Coventry City have confirmed the appointment of Chris Coleman as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal. The 37-year-old has been out of work since leaving Real Sociedad last month and replaces Iain Dowie, who was sacked last week.

The former Wales international defender was in charge at Fulham for four years before being sacked last April. Coleman, who played for Swansea City, Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham in his playing career, takes over with Coventry lying 20th in the Coca-Cola Championship, four points clear of the relegation zone.

They were also knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday, beaten 5-0 by West Bromwich Albion at the Ricoh Arena, but Coleman has been denied the chance to start his reign at Sheffield Wednesday tonight after the match at Hillsborough was postponed because of a frozen pitch and fog.

Ray Ranson, the Coventry chairman, is delighted to appoint Coleman. "Chris is a progressive young manager with excellent coaching credentials and has a real desire to deliver success for our club," he said. "I have been flattered by the number of top-class coaches and managers who have shown an interest in managing Coventry City, but Chris was always our No 1 target.

"I am looking forward to working with him we share the same passion for football and how a club should be managed, I have no doubt that he will help to take this great club forward."