Ferguson appointed Preston manager

Darren Ferguson has been appointed as manager of Coca-Cola Championship outfit Preston on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The highly-rated son of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had been a free agent since leaving Peterborough in November and succeeds Alan Irvine at Deepdale.

Irvine, 51, was shown the door last week despite saving the Lancashire outfit from relegation in 2007/08 and guiding them into the play-offs last season.

Kevin Russell and Scott Taylor, who were part of Ferguson’s backroom staff at London Road, have also joined North End.

Ferguson was being mooted as a possible replacement for outgoing Burnley manager Owen Coyle.