Nigel Adkins: Tranmere Rovers appoint interim manager on two-and-a-half-year deal

Tranmere have lost their last four league matches under Nigel Adkins

Tranmere Rovers have appointed interim boss Nigel Adkins their permanent manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 58-year-old was made technical director in the summer before taking over first-team affairs in September after Ian Dawes was sacked.

The League Two strugglers have won two of his nine league games in charge.

"It's an honour to take the manager's role at a club I previously played for, and which is my home-town club," he told the club website.

"I have no illusions that we have work to do given our very poor start to the season, however I would not have accepted this role on a permanent basis if I was not confident that we can put it right.

"The infrastructure and support that is in place at Tranmere Rovers is top quality."

Adkins, who played in goal for Rovers between 1983 and 1986, has had spells in charge of Scunthorpe, Southampton, Reading, Sheffield United, Hull City and Charlton.

He twice led the Iron to promotion from League One and guided Southampton from the third tier to the Premier League.

Tranmere are second-bottom in League Two, three points adrift of safety after four successive defeats.

They visit League One Stevenage in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.