Darren Ferguson: Peterborough United sack Grant McCann and reappoint former boss for fourth spell

Peterborough United have reappointed Darren Ferguson for a fourth spell as manager until the end of the season after sacking boss Grant McCann.

McCann, 42, and assistant Cliff Byrne, 40, departed Posh on Wednesday after a run of one win in seven league games.

Peterborough co-owner Jason Neale said the return of Ferguson would only be until the end of the campaign.

"When you look for a manager in January, it is a very difficult time, an impossible time to get someone in, so if you were to write down what you would want in a manager, someone who identifies with how you work as a football club, someone who has had multiple promotions on their CV, someone with a style of football that gets people off their seats, where would you find a manager like that?" Neale told the club website.

"It just so happens we have one that lives nearby and has agreed to come and help us until the end of the season.

"We are not talking a long-term appointment, it has been agreed between ourselves and Darren that the best way is for him to come in and work with the squad."

• Listen to a BBC Radio Cambridgeshire special on the return of Darren Ferguson

Ferguson led Peterborough to successive promotions in his first two full seasons in charge but left for the first time with the club bottom of the Championship.

He returned 14 months later, in January 2011 after being sacked by Preston, and led Posh to victory over Huddersfield in the League One play-off final, only to leave "by mutual consent" in February 2015 following relegation and a poor start to the season.

After leading Doncaster to relegation and instant promotion, Ferguson left for his third spell at London Road, taking the club back into the Championship, before resigning in February of last year with Posh in 23rd place.

Neale added: "He only left a year ago, none of the owners wanted him to leave, for us the Championship was a challenge for a club our size, he made the decision to leave, Darragh (MacAnthony, chairman) felt it was the wrong decision at the time, but we feel that after a year out, he is full of enthusiasm, he is going to come in and his motivation and aim is to get another promotion under the belt.

"He has won five promotions in his career; he will be going for number six and we are delighted that he has agreed to return. It is business as usual and on we go."

McCann reign 'hasn't worked out'

Former Posh midfielder McCann's sacking ends his second spell in charge at the Weston Homes Stadium.

He was initially sacked 21 months into his first spell as manager, in 2018, but returned to Peterborough following Ferguson's last departure, having led Hull to promotion in 2021.

Unable to prevent Peterborough's relegation from the Championship , McCann stayed in his job, and led Posh to four wins in their first five league games this season.

Four straight defeats in August and September ended that run, but Posh bounced back again with six wins and a draw from eight matches to reignite their promotion hopes.

Since November, however, five defeats from seven league games - culminating in a 3-0 home defeat by Wycombe at the weekend - prompted the board's decision to part company.

"It just hasn't worked out," said MacAnthony. "With the squad that we have, at the beginning of January, where we are in the league table is not where we expected and we feel if we are going to give ourselves a chance of a promotion run, now is the time to make that change.

"After watching us lose 3-0 at home on New Year's Day, that hammered home what kind of run we have been on, one win in 10 weeks and that is just not going to cut it. We have high expectations, and those high expectations will continue."

Posh have 'opted for tried and tested'

Analysis - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Peter Swan

Ever since Grant McCann returned as Posh manager last February, replacing Darren Ferguson, fans had been joking about Ferguson coming back for a fourth spell.

Very few seriously thought he would return to London Road.

But with Posh's promotion push having come unstuck over recent weeks, chairman Darragh MacAnthony has opted for the tried and tested.

During his previous three spells as Posh manager, Ferguson has won four promotions - most recently leading the club out of League One in 2021.

He resigned in February of last year with Posh stuck in the Championship relegation zone. MacAnthony wanted him to stay.

Ferguson subsequently stated that Posh weren't "ambitious enough" with their investment and he "couldn't face the prospect" of being back in League One.

Clearly something has changed.

While Ferguson's return makes sense in so far as Posh never wanted him to leave - the optics aren't great. It's an appointment that leaves the Posh hierarchy open to accusations of lacking ideas and inspiration.

Fans are already joking about McCann's imminent third spell as manager.