Former Manchester United player to coach Penang

The Football Association of Penang (FAP) has appointed former Manchester United player Ashley Westwood as the Penang Super League team head coach.

Penang team manager Zairil Khir Johari said it was FAP's hope that Westwood, the former Bengaluru FC head coach, would help lift the performance of the players and the standing of the team.

"Westwood is a well-respected coach because under his guidance Bengaluru FC had won several titles, including the I-League, Federation Cup and made it to the AFC Cup quarterfinals for two consecutive years," he said.

Bengaluru FC is an Indian professional football club based in Bengaluru, Karnataka and the club participates in the I-League, India's top-tier football league, and the first ever club to have won the I-League in its debut season.

Westwood was one of Michael Appleton's assistants at Blackburn Rovers after following him from Blackpool, but left when Appleton's 67-day spell in charge at Rovers ended in March 2013.

The Englishman is said to have signed a two-year contract with Penang although he was on the 'wanted' list of several clubs in China, Hong Kong and Europe. -- BERNAMA