FORMER Rovers boss Paul Lambert has been appointed as the new manager of Stoke City.

Lambert has signed a two-and-half-year contract to replace another ex-Rovers boss, Mark Hughes, who was sacked nine days ago.

The Potters face Manchester United at Old Trafford this evening but the 48-year-old will not officially take charge until tomorrow.

He spent seven months as manager at Ewood Park, between November 2015 and May 2016, winning 13 of his 33 games in charge.

Lambert, who has also previously managed Aston Villa and Norwich, emerged as the preferred candidate after the Potters were previously linked with Derby’s Gary Rowett, Espanyol’s Quique Sanchez Flores and Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill.

“Paul greatly impressed us with his knowledge of our squad and had a clear plan of how he would improve our results,” said chairman Peter Coates.

“He’s a man who backed himself as a player, none more so than when he turned down contract offers in Scotland to go on trial in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, and it’s obvious he adopts the same approach as a manager.”