Preston land Ferguson

Darren Ferguson has been appointed as manager of Coca-Cola Championship outfit Preston on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The highly-rated 37-year-old had been a free agent since leaving Peterborough in November and succeeds Alan Irvine at Deepdale.

Irvine, 51, was surprisingly shown the door last week despite saving the Lancashire outfit from relegation in 2007/08 and guiding them into the play-offs last season.

Kevin Russell and Scott Taylor, who were part of Ferguson's backroom staff at London Road, have also joined North End.