CHELTENHAM TOWN are searching for a new goalkeeping coach following the shock departure of Alan Fettis.

Former Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest player Fettis has accepted a full-time role within Premier League club Sunderland's academy set-up.

He turned down a move to Carlisle United last week to join the Black Cats.

The 38-year-old joined Cheltenham at the start of last season, replacing previous incumbent Pat Mountain who joined Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After initially arriving on a part-time basis, Fettis was appointed chief scout by boss Martin Allen – combining the new role with his goalkeeping duties – but he was laid off in February as the club hit hard financial times.

However, the former Northern Ireland international quickly resumed his twice weekly goalkeeping sessions until the end of the season, working with first choice Scott Brown, his understudy Will Puddy and youth team number one Joe Perry.

Allen said he was disappointed to see Fettis leave, but a replacement is likely to be brought in imminently with pre-season training commencing this morning.

"I am sad to see Fetts go because he is a quality coach and a quality person," Allen said.

"I am not surprised he has been given this opportunity by Sunderland because he has been superb with the goalkeepers here at Cheltenham.

"It's important that we find someone else to come in because our goalkeepers need a mentor and someone they can rely on and learn from. We have already had some interest and I will be speaking to people in the next few days. "

Current Players' Player of the Year Brown, 24, is Cheltenham's senior goalkeeper and will start a season as number one for the first time when the new campaign kicks off in August.

Youth team graduate Puddy, 21, made his first-team debut in the 2-0 defeat at Southend United on the final day of last season.