Former Premiership and England footballer Graham Potter has been appointed Football Coaching Manager at Leeds Carnegie.

The ex-Birmingham, Stoke and Southampton professional, who played two Under 21 international matches for England in 1998, will primarily concentrate on the men's first-team, whilst Director of Football, John Hall will continue to develop the football programme at the University.

The new coaching appointment comes after Leeds Met was named recently as the home of the new UK Centre for Coaching Excellence by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP, putting the University at the forefront of coaching and coach education in the UK.

Graham has already had chance to meet the players as pre-season training is well underway, but he will get the first opportunity to see the team play as the University host Rotherham United's youth team in their first friendly of the 2008/09 campaign.

The fixture is part of a wider initiative to enable young players within the professional game to sample campus life and give them an insight into the possibilities of study at Leeds Met.

Graham said, "I am delighted to have been appointed as Football Coaching Manager at Leeds Met.

"The University has a fantastic reputation for sporting excellence and already has a well established football programme.

"I am looking forward to working with John to develop even further with a view to improving our BUCS and National Football Pyramid position.

"Primarily, however, my aim is to give our students and alumni the best football experience of their careers, improving them as athletes and footballers whilst developing them as individuals.

"I am excited to be working at the home of the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence and am looking forward to adding to the already fantastic coaching heritage here at Leeds Met."

It's another boost to the University after they took over the running of Leeds United's women's team over the summer.