Swindon Town appoint Paul Hart as manager

Hart began his managerial career with Chesterfield

Swindon Town have named Paul Hart as their new manager until the end of the season replacing Danny Wilson who resigned on Wednesday.

The former Crystal Palace boss has installed ex-Notts County manager Ian McParland as his assistant.

Robins chairman Andrew Fitton told BBC Wiltshire: "We had decided some time ago that Paul would fit the bill.

"[We] have an agreement that the first task is to keep us in League One, after that we'll talk about the future."

Hart will be looking for a new assistant as previous incumbent Peter Shirtliff has also left the club, however goalkeeping coach George Wood will remain at the County Ground.

The ex-Portsmouth boss told BBC Wiltshire that it is important that the club work together to get away from the relegation zone.

"Everybody has to pull together, that's the main thing and the players have to be very strong mentally. It plays tricks with your mind when you're down there.

"That's where we've got to be strong as a group and as a whole club, pulling in the right direction. You can will that positive result to happen.

"We've got to stick together and brush aside each challenge."

After an 18-year playing career with Stockport, Blackpool, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham and Notts County, Hart's first managerial appointment came with Chesterfield in 1988.

He spent three years at Saltergate before a move into youth coaching, as he won the FA Youth Cup in 1993 and 1997 with Leeds United.

The former defender went on to take charge of Forest's academy and was appointed first-team manager in the summer of 2001 after the departure of David Platt.

Hart led Forest to the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2003, but the Reds lost in extra-time to Sheffield United.

He was sacked in February 2004 with Forest in the relegation zone and went on to have spells with Barnsley and Rushden & Diamonds.

In 2007, Hart was appointed as director of youth operations at Portsmouth and became caretaker manager in February 2009 following the sacking of Tony Adams.

He was handed a permanent two-year contract the following summer but was sacked only 13 games into the Premier League season.

He then had a five-game stint in charge of Queens Park Rangers and, after two months out of the game, took over at Crystal Palace in March 2010 with the task of keeping them in the Championship.

A 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday ensured Palace's survival, after which Hart left the club.