Sale Sharks have announced that Bryan Redpath has returned to the club as director of rugby.

The 40-year-old, who enjoyed a playing career with Sale, has joined the club following a stint as head coach of Gloucester.

Sale chief executive Steve Diamond said: "Anybody who knows what happened at our club in the last fifteen months will be aware that we termed it 'Year Zero', and that was just the start.

"Looking to the future, we have a number of good players joining us. What I've always wanted since returning to the club was a proven coach in the Aviva Premiership, and in Bryan Redpath that's exactly what we've got.

"Bryan became available from Gloucester at the end of last season. As soon as he did, we were keen to talk to him. Following our discussions he agreed to be our director of rugby, and we are delighted."

Redpath added: "There have been a few changes here. Seven years away coaching down at Gloucester has been great for me and it's great to come back up. There are still a few 'old' faces hanging around! I'm delighted with the move and am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"It's a great move for the club to be playing at the new stadium at Salford, which is bigger and has easy access. We need to make it somewhere special for Sale Sharks - the venue definitely looks as though it's going to be good for us."

Redpath played as scrum-half for Sale between 2000 and 2005 before moving into coaching.