Port Vale have appointed former Northampton Town boss Jon Brady as their new manager on an 18-month contract.
The 50-year-old Australian replaces Darren Moore, who was sacked on 28 December after a run of seven defeats in nine games left the League One side bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety.
Brady, who resigned as Cobblers manager just over a year ago, has the task of trying to keep Vale, with just four wins from 23 games this season, in the third tier.
"We're delighted to welcome Jon to Vale Park as the club's new manager," Vale chief executive Matt Hancock said in a club statement., external
"Jon was the standout candidate at the end of a thorough recruitment process, with his experience and passion for returning to management here at Port Vale really shining through."
Brady spent three and a half years with the Cobblers, spanning 200 matches, delivering promotion to League One after finishing third in League Two 2022-23.
He arrives in Burslem in similar circumstances to when he took interim charge at the Sixfields Stadium in February 2021 when Northampton sat in the League One relegation zone.
Although he could not keep them up that season, his track record of getting the club back there - and keeping them there - appealed to the Vale hierarchy, given the Valiants' perilous position at the moment.
Hancock added that Brady "is someone who we believe can make a real difference here in both the short and long term" and said the new boss has "our full support as we focus on achieving our objectives this season".
Brady inherits a Vale side that ended a 12-game winless league run in spectacular style by thrashing relegation rivals Blackpool 5-1 on New Year's Day.
That was their first league victory since 27 September, having started the season solidly following promotion last term as League Two runners-up, only for their results to dip badly.
Brady will be in charge for the first time in Friday's FA Cup third round tie against Fleetwood Town [19:30 GMT].
