Bristol City have appointed Nigel Pearson as their new manager until the end of the season.

The former Leicester boss replaces Dean Holden after he was sacked by the out-of-form Robins last Tuesday.

The 57-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Watford in July, will watch Tuesday’s clash with Middlesbrough before taking charge for the first time at Swansea this weekend.

Holden had worked under Lee Johnson at the Ashton Gate club for four years before taking on the top job in the summer.

He got off to an excellent start, but a run of six defeats led to his departure following a home defeat to Reading. The Robins were then beaten by Barnsley on Saturday as they slid to 15th in the table. They are level on points with Rovers, but three places worse off because of an inferior goal difference.

City chairman Jon Lansdown told the club’s official website: “Nigel gives us the leadership and direction we need to lift the players’ confidence and to turn our form around.

“The initial appointment is until the end of the season, when we will reassess the situation, hopefully with a view to the long term.

“However, the immediate priority for Nigel and the coaching team is to stop the current bad run and move us back up the table.”