FORMER Saints double winner Andy Northey is to join Liverpool St Helens as Head Coach from next season.

Northey is currently in his sixth season with Macclesfield, working with Director of Rugby Geoff Wappett.

With the Blues currently in second spot in National Two North, battling for promotion, Northey is totally committed to the task of seeing them in Division one next year.

“This is a great club” he said “I have had a great time here but it is time to move on and in my case, to go back to where I began. To leave with the lads achieving promotion would be brilliant”.

The St Helens born Northey, 41, began his rugby career at Moss Lane, playing in the mini Junior set from age eight through to the LSH Colts where his undoubted ability was spotted and he moved to Waterloo.

Whilst there he represented the North of England before switching codes to join St Helens in 1994. In what turned out to be a brief spell in the thirteen man game Andy was part of a successful Saints side achieving the double in 1996.

A move to Northampton signalled his return to Rugby Union with whom he won a Heineken Cup winners medal in 2000. Successful spells playing and coaching at Rotherham and Sedgely Park followed before joining the coaching team at Macclesfield in 2008.

“I have always followed the fortunes of LSH” he said “and I have many friends there.

“St Helens is where I live and the timing is right for me and my family.

“I’ve spoken with Stan Bagshaw and Ray French and I know the club is going through a change but, to be honest, the challenge ahead is really exciting”.

LSH, currently battling hard at the wrong end of the North One West table, are currently without a Head Coach with a triumvirate of player coaches looking after the team.

“These three lads have done a fantastic job” said LSH President Ray French, “but they have got enough on their plate.

Andy’s potential arrival has been welcomed by them and the rest of the players, they can’t wait for him to start. He’s an LSH lad returning to the Lane and we are all absolutely delighted.”