Russell has been helping out Forest Green's goalkeepers (Getty)

Gloucestershire legend Jack Russell has returned to Nevil Road as a chief part of the county's backroom team - four years after hanging up his gloves.

The ex-England wicket-keeper, 44, takes on the role of team mentor to fill the vacancy left by the departure of coach Mark Alleyne earlier this month.

Russell told BBC Radio Bristol: "I'll help out on matchdays, and just be around for our captain Jon Lewis.

"I'll assist in any way I can and as often as I can."

"I'm very excited about it. I'm like a little kid again in a candy shop," he said.

However, he insisted his role will just be to assist Lewis and the team.

"It's really just to be a mentor," added Russell. "All the team strategy and the direction of the team is down to Jon. He's fully in charge."

Jack Russell, born Stroud, August 1963 Test career: Played 54 Tests, 1,897 runs, 153 catches (12 st) First-class: 465 matches, 16,861 runs, 1192 catches (128 st)

Lewis, one of Russell's team-mates for a decade, said: "I'm 100% confident in the lads. That's why I'm trying to put in place guys off the field who can help me and Jack's an integral part of that.

"We've got an extremely good management team within the club. We're in the best shape we've ever been to tackle this season.

"With the addition of Jack Russell and his experience and knowledge of cricket and of winning teams and winning ways, I think we're in a really good position."

Russell served Gloucestershire as a player for 23 years until his retirement in 2004, since when he has served England as a wicket-keeping coach, as well as helping out his local football club Forest Green Rovers.

He has also done occasional work back at Nevil Road, coaching the county's players.

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