Adkins appointed

Southampton have appointed Nigel Adkins as their new manager following Alan Pardew’s dismissal last month.

The 45-year-old arrives on a three-year deal from Scunthorpe, who he twice took from League One into the Championship.

“I am delighted to be the manager of Southampton. It’s a very proud honour to join a club with such a big tradition,” he told the club website.

“I’m very proud to have been given the opportunity by the chairman and look forward to taking the club forward.”

As recently as Friday, the deal looked to be dead with Scunthorpe claiming Southampton asked Adkins to quit so they could avoid compensation and withdrew the bid when he did not, a claim the Saints deny.

Adkins also denied this, insisting that Southampton had approached Scunthorpe in the right manner.

“I’m really looking forward to this fresh new challenge, and I’m very optimistic of where we can take this football club,” he added.

“We want to excite the supporters, because when this stadium is full I am sure there is a fantastic buzz around the place, so I hope the supporters are looking forward to watching their team go out and winning games of football in the right style.”

The former Scunthorpe physio became caretaker manager at Scunthorpe in November 2006 following the departure of Brian Laws to Sheffield Wednesday before being appointed in the full-time position a month later.

He guided the Iron to promotion to the Championship in 2007 and again in 2009 following their relegation in 2008.

Adkins replaces Pardew, who was appointed as Saints boss in July 2009 but was dismissed from his role just three games into the current season.

Southampton currently lie 22nd in League One having started the season as favourites to win the league. They have lost all three games since Pardew’s sacking.

Andy Crosby, Adkins’ assistant at Scunthorpe, will become assistant manager of the Saints.