LOYAL servant Gary Chambers has been appointed head coach of Swinton Lions.

The 43-year-old Cumbrian replaces Steve McCormack, who stood down last month for family reasons.

Chambers has been tied to Warrington as a player and coach for the past 25 years and has been in charge of Wolves' under 19s academy side this season.

His links with Warrington will continue, due to the Super League club and Championship outfit teaming up as partners this season.

It will be Chambers' first professional head coach role away from Warrington, where he has served his apprenticeship under top dogs Darryl Van de Velde, Steve Anderson, David Plange, Paul Cullen, Jimmy Lowes and Tony Smith since finishing his playing career in 2000.

Chambers was a one-club man as a player, representing Warrington 210 times over 11 seasons after signing from his local amateur club Kells on the same night as his good friend Chris Rudd.

He achieved international playing success as both an amateur and professional.