McGhee for Seagulls

Mark McGhee has been appointed as the new manager of Second Division Brighton just two weeks after he was sacked by Millwall.

The 46-year-old Scot has signed a two-year contract at the Withdean Stadium and takes over with the Seagulls, who were left without a manager when Steve Coppell took over at Reading earlier this month, second in the table.

McGhee's first match in charge will be against Peterborough at London Road on Saturday. It is his fifth managerial appointment following previous spells at Reading, Leicester and Wolves.

McGhee insisted he would not have joined Brighton if he did not believe he could get them promoted this season. "That's the only reason I'm here," he said. "The chairman thinks we have a decent chance and if we can make some improvements, maybe improvements to the squad, that's where our ambitions lie. Working in the First Division is the minimum level I'd like to work at, and the short way of doing that is to get Brighton promoted."

Bob Booker will stay as the assistant manager after his spell in temporary charge, which saw Brighton lose their last three matches. McGhee added: "I know more about the club than individual players. I'll do my homework and speak to Bob Booker to see what he thinks of players' abilities."