Crawley have confirmed the appointment of Mark Yates as their new manager.

Yates - who has signed a two-year deal - fought off stiff competition from James Beattie for the job.

The 45-year-old will become Crawley’s eighth manager – including caretakers – in the last three years and faces the task of building a squad capable of competing in League Two on a reduced budget following relegation last season.

Yates said: "I'm delighted to be here. I have been out of the game for a few months and when this opportunity it really excited me.

"There's a big challenge ahead but one I am really looking forward too."

Yates had been out of work since being sacked by Cheltenham in November.

He twice led Cheltenham to the League Two play-offs, losing to Crewe at Wembley in 2012 and then going out to Northampton in the semi-finals 12 months later.

Yates was the fourth longest serving manager in the top four divisions when he was sacked last year following four successive defeats which had seen Cheltenham slip to 18th in the table. The Robins went on to be relegated under Yates’ replacement Paul Buckle.

Yates also had a spell as Steve Cotterill’s assistant at Burnley and spent four years in charge at Conference premier outfit Kidderminster Harriers, leading them to an FA Trophy final.

It was Yates’ knowledge of the lower divisions and Conference which gave him the edge over Beattie.

The former England striker was looking for a way back into management after leaving Accrington Stanley by mutual consent in September.

Chief executive Michael Dunford said: “We’re delighted that Mark has agreed to join us. We interviewed some very strong candidates but Mark stood out.

“He has a very deep knowledge of the level we find ourselves at next season and is a first-rate coach. The board spoke to several people in the game who have worked with Mark and they were all very positive about his credentials, his knowledge and his enthusiasm and we are looking forward to Mark taking the club forward."

The likes of Andy Awford, Eddie Newton, Micky Adams, Danny Wilson and Dave Hockaday also expressed an interest in the role left vacant following the confirmation of John Gregory’s departure ten days ago and Dean Saunders’ decision to take over at Chesterfield rather than make his interim spell as manager permanent.