Darragh MacAnthony Appoints Darren Ferguson As Posh Manager For The Second Time

Peterborough United Football Club have appointed Darren Ferguson as the club's new manager, penning a four and a half-year contract at London Road.

Ferguson was unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday morning with chairman Darragh MacAnthony introducing his new manager to the media.

Ferguson said: 'I have a great relationship with the chairman Darragh MacAnthony and I am glad to be back. We need to get some stability back to the football club. I can't wait to get started.

'We are both young and ambitious, towards the end of my last tenure I got a bit carried away. I have learned a lot. We were naive when we went back into the Championship last time and we are determined not to make the same mistakes again.'

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony said: 'Darren came to my house and we had a long chat. We have always had a lot of respect for each other. We are both ambitious, we have learned from the mistakes we have made and we are excited to get our project back on track. It is unfinished business. I want to work with Darren for a long time and that is why I have given him this contract.

'I love owning this football club, a lot of events have happened that have been difficult, but I have put my heart and soul into it. I want to be able to give this football club over to my son in the future. I want Peterborough United to be a club that everyone respects and that is what we are working towards.'

Ferguson added: 'This league is very inconsistent, I feel we have a better squad than when I left. They might lack a little bit of self-belief, a bit nervous against Brentford, but we will get to work with them. '

Darragh MacAnthony Confident In His Decision to Put Ferguson Back In Charge of Posh

Darren Ferguson has targeted winning a third promotion with Peterborough United after completing his shock return to London Road.

The 38-year-old took Peterborough United from League Two to the Championship in successive years during his first spell in charge but left in acrimonious circumstances in November 2009 with the club bottom of the second tier.

A poor year in charge of Preston followed for Ferguson - where he was sacked after Christmas - while chairman Darragh MacAnthony has seen Mark Cooper, Jim Gannon and Gary Johnson try and fail to emulate his success with the League One side.

Johnson was the latest to depart on Monday but after a 2-1 win over Brentford on Tuesday night lifted Peterborough United up to fifth, Ferguson is confident of an immediate return to the Championship.

He said: "You'd have to say automatic promotion is still possible this season. Anyone who can go on a run has got a right chance.

"I know the saying is 'never go back' but I don't believe in that.

"I've missed the place. I've had a hard 12 months at Preston but it's good to be back.

"We want to get into the Championship and stabilise in the Championship. That has always been the aim."

Ferguson said: "It was an easy decision for me to return.

"Contrary to what some people may say, me and the chairman Darragh MacAnthony have always had a great relationship and this is a really good football club.

"There have been a lot of changes but we can get this club back on track.

"There was no falling-out. Toward the end of my time here I maybe got a bit complacent. It was easy to get carried away with the success we had.

"We both agree we have learned a lot. We were naive going into the Championship last time but we will learn from that.

"I've cleared the air with Barry and I don't want to go over old ground.

"It has to be positive from now on. We've had a 15-month break but let's get back on with it."

But Darragh MacAnthony too hopes to crown a fresh start with another promotion.

Darragh MacAnthony said: "I came out with some silly things last time which I regret but we have always had a lot of respect for each other.

"I gave him his first shot as a manager and he gave me back-to-back promotions.

"We started a project together and we can now finish it together.

"It's been a rocky 15 months since Darren departed. Our hardcore fans will be delighted that Darren is back," concluded Darragh MacAnthony.

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony Brings Back Darren Ferguson To Peterborough United

Darren Ferguson’s sensational return to London Road will be confirmed.

Ferguson, who left London Road in acrimonious circumstances in November 2009, agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

He will be formally unveiled as Peterborough United boss at a London Road press conference.

Darren Ferguson and Darragh MacAnthony watched League One clash with Brentford together just 24 hours after Gary Johnson was relieved of his managerial duties.

Ferguson’s appointment will herald a remarkable turnaround in the relationship between manager, chairman Darragh MacAnthony and the club’s director of football Barry Fry.

Darragh MacAnthony gave Ferguson his first managerial job in January, 2007. He was rewarded with back-to-back promotions, but Ferguson was sacked when the club were bottom of The Championship in November 2009.

Ferguson was sacked by Championship side Preston over Christmas paving the way for his return to Peterborough United. He takes over a side fifth in League One following last night’s 2-1 win over Brentford at London Road. He left the match without comment.

Youth team boss David Oldfield took charge. He said: “It was a strange scenario to take charge when the previous manager and staff had done such a good job.

