The hometown hero returns to the helm of football, hoping to offer advice and support to a side battling relegation from Welsh football’s tier three but who have signed a string of exciting players this transfer window.

The Elan Valley side languish at the bottom of the Ardal League South East table, with just two wins from their 17 games this season, including 11 defeats.

They have 10 points, like Abertillery Excelsiors, with Aberbargoed Buds a point behind, while safety is represented by Tredegar Town in 13th, who are only three points clear.

McPhee says he hopes to help the Red Kites soar once again, saying: “Having been away from football for the past 14 months I felt it was a good time to come back and see if i could help Rhayader to climb the rankings.

“I had an amazing time at Builth and gained even more experience, but when a club close to my heart calls and needs a little help and advice, I couldn’t refuse. I’m here to help the management and the players do the best they can. I can see that we are a young team, but I was impressed with their talent and I think that with a little work , we can move up the rankings.

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McPhee will work alongside first-team manager Dai Davies and first-team coach Matt Lewis.

City Chairman Gareth Earp is delighted with the return of McPhee, someone he described as “bleeding Rhayader”.

“It was a difficult start to life at level three and after talking to the manager we felt some experience was needed,” Earp said. “And in all things football at the club, who better than Macca to come and see where the club is at and help us move forward and hopefully secure our status.

“He bleeds Rhayader and his knowledge of the game, from playing to the highest standards in Welsh football to managing, we felt we had to do everything we could to see if he would come back and help with all football matters .

“I am absolutely delighted that Macca have agreed to come and help the club for the rest of the season.”

After playing for the Red Kites in Welsh football’s top tier from 1997 to 2002, McPhee was instrumental in the management side for nearly a decade and a key figure in their resurgence in 2007, after be withdrawn a year earlier. But he left under a cloud in 2016, following their relegation from the Cymru Alliance, quickly taking over at Builth, where he enjoyed a successful three-year term.

The Bulls had a memorable McPhee and Jason Samuel period, beginning with being crowned Spar Mid Wales Football League Division 2 champions in 2017/18, earning promotion to Division 1. They finished sixth in their debut season, climbing to third in 2019/20.

McPhee abruptly announced his departure from Lant Field in November 2020, amid the confusion and delays that halted local sport at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He still lives in Builth, with his wife and two sons.