ALLOA ATHLETIC have appointed Andy Graham as their new permanent manager.

The veteran centre half makes the step up from playing to become the club’s next manager, replacing Brian Rice.

In a statement released by the club, Graham said: “I’m delighted and privileged that the club have decided to offer me the manager position.

“I’d like to thank Brian Rice for how he allowed me to get more of an insight into a coaching role in his time here.

“The support I have had in my time at Alloa has been outstanding and they will have a big part to play moving forward.

“I’m looking forward to working with the players as well as the rest of the staff at the club to try and make my time at the club a successful one.”

Graham joined the club from Ayr in 2016 and has since made more than 250 appearances for the Wasps.

He was part of the squad that was promoted to the Scottish Championship in 2018, where they remained for three seasons.

Andy Allan, chairman for Alloa Athletic, said: “I’d like to reiterate our best wishes to Brian Rice as he moves on to Livingston.

“While he’ll be difficult to follow in the role of manager, with Andy Graham, we’ve got a man who knows the club very well – it’s inner workings, the players we currently have and their strengths – and shares the expectations we have for the club.

“He has been there and done it already as a player, served as club captain, has already begun his career in coaching, and we look forward to working with him now as the manager of Alloa Athletic Football Club.”

Graham’s first game in charge will be the visit to Edinburgh City this Saturday, where he will aim to continue momentum picked up in wins against Stirling and Queen of the South.