Nigel Clough confirmed as new manager of Sheffield United

Former Derby County boss drops down to League One after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal

Nigel Clough has been announced as the new manager of Sheffield United (GETTY IMAGES)

Sheffield United have appointed former Derby boss Nigel Clough as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 47-year-old has agreed a severance package with his former club and drops into Sky Bet League One to take over from David Weir, who was sacked after winning only one of his 13 matches during four months in charge.

Clough was dismissed by Derby at the end of September after spending nearly four years at Pride Park. He becomes the Blades' eighth permanent manager in the last six-and-a-half years.

"I am very proud and honoured to be given the opportunity to manage here," Clough said. "I was disappointed with how it ended at Derby but now we have to put that behind us.

"I will try and build a team and squad capable of getting promotion. We are not miracle workers, it takes time to mould and recruit a team.

"I am looking forward to seeing the squad at close quarters, I think things are slowly turning round.

"To be realistic, let's get out of the bottom four and then get a squad together that can challenge."

Clough enjoyed a 24-year playing career which started at Nottingham Forest under his father Brian before he spent time at Liverpool and Manchester City. He made 14 appearances for England between 1989 and 1993.

In 1998 he took on the role of player-manager at Burton, who were then in the Southern League Premier Division, and took them to the brink of promotion to the Football League for the first time before following in his father's footsteps by becoming Derby manager in January 2009.

Derby escaped relegation from the Championship on the penultimate day of the 2008-09 campaign and finished 14th, 19th, 12th and 10th in the following four seasons under Clough, who left the club in 14th place when he was sacked.

PA