Lee Clark: Blackpool appoint ex-Birmingham City manager

Clark was promoted from the Championship as a player with Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham

Blackpool have appointed former Birmingham City boss Lee Clark as their new manager on a one-year rolling deal.

The 42-year-old was sacked by Blues just 10 days ago, and takes over the only side below his old club in the Championship table.

The ex-Huddersfield boss replaces Belgian Jose Riga, who was fired after his four-month spell at the Seasiders.

"The main objective is to try and keep the club in the Championship and build from there," said Clark.

"It is a big challenge because of our position in the league, but it's a challenge that can be overcome.

"I'm very confident with the players I've got here, in what we can do going forward, that we can achieve those goals."

Lee Clark (far right) celebrates after keeping Birmingham in the Championship on the final day of last season

A former midfielder at Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham, Clark started his coaching career at Newcastle as first-team coach.

He moved to Norwich with Glenn Roeder to become assistant manager at Carrow Road, but a year later took his first managerial appointment at Huddersfield in November 2008.

Clark was sacked after just over three years with the Terriers, but was back in work four months later when he took over at Birmingham.

He led the Blues to 12th in his first season in charge, before they avoided relegation on the final day last term, but a poor start to this campaign saw him lose his job at St Andrew's.

"We needed someone with experience of the Championship and that's what Lee brings to the club," chairman Karl Oyston told the club website.

"Lee's done remarkably well in a difficult background at Birmingham.

"We needed someone to come in and organise us properly and bring in the structure, approach and positivity that we've been lacking."

Clark's first game in charge will be Saturday's Championship clash with Ipswich.