Former Batley coach Gary Thornton will join the Castleford Tigers next season as coach of the newly-created Under-20's team.

Thornton will also assist Tigers head coach Terry Matterson and assistant Andy Hay with the senior squad.

Matterson told BBC Radio Leeds: "His experience will be invaluable.

"I am looking forward to him getting our young players ready for Super League and assisting the coaching team with the first-team squad."

A former Batley player, Thornton was the Bulldogs head coach from 2004 during which time he won the National League Coach of the Year award in 2006.

He continued in the role until April this year.

I'm relishing the prospect of working with them and aiding their development into first-grade players Gary Thornton

Since leaving Batley, he has been coaching the Wakefield Wildcats reserve grade, returning to a club where he spent four years as a player.

He said: "I'd firstly like to thank Cas for giving me this opportunity. I see this role as the next step in my coaching career and I'm looking forward to the working in a full-time environment with Super League players and with the development of the young players at the club.

"I have been very impressed by the calibre of the young talent at the Tigers and they are a club who have not been afraid to give youth its chance.

"I'm relishing the prospect of working with them and aiding their development into first grade players."

He will take up his appointment next month.

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