Mark Cooper confirmed as new Posh boss
MARK Cooper has been named as the new manager of Peterborough United.
MARK Cooper has been named as the new manager of Peterborough United.The Kettering Town chief has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club and met his new players for the first time this evening.
Cooper took charge of the Poppies for the last time yesterday when they faced Cambridge United in the Blue Square Premier Division and received a standing ovation from Poppies fans after a 2-0 win.
Former Tamworth boss Cooper has now begun the task of steering Posh clear of the bottom of the Championship table on Monday morning.
Posh director of football Barry Fry confirmed Cooper won what had become a two-horse race to succeed Darren Ferguson in the London Road hotseat.
Fry declined to name the other main contender, but confirmed that he and Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony had interviewed a shortlist of six potential candidates before opting to appoint the 40 year-old.
Fry told the Evening Telegraph: "We have done everything by the book.
"Mark will start on Monday just as we have planned. He is a young, hungry manager who I am personally delighted to have on board."
Fry declined to reveal the identities of the other prospective managers interviewed by Posh in the past couple of days.
Other names rumoured to be in the frame were Brentford boss Andy Scott, Oxford manager Chris Wilder and Bohemians chief Patrick Fenlon. Posh were blocked in their bid to approach Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.
Cooper has enjoyed great success at Kettering since being appointed in the summer of 2007.
He guided the club to the Blue Square North title glory in his first season at the helm and then masterminded a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup last season that was only ended by Fulham.
Kettering are third in the Blue Square Premier Division this season and defeated League One side Hartlepool in the FA Cup last weekend.
Cooper faces a tough start as Posh boss with a trip to Sheffield United next Saturday followed by a home match against Middlesbrough. Posh hae won just two of 16 Championship matches so far.
Ferguson (right), who steered Posh to successive promotions, left the club by mutual consent earlier this week amid accusations that he had been tapped up by another club. Ferguson denied those claims.
Don't miss Alan Swann's interview with Mark Cooper in Monday's ET.
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Friday 19 March 2010
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