Oxford United have named Gary Waddock as their new manager with eight league matches remaining of the season.

The former Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers boss succeeds Chris Wilder at the Kassam Stadium who left for Division Four strugglers Northampton Town eight weeks ago.

Whilst Us chairman Ian Lengan was mulling over his decision, Mickey Lewis took caretaker charge of United, who slipped out of the league’s automatic promotion spots during his spell in charge.

However Lenagan finally revealed 52 year-old Waddock as the Yellows’ new head coach after announcing he’d be given a verbal agreement from the clubs new manager before Oxford’s 1-0 home victory over Hartlepool United.

“After an extensive selection process, I am delighted that Gary is to become our new Head Coach,” said Lenagan.

“He impressed enormously during the interview process, and his references from within the game were excellent. Moreover, his CV brings the exact mix of attributes we stated we were looking for: success as a manager in the lower leagues, top-class coaching experience, understanding of sports science and a track record of playing attacking football and developing young players through into the first team.”

After formally accepting the job this morning, Waddock added: “I am grateful to Oxford United for having given me this great opportunity, and cannot wait to get started. The club is in a good position, and the immediate priority is to turn that position into promotion at the end of the season.

“In the medium term, the Board’s vision is to build on the solid platform that has been put together to take Oxford back up the leagues, where a club of this size belongs.

“I applied for this job because I believe that I can be a part of achieving that ambition, and because I fully buy into the Board’s philosophy of how a football club should be run.”

Waddock has Division Four promotion experience with Wycombe back in 2011 where he helped the Chairboys to an impressive third-placed finish before a subsequent relegation from the third-tier the following season saw him sacked from Adams Park in September 2012.

Last summer; the former Republic of Ireland international joined Division Three outfit Milton Keynes Dons as their new head of coaching, and kindly they have allowed Waddock to leave his role at the club without the demand for compensation.

After being revealed as Oxford’s new head coach at today’s much anticipated 2pm press conference, Waddock is raring to go as he starts the next chapter of his managerial career with the Us.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and there are some fantastic games coming up between now and the end of the season.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity, this is an extremely big club and with the position they are in the league this is a wonderful opportunity for all of us going into the final end of the season.

“It’s taken something special for me to leave MK Dons to join this wonderful football club and I’m really excited. There is quite a bit at stake so let’s meet that challenge head on.”

Chairman Lenagan has handed the ex-Aldershot Town manager a two-year contract up until the 2015/16 campaign, and is set to meet the squad on Sunday morning.

However he doesn’t have to wait too long to make his first impression on the club as he’ll take charge of United on Monday night in their televised game away to Southend United live on Sky Sports.

The Yellows currently lie in sixth-place in the Football League’s bottom-tier, four points above eighth-place in which they’ll need to protect to secure a play-off spot come May, and eight points adrift of the top-three.

Waddock added: “I’m confident in my ability but I will have to assess the squad. I do know what it takes to get out of this division though. If we all stick together we will have success.”

He also confirmed that temporary boss Lewis and fellow coach Andy Melville will remain at the club despite his arrival.

Having taken two months to finally replace Wilder at the Kassam’s throne, chairman Lenagan revealed over seventy applicants applied for the managerial vacancy since Wilder left Oxford on 26 January before eventually drawing up his final three-man shortlist.

“There were three in particular who could do the job and do it well,” Lenagan explained.

“Gary came through clearly as he has all the qualities we have for the vision of Oxford United. He plays good football and is committed to the development of youth.

“He has a sports science background and he matches every characteristic we want in a manager.”