Kevin McGoldrick has swapped working for Manchester City in China to be East Fife boss Barry Smith’s assistant at Bayview.
The Methil manager has been on the hunt for a new No.2 since Gordon Young left to take up a job in the United States at the end of last month.
Smith, whose side are currently on an 11-game unbeaten run, has now moved quickly to appoint McGoldrick as his right-hand man.
The manager said: “I have met Kevin before when we were doing our coaching licences.
“I also know Davie Irons really well and he worked with Kevin when they were both at Stenhousemuir. He speaks very highly of him.
“I have had help from our goalkeeping coach Alex Connon and he has been brilliant since Gordon left but it was essential I had my assistant beside me on match days and at training.
“Gordon enjoyed working with me and the players at East Fife but financially the offer he had from America was too good to turn down.
“We had an agreement when he came in that if something better cropped up we wouldn’t stand in his way.
“Kevin had been working with a Manchester City coaching school in China but it wasn’t suiting him or his family being so far away from home.
“So I am delighted to have him on board and I’m looking forward to working with him.”