Barry Ferguson: Alloa Athletic appoint former Rangers and Scotland captain after Kelty Hearts exit
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Barry Ferguson (right) and his assistant Bob Malcolm are leaving Kelty Hearts
Former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson has been confirmed as Alloa Athletic's new manager - four days after leading Kelty Hearts into the SPFL.
Kelty beat Brechin City in their Pyramid Play-off final after winning the Lowland League and will make their debut in League 2 next season.
Ferguson will look to return Alloa to the Championship after their relegation under Peter Grant.
The 43-year-old Ferguson previously managed Clyde in League 2.
"Over the years - the managers that have been here Paul Hartley, Jim Goodwin, Jack Ross, are good managers that have progressed in the game," Ferguson said.
"Once I met the chairman and saw the facilities I thought it was the right club at the right time.
"[The aim] Is to get promoted back to the Championship. That's the attitude I've got to have and I want my players to have."
Having started as a player-manager, the former Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City midfielder led Clyde to the promotion play-off final in his second season in charge but resigned after a poor start to the following campaign.
Ferguson, who won 43 caps for Scotland, went on to lead former junior side Kelty to third spot in the Lowland League in his first season before winning the first of two successive titles.
His side were denied a chance of a promotion play-off against Brora Rangers last season because of the Covid-19 pandemic but defeated the Highland League champions in this term's semi-final after both their campaigns were cut short by lockdown rules.
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