Scunthorpe United have confirmed the appointment of Graham Alexander as their new manager.

The 44-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Glanford Park, where he began his playing career before going on to make 159 league appearances for the club.

Alexander, who has been out of football since being sacked by Fleetwood Town in September, succeeds Mark Robins at the club.

"I'm an ambitious guy, I want to win things. The guys in charge at the club are exactly the same and I'm sure we'll do great things here. There are a lot of good players in this squad without a doubt. For whatever reason it hasn't fulfilled its potential this season, but that's my remit – to come and assess, and try to improve it," he told the club's official website.

"Any manager when he comes into a new club has to look at where he needs to put his stamp on things, and get the players to enjoy their football and play as well as they can.

"It's been a whirlwind last couple of days. When any manager gets a new job they just want to get on the training pitch and be with the players. I'm really looking forward to meeting them on Wednesday, and the staff too ahead of that. We're all in the same boat, we all want Scunthorpe to do well."

Alexander, who will be assisted by Nick Daws and Andy Dawson, will take charge of his first match this Friday when Scunthorpe take on Barnsley.

The former Scotland international, who is one of only two outfield players in English football history to have made more than 1,000 senior appearances, takes over with the club eight points clear of the League One relegation zone.