Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed the appointment of Alan Irvine as their new manager just 10 days after the Scot was sacked by Championship rivals Preston. Irvine was sacked suddenly from his post as Preston manager after a little over two years in charge at Deepdale and just six months after guiding them to the play-offs.
The 51 year old said: "I'm delighted to take up the position of manager at Sheffield Wednesday. It's a club with great traditions and a brilliant outlook for the future.
"While the league table shows us that there is a lot of hard work in front of us between now and the end of the current season, it's a challenge I'm relishing and I believe the squad here at Hillsborough is more than capable of pulling away from the current situation at the bottom of the Championship.
"Sheffield Wednesday has made excellent progress off the pitch in the past 12 months and it is now my job to make sure that progress is mirrored on the pitch.
"I'm really looking forward to starting work with the players and I can't wait to get out on the training pitch to start preparing for the vital matches we have coming up this month."
Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford said: "It was essential for us to secure the best possible candidate to revive the team's fortunes this season but, more importantly, in the long term.
"Alan Irvine brings genuine coaching pedigree to Hillsborough following several years Premier League experience as David Moyes' assistant at Everton and an impressive record in charge at Preston.
"He's a high-calibre manager, respected throughout football, who has proved he can make a team competitive at this level, and we feel very fortunate to have secured his services."