Fulham owner Shahid Khan revealed Kit Symons beat a host of candidates to the full-time manager’s job - including those already employed at other clubs.

Khan refused to be drawn on whether Hull boss Steve Bruce had thrown his name into the hat. But reckoned the five-man committee tasked with producing the club's fourth boss in under a year whittled down an extensive list to a ‘couple of candidates’ and Symons.

In the end, results were as big a factor as anything for the former academy coach, and Symons faces his first game in permanent charge against ex-Manchester City team-mate Uwe Rosler’s Wigan on Saturday.

The new manager said: “Full time manager: it’s got a great ring to it, and it’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time.

“I’ll be happy to plant trees I’ll never see grow, but results is our immediate aim. We started our season seven weeks late, if you like, so it’s a big ask but our first aim is promotion.”

Extensive search: Shahid Khan

Khan gave Symons formal assent yesterday, and insisted his new man's progress after a disastrous start headed by sacked Felix Magath made him the obvious choice.

The chairman said: “A lot of people in positions already applied for the job and the search committee interviewed other candidates and came up with a couple of candidates.

"But we all felt very strongly about Kit, and he is the only one I personally spoke to.”

Symons agreed he had spent sleepless nights in the last month and a bit, but agreed 13 points from seven games as opposed to Magath’s one from the same number renewed hope.

“There’s always niggling doubts at the back of your mind, but the support and faith gave me confidence,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t based on any one game, and it’s a great feeling to be in charge at a club close to my heart.”