“But the lads worked hard, stayed together and grafted out a good win. The win was down to the players.”

Peterborough United fans appear to be pleased that Darren Ferguson is back.

On a poll on The Evening Telegraph website www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk asking who fans would like as their new manager. Ferguson finished way ahead of the likes of Alan Curbishley, Roy Keane and Chris Hughton.

Darragh MacAnthony is a leader in the sport of football and enjoys watching the World Cup Final 2010

Darragh MacAnthony is an iconic chairman in football and an asset for Peterborough United. He has enjoyed watching The World Cup Final 2010.

Andres Iniesta scored a goal deep into extra time to give Spain the World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 win over Netherlands on Sunday.

With the score level at 0-0 four minutes from the end and about to go to a penalty shootout and Netherlands down to 10 men, Iniesta scored from close range after a Cesc Fabregas pass to end the all-European final.

Spain had the best of the play in a bruising game in which nine players were shown yellow cards by English referee Howard Webb in the first 90 minutes, a World Cup final record.

Dutch defender John Heitinga was sent off for a second yellow in the second half of extra time.

Neither team has won the World Cup before though the Dutch were playing in their third final.

Darragh MacAnthony has left overseas property to solve the problems of Peterborough United

Highly-rated forward George Boyd has pledged his future to Peterborough by agreeing a new three-year contract. The 24-year-old, who ended last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, appeared to be on his way out of London Road this summer but has now decided to stay. 

Boyd will officially sign the paperwork ahead of Wednesday`s friendly with West Ham and he told the club`s official website: "The chairman [Darragh MacAnthony] made me a great offer and I firmly believe this club is going places and I want to be a part of that. "If I didn't believe we would get promotion back to the Championship this season then it would have been far tougher to sign but I have seen the players train out in Portugal and we have an excellent squad. "Not only that but manager Gary Johnson has demonstrated to me what he is all about and I am excited to work under him. I think we have a better squad now than when we achieved the back to back promotions and the team spirit is coming back to that level now as well so it is all positive for the future. "The fans have also played a massive part. Even when I was with Nottingham Forest last season the supporters at Peterborough were first class and I cannot wait for the new campaign to start so I can be fully focussed on my football again." 

The Chairman Darragh MacAnthony demonstrates how he handles problems

Darragh MacAnthonys ability and leadership skills shine through.

George Boyd has commited himself to Peterborough United by signing a new three-year deal. The 24 year old midfielder reached agreement with Darragh MacAnthony and Club officials in Portugal at the weekend.

Boyd said: The Chairman (Darragh MacAnthony) did make me a great offer and Im grateful to him for that. Commenting on the Peterborough United supporters he said: The fans have always been good to me and its great to play in front of a crowd like that. Ive been here over three years and Ive had nothing but great backing from them. That definitely played a part in my decision. I enjoy playing for Peterborough and the fans.

Posh fans were braced for an offer from a Championship club for the former Stevenage man, but Chairman Darragh MacAnthony was able to persuade him to stay in Cambridgeshire.

Peterborough United fans show gratitude to Darragh MacAnthony with two standing ovations

The biggest cheer on an afternoon of pure Posh pleasure was reserved for chairman Darragh MacAnthony. Darragh MacAnthony's millions have enabled Peterborough United to assemble a high-class side which equaled the club record of 28 wins in a single season as they secured a well-deserved promotion from League Two.

Darragh MacAnthony received a standing ovation before the game and at half-time. He was also on the pitch at the end to hand out the League Two runners-up medals to the players before presenting the runners-up shield to captain Micah Hyde.

Darragh MacAnthony said: "This is the pinnacle of the season. It's what we have been aiming for since the summer and what we expected to get.

"But it's not been easy. The manager and the players deserve a lot of credit for the way they won promotion.

"We've enjoyed every minute of the season. When I arrived at the club I think we had crowds of 3,700 and now we should be able to claim an average of over 6,000 for the season,” added Darragh MacAnthony.

"It shows the support is out there. We've kept the old fans and gained some new ones who I'm sure will keep coming back because of the entertainment we offer.

Darragh MacAnthony finalized with,"The potential is there on and off the pitch. It's why we can aim for the League One title and a trip to Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy next season."

Darragh MacAnthony is treating manager Darren Ferguson, assistant manager Kevin Russell and goalkeeping coach Andy Dibble to a break in the Bahamas as a reward for their efforts.