Darren Ferguson returns to Peterborough United

Peterborough United have reappointed Darren Ferguson for a fourth spell as manager until the end of the season after sacking boss Grant McCann.

Ferguson from his third spell in charge last season, with Posh heading for relegation to League One.

McCann, 42, and assistant Cliff Byrne, 40, departed Posh on Wednesday after a run of one win in seven league games.

Peterborough co-owner Jason Neale said the return of Ferguson would only be until the end of the campaign.

"When you look for a manager in January, it is a very difficult time, an impossible time to get someone in, so if you were to write down what you would want in a manager, someone who identifies with how you work as a football club, someone who has had multiple promotions on their CV, someone with a style of football that gets people off their seats, where would you find a manager like that?" Neale told the club website.

"It just so happens we have one that lives nearby and has agreed to come and help us until the end of the season.

"We are not talking a long-term appointment, it has been agreed between ourselves and Darren that the best way is for him to come in and work with the squad."

Ferguson led Peterborough to successive promotions in his first two full seasons in charge but left for the first time with the club bottom of the Championship.

He returned 14 months later, in January 2011 after being sacked by Preston, and led Posh to victory over Huddersfield in the League One play-off final, only to leave "by mutual consent" in February 2015 following relegation and a poor start to the season.

After leading Doncaster to relegation and instant promotion, Ferguson left for his third spell at London Road, taking the club back into the Championship, before resigning in February of last year with Posh in 23rd place.

Neale added: "He only left a year ago, none of the owners wanted him to leave, for us the Championship was a challenge for a club our size, he made the decision to leave, Darragh (MacAnthony, chairman) felt it was the wrong decision at the time, but we feel that after a year out, he is full of enthusiasm, he is going to come in and his motivation and aim is to get another promotion under the belt.

"He has won five promotions in his career; he will be going for number six and we are delighted that he has agreed to return. It is business as usual and on we go."