Coventry confirm Andy Thorn as manager

(GETTY IMAGES)

Coventry have confirmed the appointment of Andy Thorn as the club's permanent manager.

Thorn has verbally accepted terms at the Ricoh Arena having steered the midlands club to npower Championship safety since taking the reins from Aidy Boothroyd on a caretaker basis just over six weeks ago.

The former City chief scout is no doubt a popular appointment among players and supporters alike having introduced an attractive brand of passing, attacking play during his short stint in charge.

Thorn, aided by coach Steve Harrison, took over with the Sky Blues having registered just one win in 16 matches and sinking rapidly towards the bottom three, a sorry slump in form which saw them slip from fifth place in early December.

But three wins, three draws and two defeats from his eight games at the helm have convinced new chairman Ken Dulieu and the rest of City's new-look board, under owners SISU, that Thorn is the man for the job on a long-term basis.

Thorn said: "I have really enjoyed the spell in temporary charge and am relishing the opportunity to shape the team over the longer term.

"I have often said that I think we have a very good squad of players here who are capable of producing good, attractive football on a consistent basis.

"Of course, we will constantly be looking to improve both in terms of existing players and bringing in new recruits. There is always player movement in the summer, and we know that will be the case again.

"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."

A centre-back during his playing days, Thorn enjoyed memorable FA Cup success with Wimbledon in their 1988 final upset against Liverpool at Wembley before going on to claim a runners-up medal with Crystal Palace in 1990.

Capped at England Under-21 level, the now 44-year-old joined Coventry as chief scout from Everton and has discovered many of the talents he now takes charge of in what is his first foray into management.

The Sky Blues announced last Friday that Thorn was on their shortlist to be the permanent successor to Boothroyd, and recently-appointed chairman Dulieu is confident they have now made the right choice.

Dulieu said: "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."