Steve Burr has been appointed as the new Chester FC manager in what will be seen as a major coup for the club.
Burr takes charge immediately and will be in the dugout for today's game with Barnet with his initial contract running until the end of the season.
Despite initially ruling himself out of the running for the role, the 54-year-old arrived at the Swansway Chester Stadium and accepted an offer to replace Neil Young.
Burr was not one of the 53 applicants for the post but The Chronicle understands his representatives contacted the club in the week and expressed an interest in the position.
Caretaker boss Gary Jones will stay on with the club and act as assistant manager to Burr, who will be given an opportunity to bring in his own coaching staff to strengthen the management team and money for new players.
Chairman Tony Durkin, vice chairman Steve Ashton and director Jim Keegan headed up the recruitment process and are delighted with the outcome.
"The board of Chester FC are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Burr as football manager until the end of the season and potentially beyond," said Durkin.
"Steve will work with the current backroom staff with Gary Jones remaining as assistant manager. Steve may well bring in one or two additional staff members to strengthen the coaching side.
"Those of you who know Steve's background, will recognise his success and experience at Conference Premier level and his international experience with the England C squad.
"On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Steve for his professional approach to the appointment process, for accepting the position and wish him luck with the challenge of the current situation which we find ourselves in.
"I would call upon the fans to get behind Steve and our great club over the coming weeks and months."
Burr met the players at lunchtime today and said he would be taking charge of the team together with Jones for the visit of the eighth-placed Bees.
"Today is my first day in and I have had a good chat with Gary this morning," said Burr.
"We'll asses the current squad and obviously there are one or two ideas I have to strengthen the squad. The side does need strengthening because of the situation we are in the table.
"I have got ideas about bringing one or two in if we can and I'm sure we will do our best as a club to do that.
"I'm not of those who is going to sit in stand. I'm here, it's very much part of what we do now, it's my team and obviously with just coming in I have been led by Gary with the team we are going with but I'll be in the dugout today and helping."
