Former Carlisle United managers Nigel Pearson and Paul Simpson team up at Bristol City

Nigel Pearson, who was in charge of the Blues in the 1998/9 campaign, has been appointed the Robins' new boss until the end of the season.

And Pearson will work with a backroom team that includes fellow former Brunton Park chief Paul Simpson, who is assistant head coach.

Pearson's appointment follows the recent sacking of Dean Holden.

Simpson and fellow assistant Keith Downing were put in caretaker charge for Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Barnsley, before Pearson's arrival was confirmed last night.

Both Simpson and Downing will remain as part of Pearson's regime, the Ashton Gate club confirmed.

Pearson, 57, started his managerial career at Carlisle and was famously in charge when keeper Jimmy Glass scored against Plymouth to keep the Blues in the Football League.

He went on to manage Southampton, Leicester, Hull, Derby, Belgian side OH Leuven and Watford.

Paul Simpson has been in joint caretaker charge at Ashton Gate since Dean Holden's sacking (photo: PA)

Simpson, meanwhile, managed Carlisle from 2003-6 and memorably led his home-city club to consecutive promotions.

After steering United to Conference promotion in 2005 and the League Two title the following year, he joined Preston and has also managed Rochdale, Shrewsbury, Stockport and Northwich, before a successful stint with England's Under-20s which included World Cup glory in 2017.

He returned to the club game with Bristol City last summer under Holden, who last week paid the price for a run of five straight league defeats. They lie 15th in the second tier.

Pearson will "observe" tonight's Championship game against Middlesbrough, 54-year-old Simpson and Downing continuing to oversee things, before formally taking charge tomorrow.

Good evening, all. Thank you for the kind messages and warm welcome. I'm delighted to be back in management and working for @BristolCity, a proud, progressive football club. I will give my all to improve our fortunes. Cheers, Nige. #BristolCity

— Nigel Pearson (@NigelGPearson) February 22, 2021

In a statement, Bristol City chairman Jon Lansdown said: “Nigel gives us the leadership and direction we need to lift the players’ confidence and to turn our form around.

"The initial appointment is until the end of the season, when we will re-assess the situation, hopefully with a view to the long term.

"However, the immediate priority for Nigel and the coaching team is to stop the current bad run and move us back up the table.”