Keith Alexander, the former manager of Lincoln City and Peterborough United has joined the club as Director of Football with immediate affect.

Keith originally joined Lincoln City as a player in December 1990 before becoming the youth team coach and then, in May 1993, the manager. His first stint as City boss lasted just one season, although many fans felt at the time that chairman John Reames had acted hastily in dismissing Keith

Keith's playing career began at Barnet, where he spent a season, before being signed by Alan Buckley for Grimsby Town. After a couple of seasons at Blundell Park, Keith transferred to Stockport County, but moved on after just three months to Lincoln. Having served as Alan Buckley's assistant on his return to Sincil Bank, Keith was placed in temporary charge of team affairs following Buckley's departure during the Club's turbulent summer of 2002 and was given the manager's job full-time shortly after.

Using his knowledge of the non-League circuit, Keith brought in a number of players from the lower reaches of the semi-professional game and confounded the critics who had City favourites for relegation by leading the Imps to the Division Three Play-Off Final in May 2003, which they lost 5-2 to AFC Bournemouth.

In mid-November 2003, Keith underwent complex surgery at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to repair a ruptured cerebral aneurism which had been the cause of a collapse at his home. Three months after surgery, he was back in the managerial hotseat and his first game back in the dug-out was the Imps' local derby against Boston United on February 7th. Keith led the Imps to the Play-Offs again at the end of the 2003/04 season, losing 4-3 on aggregate to Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals, whilst the following season he went one better, leading his side to victory over Macclesfield Town to secure a place at the Millennium Stadium for the second time in three years. Again, though, promotion proved elusive as Southend United defeated the Imps 2-0 after extra-time.

Keith left the Red Imps at the end of last season, but wasn't out of football for long before Barry Fry took him to London Road to become manager for Peterborough United. Sadly though, the job didn't last as long as his Lincoln tenure and Keith was moved out in January 2007.

Keith will assume a new role at Gigg Lane as Director of Football and will work very closely with current manager Chris Casper.

Director Ian Harrop said this afternoon:"We wanted to get through the season, but we concerned over one or two areas," said Harrop. "Once we were safe, it was a case of acting quickly if we want to move forward next season.

"Keith will have a major input on player recruitment, and looking at his record at Lincoln, it speaks for itself. His contacts, not just in the non-league, but across football, are outstanding. Everyone I have spoken to has given him nothing but praise."

Previous director of footballing affairs, Harrop, will revert to an advisory role on the board - and he insists that Alexander's arrival will not spell the end for current manager Casper.

"Chris is still the first team manager although his current role will obviously be redefined a little," Harrop said. "The experience that Keith has can only be of benefit to Chris, and will make him a better manager.He has been kept in contact all along, and will be our manager for the next two seasons and, hopefully, many more to come."

buryfc.co.uk welcomes Keith Alexander to Gigg Lane

Full reaction from Chris Casper and Keith Alexander will be available on the site in the coming days