Wigan appoint former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay as their new manager

Mackay has been offered a route back into football by Wigan Credit: PA

Malky Mackay is back in football after Wigan confirmed the Scot as their new manager.

The 42-year-old, out of work since being axed by Cardiff last December, takes over a club in the Championship's bottom three.

In August, Mackay admitted to sending text messages which were deemed "disrespectful of other cultures", but Latics chairman Dave Whelan has offered him a route back into the game just three months later.

Regarding the controversy surrounding Mackay's appointment, Whelan said:

“I know that this appointment will draw criticism in some quarters but we go into it with our eyes open and we have nothing to hide on this subject.

“Malky made a mistake, he knows that, we know that and we have discussed this issue at length face-to-face. He apologised publicly for what happened at the time and has paid for what he did in terms of the bad publicity he has received since and will no doubt continue to suffer in the future.

“But I believe that it is now time to move on. Contrary to the way he has been portrayed in recent months, the Malky Mackay I met this week, and who has been vouched for by the many different people from whom we have sought advice before making this appointment, is an honourable man."