Wednesday hand reins to Alan Irvine

SHEFFIELD Wednesday have confirmed the appointment of Alan Irvine as their new manager just ten days after the Scot was controversially sacked by Coca-Cola Championship rivals Preston.

The 51-year-old, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, will take over at Hillsborough from Brian Laws, who parted company with Wednesday "by mutual consent" on 13 December.

Irvine was sacked suddenly from his post as Preston manager after a little over two years in charge and just six months after guiding them to the play-offs.

He 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."

Still saddled with debts of around 26million, Wednesday face a relegation battle after a run of 11 league games without a win has seen them slide to second bottom in the table.

Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford said: "Alan Irvine brings genuine coaching pedigree to Hillsborough following several years Premier League experience as David Moyes' assistant at Everton and an impressive record at Preston."