and finance director Richard Bonfield have both returned to the club in the wake of Board changes. Preece will be nominated as the new chairman at a special meeting to be held in three weeks.

By JOHN BRIDGWATER