Championship side Reading have appointed Brian McDermott as manager for the second time.

The 54-year-old took the Royals into the Premier League during his first stint in charge but was sacked in March 2013 with the team stuck in the relegation zone.

McDermott replaces Steve Clarke at the Madejski Stadium with Reading currently 13th in the Championship table having lost 2-1 at promotion hopefuls Hull on Wednesday night.

The former Leeds boss had been working as a scout at Arsenal, a role he first took on at Reading in 2000 when Alan Pardew was the manager, but returns to the dugout for a second spell with the Berkshire club.

"I'm absolutely delighted to welcome Brian back," co-chairman John Madejski told the club's official website.

“He was able to win us promotion to the Premier League before and now it is his mission to do it again. I’ve always enjoyed working with Brian, he is a great manager and I wish him every success for the future.

“It’s the best Christmas present any of us could have had.”

McDermott said: “My gut feel was really important for coming back. It just felt right and I’ll do everything I can to be successful.

“This league is all about momentum. If you can get a result on Saturday, you can roll on and get one on Tuesday.

“I’m thinking about Blackburn – I’ve always had the philosophy of looking at one game at a time, and that won’t change.”

McDermott, whose parents are both Irish, confirmed Terry Burton would be part of his backroom staff.