Csaba Laszlo takes up new role as coach of Charleroi

Former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has been confirmed as the new manager of Belgian top-flight side Sporting Charleroi for the remainder of the season.

The Hungarian was introduced to the players yesterday morning by President Abbas Bayat before the club officially announced his arrival.

Laszlo - who was the SPL manager of the year after guiding Hearts to third in his maiden campaign in Scottish football in 2008/09 - had been out of the game since being sacked by Vladimir Romanov at the tail end of January.

It's still unclear, however, if Laszlo has reached a compensation agreement with Romanov after a legal battle over unfair dismissal and breach of contract was postponed in Edinburgh last month.

The former Uganda and Ferencvaros head coach remained in the capital after ending his association with Hearts, with his family settled in the city, but he now moves on to replace Jacky Mathijssen, who was sacked at the struggling top-flight club following Sunday's 5-0 home loss to Bruges. He follows in the footsteps of Scots John Collins and Tommy Craig by taking over at Charleroi. The former Hibs manager and his assistant moved to Belgium in 2008, and both had brief spells in charge of the club.

Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Standard Liege leaves Charleroi third from bottom in the 16-team Belgian top-flight and Laszlo will take to the dugout for the first time for Saturday's visit of Lierse.

A club spokesperson said: "Sporting Charleroi confirms the commitment of the Hungarian coach Csaba Laszlo for the 2010-2011 season.

"Mr Laszlo will be on the bench this Saturday. In the meantime, he takes two days to fit in and look at the club, group and infrastructure.

"He will give his first press conference after the match against Lierse."