Melbourne Victory are set to unveil Northern Irishman Jim Magilton as their new interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Magilton is due due to sign his contract before tonight’s Hyundai A-league match between Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets, 7.45pm AEDT, as reported on the Herald Sun website.
Magilton will be present at a Victory media conference this afternoon and his appointment will also be announced to the fans at tonight-s game at AAMI stadium.
The 42-year-old spent three years at Ipswich from 2006-09, before a short stint with Queens Park Rangers in 2009. He has spent the past six months in Ireland as an assistant coach at Shamrock Rovers.
Magilton landed in Melbourne early this morning and was met by Melbourne Victory managing director Richard Wilson and board member Ian McLeod.
The former Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder replaces Mehmet Durakovic, who was sacked as coach yesterday after only three wins in 14 matches.
The Victory board lost faith in Durakovic’s unacceptable results.
“We gave Mehmet every opportunity to achieve success this season, but we were inconsistent and team performance lacked,” Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said.
“Our decision was based on the need to have consistency in our direction.”
Di Pietro said Durakovic’s position as senior coach had become untenable, but he’s “welcome back with open arms” as Victory youth coach.
