Struggling English first division club Sheffield Wednesday have appointed former player Chris Turner as their new manager.
Turner, who had been in charge of third division pacesetters Hartlepool, was given the job after club talks with more prominent candidates Peter Reid and George Burley came to nothing.
Wednesday's financial problems are understood to have meant they could not meet the salary expectations of former Sunderland boss Reid or Burley, who was until recently in charge at Ipswich.
Turner, who had two spells at Wednesday and also played for Manchester United and Sunderland as a goalkeeper, vowed to drag the club out of the first division by playing attractive football.
But he admitted his first task would be to avoid relegation. Wednesday are second from bottom of the first division - a situation which led to Terry Yorath resigning as manager last month.
"As a player I wanted to get to the top and as a coach and manager that has always been my aim," Turner said.
"I'd love to take this club into the Premiership but my first job is to keep them in the First Division, similar to keeping Hartlepool in the Football League when I first went there. I have every confidence that the players can do that".
Turner said he had the impression a "losing culture" had been allowed to develop at the club. "I need to turn this club from being average into something that everyone in the city can be proud of".
AFP