Kenny Shiels is named as new manager of Derry City

Kenny Shiels gained managerial experience in the SPL with Kilmarnock

Former Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels has been named as the new manager of League of Ireland club Derry City.

The 59-year-old Magherafelt man met with the club's Board of Directors on Wednesday night and has agreed a two-year deal with the Brandywell club.

Interim boss Paul Hegarty had declined to take the job on a permament basis.

Shiels had been tipped to succeed Eddie Patterson as Glentoran manager after watching the East Belfast side draw 1-1 with Coleraine at the Oval on Saturday.

He recently returned home after a spell managing BEC Tero Sasana in Thailand and has gained experience in the Irish League with Carrick Rangers, Coleraine and Ballymena United, and also in Scotland with Greenock Morton and Kilmarnock.

Shiels also enjoyed a spell in charge of the Northern Ireland Under-17 team.

"Derry is a club with so much history and tradition as a footballing city and the lure of full-time football was a big factor. It means I can work with the players every day," said Shiels.

"I have watched the players but you need to find out about their character and mental strength, which is every bit as important as the quality of the players.

"I want to promote an innovative style of football and ensure that the fans are excited about what they have seen in the last match and about what they will see in the next game.

"If you want to be successful sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone and look to try and expand yourself and I think the challenge of the League of Ireland would be much more demanding on myself."

Hegarty was handed the caretaker position until the end of the season in September following the departure of manager Peter Hutton .

Derry were in relegation trouble when the former Brandywell player arrived but Hegarty guided the team to safety and a seventh place finish.