POSH BREAKING NEWS: McCann is the man for Peterborough United

The 36 year-old was formally unveiled at a press conference at the ABAX Stadium today (May 16). He is the eighth Posh managerial appointment in chairman Darragh MacAnthony’s near-10 year reign at the club and has been given a four-year deal.

McCann has been at Posh since 2010, apart from a very brief spell in January 2015 when he joined Linfield, the team he supported as boy in Belfast.

The midfielder was signed by Posha by former boss Gary Johnson and made 186 appearances, scoring 35 goals. He was a key man in the club’s promotion from League One in 2010-11, his first season at the club.

McCann created the first goal in the 3-0 League One play-off final win against Huddersfield at Old Trafford in May, 2011 before scoring the third goal. He had also scored in both legs of the play-off semi-final win over arch rivals MK Dons.

McCann, who also won 39 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring four goals, made his last appearance for Posh in November 2014, in a 2-1 defeat at home to a former club Scunthorpe.

After returning from Linfield, McCann joined the Posh coaching staff and has worked as assistant manager to both Dave Robertson and Grahame Westley.

McCann managed Posh on four occasions as a caretaker-boss last season. Posh won three of those games and drew the other one. Two of his victories were by impressive 5-1 margins.

McCann’s popularity within the current playing squad is obvious. He is also popular with the vast majority of the club’s fan base.

They are all factors taken into account by MacAnthony as he sought the man capable of leading Posh into a battle for League One promotion next season.