Andy Thorn has agreed to be Coventry City’s new manager on a permanent basis.
The 44-year-old has been working as caretaker boss at the Ricoh Arena since the departure of Aidy Boothroyd last month and has guided the club out of a wretched slump of results and ensured their safety in the Championship for another season.
The former Crystal Palace and Wimbledon player has verbally agreed to take on the permanent position with two games left in the current season and will now focus on reshaping the team and backroom staff for the 2011/12 season
Chairman Ken Dulieu said of the news: "This is extremely good news for all involved with Coventry City. The evidence of how Andy has turned the team around has been there for all to see.
"It is never easy taking over a losing side towards the end of a season and turning it around, but that is just what Andy has managed to do - and do it in style.
"The players clearly believe in the way he wants the side to play, and there has been very positive feedback from supporters on the style of football they have been watching.
"This will be a major appointment for the club, and supporters will have fully expected us to explore every avenue.
"But since the last manager left the club, Andy had quietly got on with the job and produced the results which pulled us away from the relegation zone to a position of safety in the Championship.
"He made himself the outstanding candidate despite the high quality of applicants we received and we could not be more delighted. He has got the job on merit and it was a unanimous decision among the board.
"The next stage of the process will be coming to terms with, and the assembling of Andy's backroom staff."
Thorn himself added: "I have had really good backing from the players, excellent support from the chairman, the board and the supporters and I want to ensure that I justify the confidence they have shown in me by offering me the job on a permanent basis."