Former Sheffield Wednesday captain Darren Purse has been appointed manager of Sligo Rovers, marking his first senior managerial role. The move gives the 49-year-old a chance to apply his coaching experience in first-team football while attempting to keep the Irish club in the Premier Division.

Purse joins from Cardiff City, where he spent almost five years coaching under-23 and under-21 players, managing loans and briefly serving as first-team assistant manager. He has signed an 18-month contract, succeeding John Russell; Sligo are bottom of the division after 24 matches and have 12 games left to secure survival.