Former Scotland defender Gary Naysmith has been appointed as the new manager of East Fife on an 18-month contract.
The 35-year-old has been handed the reins at the Methil club on a permanent basis after steering the Fifers to back-to-back victories in the two games he took charge of as caretaker boss.
Naysmith was given a chance to prove himself following former Fife manager Willie Aitchison’s resignation and led the League One outfit to a 1-0 win over Stenhousemuir and a 3-1 win away to Airdrieonians.
That convinced chairman Lee Murray to give Naysmith the job on a permanent basis, despite the club receiving a number of applications for the vacant post, and the new boss is looking forward to his first full game in charge at home to Brechin City on Saturday.
Former Dundee United boss Paul Hegarty has been installed as Naysmith’s assistant in the interim, while Dougie Anderson will continue coaching duties at the Methil club.
Hegarty, who managed United in 2002/3 and was also caretaker manager of the Tangerines for a short time after Peter Houston’s departure earlier this year, has been helping Naysmith out on a voluntary basis after leaving Tannadice soon after Jackie McNamara’s appointment as manager.
And that arrangement will continue for the next two or three months.
Naysmith, who has 46 caps for Scotland, had spells at Hearts, Everton, Sheffield United, Huddersfield and Aberdeen before his stint at Bayview.