JAMES Doherty has been appointed as Wharfedale's new head coach as they seek to bounce straight back after being relegated from National League One.

The 28-year-old scrum half, who is taking a year off from playing, replaces interim chief Jon Feeley, who has stepped down in order to concentrate on his job in education.

Feeley was in charge for the last eight matches of the season, after Scotsman Tom McGee became an operations manager at a seafood company in Wick.

Doherty will be working with Andy Hodgson, Hedley Verity, John Lawn and chairman of rugby Michael Harrison, who said: "We will also be looking for a forwards' coach, so watch this space."

Doherty's involvement as a player in the season just finished was restricted as he battled to overcome the aftermath of a serious concussion suffered in the Yorkshire Cup final against Harrogate 13 months ago.

He explained his decision to rest as a player, admitting: "I have lost all confidence as a player.

"I am not saying never again, but just not now."

Doherty, who began his rugby at Fleetwood before joining Wharfedale and returned there after spells with Cornish Pirates, Otley and Leeds Carnegie, spoke passionately at the Greens' annual dinner in the clubhouse, saying: "Tom has done a massive job for the club but has had to put his family first."

The new coach then joked: "Andy Hodgson has made 298 first-team appearances, but with me as coach he won't make 300!"

Returning to more serious matters, 2015-16 captain Doherty added: "I only played ten matches last season but Rob Baldwin and Josh Burridge have stepped into the breach, and Josh has committed himself to the club for next season."

Wharfedale only won six of their 30 league matches but Doherty said: "There were some highlights, such as Blaydon and Hull Ionians away and Darlington Mowden Park and Blackheath at home.

"There were also some heartbreaking losses, such as Blackheath away, and Plymouth Albion and Richmond at home.

"We are also saying goodbye to some players, such as Max Labasse, who has fulfilled his ambition to find out what it is like to play English club rugby, Dan Tai and Cameron Hudson, who are going to Rotherham, Huw Morgan, who is heading south for family reasons, and Matt Beesley, who is going to Northampton in the Premiership."

Doherty added: "The end of the season is a time to be reflective, and we have spent 20 years at this level, and the emotion at home to Hull Ionians (when relegation was confirmed) was clear for all to see.

"But it shows that we are a club who care, and you remember things like the noise from the shed on match days, breakfast at the Masons etc.

"It is that kind of thing which gives us our identity and now we can look forward to the future."

Feeley said: "When you are involved with this club, you never actually leave it. James knows where I am should he need me.

"I only had a short time as coach last season but we stayed true to our values and played rugby in the right way, and the win over Coventry in the last match was a just reward.

"We must look at National Two North as a one-year only experience as our ambition is to be a National One club in National Two North.

"We must not let our standards drop. We must raise them and raise them again."

Feeley also played for the third team last season – and was one of their stand-out players – and called it a "really humbling experience".