Chris Hughton has been appointed as first-team manager at Championship strugglers Brighton & Hove Albion.

The former Ireland assistant coach takes charge with immediate effect on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Brighton currently lie 21st in the Championship, just one place above the relegation zone.

"I'm thrilled to be back in management and Brighton & Hove Albion is a fantastic club, with a first-class infrastructure both in footballing and business terms," Hughton said. 

"We've got one very obvious initial challenge, and I am aiming to hit the ground running, but I am confident with the resources at the club we can succeed in retaining our status in the Championship.

“Once that is achieved we can work towards getting the club back challenging at the top end of the division."

The 56-year-old represented Ireland 53 times as a player and was on the coaching staff during the Brian Kerr era.

He went on to manage Newcastle United, Birmingham City and Norwich City, having been a long-term number two for several bosses at Tottenham Hotspur, where he also spent the majority of his playing career.