Mark Warburton takes over as Nottingham Forest manager

NOTTINGHAM FOREST have confirmed the appointment of Mark Warburton as the Sky Bet Championship club’s new manager.

Former Brentford and Rangers boss Warburton, 54, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and will be joined by assistant David Weir.

“Nottingham Forest are delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Warburton as the club’s first-team manager, replacing Gary Brazil,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

Academy boss Brazil had initially been placed in charge until the end of the season after Philippe Montanier was sacked in January.

Warburton, who departed Rangers last month, had been earmarked as a summer target following the appointment of Frank McParland as director of football.

But Forest’s defeat at Burton on Saturday was their fifth in their last seven league games and left them just two points above the relegation zone.

Reds owner and chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi was keen to have Warburton in charge for Saturday’s home league game against east midlands rivals Derby, who confirmed Gary Rowett as their new manager on Tuesday.

Warburton was appointed first-team coach at Brentford in February 2011 after working in Watford’s academy and was named manager in December 2013 following Uwe Rosler’s departure to Wigan.

The Bees won promotion to the Championship under Warburton and the following season lost in the play-off semi-finals to Middlesbrough after finishing fifth.

Warburton was named Rangers boss in June 2015 and won promotion back to the top flight and the Scottish Challenge Cup in his first season before his departure from Ibrox was announced last month.