Sources: McKinlay agrees to re-join West Ham in major shake-up
Billy McKinlay has agreed to re-join West Ham as David Moyes' new number two, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
Moyes' current assistant Alan Irvine has decided to step down from his role for personal reasons at the end of a hugely satisfying campaign for the club.
A West Ham source has told Football Insider that McKinlay, 52, will replace Irvine in the dugout and link up once again with his fellow Scot Moyes.
The immensely experienced McKinlay is available after leaving his number two role at Stoke City on 12th April.
He had joined the Championship club when Michael O'Neill was appointed manager in December 2019.
McKinlay worked under Moyes during his first spell in charge at the London Stadium and has also been on his coaching staff at Real Sociedad and Sunderland.
The Glasgow-born former midfielder has also held coaching roles at Fulham and Watford, as well as being the manager of Watford and Norwegian side Stabaek.
The loss of Irvine will be a major blow to Moyes given how instrumental the pair have been in an outstanding season at West Ham that far exceeded expectations.
The Irons secured a record Premier League points haul that sealed a sixth-place finish as well as a position in next season's Europa League.
Irvine, another Glasgow-born Scot, is a respected figure in football who has held senior coaching roles at many clubs as well as being the manager of Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom and Preston North End.