Swansea City have appointed 61-year-old Alan Curtis on a permanent basis until the end of the season, succeeding Garry Monk.
Several managers were linked with the job, such as Marcelo Bielsa, David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers, the man who got the club promoted to the Premier League but chairman Huw Jenkins admits that it was tough finding a new manager.
Interim boss handed another few months
Swansea sit 17th in the table, just two points ahead of Newcastle United, but form under Curtis’ temporary charge has improved enough to convince senior board members that he has done enough to warrant the position until May.
Curtis’ first game in charge permanently will come against Oxford United on Sunday, and the first Premier League game will be at home to Sunderland.
Huw Jenkins wasn't ready for Monk's sacking
In a statement on the club’s website, to summarise Curtis was given the job because he represents everything that Swansea feel they are, and both hold the same values.
Jenkins also explained that the club didn’t have immediate replacements lined up after sacking Monk because they didn’t expect to be in the position after a superb 2014/15 Premier League season.
Under Curtis’ temporary charge, Swansea kept three clean sheets in five games, picking up five points and only losing to the two Manchester clubs.
Curtis must now deal with the transfer market
Many Swansea fans feel that the most important announcement is yet to come, whether the club will sign a new striker as the number one problem is in the goalscoring department.
Surely it is welcoming news to those fans that transfer targets will be more open to joining Swansea with a permanent manager in place.
In a statement, Curtis said that he was honoured to be given the chance to manage Swansea until the end of the season, and that he will give everything to the role because the club believes he is the right man to take them forward.