STOCKPORT County have appointed Simon Rusk as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
He will be joined at Edgeley Park by Mark McGhee who takes up the role of assistant manager alongside Dave Conlon who remains in his post.
Rusk takes over as manager from Jim Gannon, who parted company with the National League club at the end of last month.
He joins County from Brighton where he has been under-23s coach for six years, after three years as under-18s coach.
During this time, he has developed several young players into Brighton’s Premier League squad and top EFL clubs. He also enjoyed two spells as first team coach under Chris Hughton.
Mark McGhee brings a wealth of experience to the role of assistant manager having previously managed Leicester, Wolves and Motherwell, and had a spell as assistant coach for the Scotland national team.
Simon Wilson, County’s director of football, said: “As fans might expect we were inundated with interest in the role, from a variety of backgrounds, from highly experienced been-there-done-it types, to fresh thinking emerging profiles.
“Simon is a young talent, very highly regarded in the industry and supported by Mark and Dave, we think we have found the best of all worlds.
“Simon follows the recent successful trend of highly regarded and hungry U23 team coaches coming into first team management. His education, time in the trenches and experience across the divisions give him the perfect background for success.
“Behind him, with nearly 1000 games and three EFL promotions, including two titles, we welcome Mark McGhee.”
He added: “I appreciate recent events will have come as a shock but I’d like to thank fans for their continued support and hope everyone can get behind our new management team as we continue to progress the club back towards League status.”
New manager Simon Rusk said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be the manager of such a great football club. Stockport County has rich tradition and an incredibly loyal fanbase, I’m looking to continue the great work that’s been done and can reassure fans I will devote everything to the role.
“We have a fantastic squad with great infrastructure and can’t wait to start working with the players. Stockport County need to be back in the EFL and I believe together with Mark and Dave we can steer the cub to success.”