Mike Dean is staying in the Premier League after signing a deal to become a dedicated VAR next season, Sportsmail can reveal.
Dean, 54, retired from refereeing at the end of the last campaign after 22 years of on-field duties in the top flight. His 560th and final game in charge was Chelsea against Watford at Stamford Bridge in May.
Dean will now apply his vast experience at Stockley Park from August. It is not an entirely new role to the Wirral official, having acted as VAR on multiple occasions since video technology was introduced three years ago.