Bristol City have confirmed that Nigel Pearson is their new manager, with the former Leicester City and Watford boss penning a deal until the end of the season.
The Robins revealed the 57-year-old as their next first-team boss on Monday evening, with Pearson set to work with the current assistant head coaches Paul Simpson and Keith Downing.
After six defeats in a row and with the team slipping into the bottom half of the table, the Bristol City board decided it was time to part company with Dean Holden.
Speaking about the new appointment, chairman Jon Lansdown said: “Nigel gives us the leadership and direction we need to lift the players’ confidence and to turn our form around.
“The initial appointment is until the end of the season, when we will re-assess the situation, hopefully with a view to the long term. However, the immediate priority for Nigel and the coaching team is to stop the current bad run and move us back up the table.”
Pearson heads to Ashton Gate with a over 15 years of managerial experience, with stints in the Championship with the likes of Hull, Southampton and Derby.
The former Sheffield Wednesday defender will be officially unveiled to the media on Wednesday, but has already taken to Twitter to express his delight.
The new manager will be watching on as Bristol City head to another of his former teams, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday night, with the Robins 5/1 to collect three points on the road.
City won 1-3 at the Riverside last season, with Nahki Wells bagging a brace. The former Bradford, QPR and Burnley ace has six league goals to his name so far this term and is 3/1 to score at anytime on Tuesday.
The first test for the Robins under Pearson’s stewardship will come on Saturday afternoon, when the Robins make the journey to south Wales to face high-flying Swansea.
Bristol City have a good recent record against the Swans, losing just five meetings – which was a 1-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium last season. Swansea are 2/3 to win on Saturday, with the Robins 9/2 and draw available to back at 27/10.
*All odds correct at time of writing