Former Sheffield Wednesday defender appointed Mansfield Town boss

Graham Coughlan has left Bristol Rovers to join Mansfield. (Alex Davidson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The worst kept secret in Leagues One and Two was revealed on Tuesday.

Sheffield Wednesday old-boy Graham Coughlan was formally announced as the new manager of third tier Mansfield Town, having left Bristol Rovers.

Rovers are currently impressing in the league above, which prompted the raised eyebrows when it appeared as though the switch would happen.

Mansfield are currently 18th in League Two, seven points above the relegation zone following a five-match winless streak.

Graham Coughlan spent two seasons at Wednesday before the short move to Rotherham after being released. He has taken over as Mansfield manager | JPIMedia

"This is a massive opportunity and a massive chance for me. The main attraction was the ambition of the chairman (John Radford)," Coughlan told the Mansfield website.

"How he spoke, the ambition he was displaying, the facilities at the club, it was a tremendous and huge opportunity to take on a football club and try to get them promoted.

"I've gone across to the training ground and I think the facilities are better than a lot of Championship clubs' facilities - they are very impressive."

Coughlan settled in the Sheffield area after spells at Wednesday and Rotherham as a player and cites the proximity of the club to his family home as a major draw.

"The opportunity to manage a club like Mansfield Town, with the ambition at this football club, the facilities, and of course to be able to be at home with my wife and kids, was an absolute mammoth attraction," he added.

"I've been living in this part of the country for the best part of 20 years and it's an honest, hard-working area - that's what I am and that's the background I've come from.”