Wigan Athletic have named former defender Gary Caldwell as the club's new manager on a permanent contract.

The Championship strugglers sacked Malky Mackay on Monday following their 2-0 defeat to Derby County.

Wigan are currently eight points adrift of safety with five games left to play.

Caldwell, 32, had been coaching the club's academy players after calling time on his playing career in February due to a persistent hip injury.

The Scot made 111 appearances for Wigan during his time at the DW Stadium and was part of the side that won the FA Cup in 2013. Graham Barrow, Eric Black and Mike Pollitt will make up his coaching staff.

"I've made no secret of the fact that I wanted to move into management when the time was right," he told the club's official website. "I didn't expect that to come along as quickly as this but, in football, you need to take opportunities when they arise and I am honoured and excited in equal measures to take charge at the Latics, where I have shared such incredible memories over the past five years.

"We are in a really tough place at the moment, but we will approach the next five games with only one thing in mind, to win. After that, we will assess where we are and move on."

Wigan continue their battle for survival on Friday when they make the trip to fellow strugglers Fulham.