Notts County name Shaun Derry as player-manager

Notts County have appointed Queens Park Rangers midfielder Shaun Derry as their player-manager.

The 35-year-old, who was on loan with Millwall, returns to the club where he began his career, but the length of his contract has not yet been disclosed.

"He was an applicant we simply couldn't ignore," said chairman Ray Trew.

Former Carlisle boss Greg Abbott has been named assistant at the League One club, as the duo succeed Chris Kiwomya and Mick Jones, who left last month.

Derry takes charge of a Notts side currently bottom of the League One table.

They won just two of their 13 games under Kiwomya this season and lost 16 out of the 34 matches they played during his eight-month tenure.

The Magpies had been linked with a number of experienced managers, including Dean Saunders, Danny Wilson, Brian Kerr and Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett.

And Trew acknowledged that there were "question marks" over Derry's credentials because it is his first managerial role.

"But there are doubts with every managerial appointment and we, as a board, have to put our faith in who we think is the right man for the job," he told the club website.

"Shaun is someone who can relate to the players and, perhaps more importantly, relate to this club, but he is not naïve enough to think that he could take this step alone.

"That is why he has turned to Greg Abbott, a man with a wealth of experience in the Football League, as a coach and manager, and someone that he has worked with in the past, to assist him in his new role."

Trew added: "Having met with them both at length I am confident that they have what it takes to not only turn our fortunes around this season, but to go on and deliver the success and stability we are craving here at Meadow Lane."

Derry began his career at Meadow Lane, making 94 appearances between 1995 and 1998.

However, he has played the majority of his career at Championship level and had spells with Sheffield United, Crystal Palace (twice), Portsmouth, Leeds United and QPR.