Torquay United have confirmed the appointment of ex-captain Chris Hargreaves as their new manager.

The Gulls, currently 23rd in League Two, have been looking for a replacement for Alan Knill, who was sacked last week having only won five games this season.

Martin Ling had expressed an interest in taking charge for a second time at Plainmoor, but Torquay have instead turned to another former favourite Hargreaves to try to guide them away from relegation trouble.

Hargreaves, who has chosen to return to Devon rather than take the vacancy at Northampton Town, leaves his role as first-team coach at Bournemouth to accept the role, and will be unveiled alongside assistant and ex-United teammate Lee Hodges at a press conference on Tuesday.

"Chris has started work already and we are thrilled to have a new manager in place for the challenges ahead over the second half of the season," United chairwoman Thea Bristow told the club's official website.

"We have been inundated with applications from across the football world, and thank you to all those interested in the position, but once the decision was made for a change of direction, Chris was always our first choice.

"He was very impressive in the interview and I am delighted to have both Chris and Lee Hodges back at Plainmoor. We now have a vibrant and ambitious management team to take us forward to the next stage in our development as a club, and we are all excited for the future."

Hargreaves made 121 appearances during a three-year spell with Torquay, during which he skippered them to promotion back to the Football League. His first game is a trip to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.