Coventry name Dowie as their new manager

Coventry City yesterday appointed Iain Dowie as their new manager.

The 42-year-old former Crystal Palace and Oldham boss has been out of football since being sacked by Charlton in November after just 12 league games in charge.

Adrian Heath had been in charge at the Ricoh Arena in a caretaker role since Micky Adams was relieved of his duties on January 17 but he left the club on Sunday.

Dowie's first game at the helm is tonight's home encounter with Southampton, one of his former clubs as a player.

Coventry managing director Paul Fletcher said: "When we decided to appoint a new manager, we set a number of criteria.

"Iain was incredibly impressive on the occasions we met and there is no doubt that he was by far the strongest candidate in all the criteria we set.

"This is undoubtedly an exciting time for everyone involved with the Sky Blues and we feel we have the best available person to help take Coventry forward."

Coventry parted company with Heath on Sunday, along with backroom staff Darren Robinson, Andy Dibble and George Foster. On Saturday. Coventry crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to Leicester to remain 17th in the 24-team league with 38 points from 33 games.

Malta forward Michael Mifsud started Saturday's league game at the Walkers Stadium but was substituted by Heath during half-time.

The 25-year-old Mifsud joined Coventry City as a free player during the January transfer window after his two-and-a-half-year contract with Norwegian team Lillestrom expired in December.