Colin Todd has got the City job.

A announcement from the club is expected by the weekend to confirm last season's No 2 is the new manager.

The Telegraph & Argus also understand that youth-team coach Bobby Davison will be promoted to a more senior role to work as Todd's right-hand man.

Todd accepted the challenge after speaking to chief executive Julian Rhodes and the administrators at Valley Parade yesterday.

He offers a degree of continuity that will be vital as the club rebuild a side competitive enough for Coca-Cola League One.

He knows the remaining players and his appointment will go down well in the dressing room. The players see him as a good motivator and he refused to get too down-hearted when City slid towards relegation last season.

That bubbly approach will be crucial next term as Todd looks to re-assemble a squad that has already lost five this summer, including player of the year Paul Heckingbot-tom, because of the effects of administration.

Todd, 55, also knows the ins and outs of City's financial predicament and will not be shocked by the tight restraints that will be imposed on his rebuilding plans.

He was the obvious candidate to succeed Bryan Robson, who indicated earlier this week that he would not be interested in coming back.

Todd joined City at the end of November for his second spell as assistant manager.

It will be his first managerial post since January 2002 when he was sacked by Derby after just three months in charge at the club where he made his name as a cultured England international defender.

Todd cut his coaching teeth at Middlesbrough in 1986 under Bruce Rioch before taking over the post in 1990. After six months at City as assistant to Frank Stapleton in 1992, he teamed up again with Rioch at Bolton.

Todd became manager in January 1996 and the following season won promotion to the Premiership after topping 100 points.

He resigned in September 1999 and after a 14-match spell in charge of Swindon, Todd returned to Derby under Jim Smith, becoming manager in October 2001 when Smith was sacked, but was himself given the bullet after only 17 games.