Iain Dowie admits he faces the biggest challenge of his managerial career after being appointed Hull boss with just nine matches left to secure survival in the Premier League.
Dowie was unveiled on Wednesday as successor to Phil Brown, who was sacked on Monday following a disappointing run which sees the Tigers second from bottom.
It marks Dowie's return to the game following a similarly short stint at Newcastle, where he was assistant to Alan Shearer in the Magpies' futile fight against relegation last season.
Dowie admitted the task ahead was the most challenging he had faced as a manager, saying: "I think it is because it's me that is on the line, but I am looking forward to keeping Hull in this division and establishing them as a Premier League force."
He added: "I'd like to see my future here for the long term. It's about me producing results - that is the game we are in."
Tim Flowers will join as assistant manager with Steve Wigley also joining the coaching team.
Dowie refused to read too much into last week's altercation between Jimmy Bullard and Nick Barmby, although he was insistent on encouraging unity in the ranks.
He continued: "Of course it is concerning. You don't want discord in the camp but you don't want to over read these things.
"I've been at loads of clubs - I was at West Ham with John Hartson and Eyal Berkovic . It can spark. It's very important we pull in the same way. No one is more important than the direction in which we pull, from the chairman down.
"We must be single-minded and selfless. It's not about individuals, it's about team unity. I'll be talking to the lads about that. It's not a concern.
"In the end, it will be my opinion in the changing room and that is the one we want to hear."
Dowie's appointment has not been met with universal approval by the fans but he said: "My message is it's about us winning games. I believe I know the training ground. I believe I can get players playing attractive and open football.
"This needs to be a real cauldron: we'll be working every hour God sends."
Chairman Adam Pearson described his new manager as someone with "great passion, integrity and honesty", but admitted the appointment was something of a gamble given Hull's precarious position.
"Everything in football is a risk to some degree but we've won six games out of 51. We haven't won away from home for over a year, we've conceded 100 goals in 50 games, we've lost our last four straight games. If we didn't take a gamble, all the stats are plainly saying we'd be relegated."
Pearson, who expects caretaker boss Brian Horton to leave, revealed: "We had three choices (of candidate) - we went into that with an open mind across all three.
"The advantage with Iain? Instantly on the pitch, operational now, and a point to prove - I am delighted he's here.
"We've got nine games. We've picked nine games because within them we think there are six eminently winnable ones. We have to be confident because if we're not then it won't end successfully."
