Jim Jefferies has joined Dunfermline on a 15-month rolling contract after being unveiled as their new manager on Wednesday. Jefferies replaces Jim McIntyre and faces a battle to keep the Fife club in the Scottish Premier League.
Jefferies has been out of work since parting company with Hearts two games into the season and now finds himself plunged into a relegation battle.
He was initially offered a short-term contract to take charge of team affairs for the remaining eight games of the campaign but has now been recruited on a longer deal.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Dunfermline's chairman, John Yorkston, said: "The board of Dunfermline are delighted to welcome Jim Jefferies as the new manager. Jim has a great track record of developing players and bringing on players and we are delighted to have him.
"Jim has signed on a rolling contract of a minimum 15 months which means he is here for the remaining eight games plus the following season and then it's a rolling contract thereafter."
The length of contract was thought to be a stumbling block to Jefferies agreeing the deal. The new manager said: "Having had a decent break, I was pleased when I got the opportunity to speak to the chairman.
"I know the questions you are going to ask me about it initially being short term. When I had discussions about that, what followed on was that they cancelled that out and offered me a longer-term deal.
"I decided to think about it for a couple of days and I was then delighted to give him the answer that I would take up the challenge."
Yorkston added: "Initially, we were talking to Jim about the eight weeks and once we got talking he was keen to come here and we were keen to have him so we developed that."
Jefferies now has eight matches to overturn a four-point deficit on Hibernian and keep Dunfermline in the SPL.
He said: "I know it's going to be tough but it's going to be tough for clubs above us as well. "But I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't think there was a chance."
Jefferies confirmed that the current assistant manager, Gerry McCabe, will remain at the club as his No2.
His long-time partner Billy Brown – who worked with Jefferies at Gala Fairydean, Berwick Rangers, Falkirk, Bradford City, Kilmarnock and two spells at Hearts – is now assistant manager at relegation rivals Hibernian.
