A former youth coach who had sex with a 15-year-old has been appointed manager of a professional football team.

Michael Jolley had been handed the top job at English League Two side Grimsby Town despite a conviction for unlawful sex with the underage girl in 2009.

The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to intercourse with the girl following a night out in Stirling, Scotland after he and a group of friends went back to his flat for a party.

At the time, Folley was working as a youth coach at Falkirk FC and also held a role at Stirling University.

Michael Jolley had been handed the top job at Grimsby Town (pictured on the sidelines on Saturday, right) despite a conviction for unlawful sex with the underage girl in 2009

He was found having sex with the girl by other party guests, while one of the victim's friends also stated she saw the youngster looking distressed in Jolley's bathroom.

Jolley admitted to having sex with the girl and was sentenced to a year on probation and being put on the sex offenders' register.

He has since been cleared by both the English and Scottish Football Association to work with youngsters.

A year after his conviction, Jolley issued a statement claiming the girl and her friends left the flat only to return and demand money.

In a statement issued by Jolley in 2010, which was reported by the Daily Record, he said: 'I was informed by police that the girl in question had not disclosed her true age to me and was some months short of her 16th birthday.'

The Cambridge University graduate and former HSBC investment banker was a surprise pick by Grimsby Town when his appointment was announced a week ago.

Despite just six months' experience as manager of a team in Sweden, Jolley was preferred over candidates including former England player Sol Campbell.

In a statement announcing his appointment, Grimsby Town said: 'Michael's exceptional prior academic and business background — firstly, at Cambridge University and latterly as an investment banker with HSBC — means he is experienced, hard-headed and extremely articulate in communicating simple solutions to complex problems in a concise way.'

MailOnline has contacted Grimsby Town for comment.

Jolley admitted to having sex with the girl and was sentenced to a year on probation and being put on the sex offenders' register