Fulham promote Kit Symons to manager on full-time basis

Fulham have named Kit Symons as their new full-time manager on a contract until the end of next season following a promising spell in charge as caretaker boss.

The 43-year-old has won five of nine games since taking over from Felix Magath last month, helping the Cottagers out of the Championship's relegation zone.

"Kit has thoroughly earned the opportunity to take Fulham from here as our first-team manager," Fulham owner Shahid Khan told the club website.

"We've been a different football club, on and off the pitch, since Kit stepped in as our caretaker manager in September. His passion for Fulham is evident and contagious, and I believe the promise ahead of him is extremely bright."

Symons's appointment comes a little under 24 hours after his side threw away a 2-0 half-time lead and went down 5-2 to Derby County in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

His first game in charge as full-time manager will be a trip to Wigan Athletic on Saturday.