Paul Hegarty has been confirmed as the new Dundee United manager until the end of the season.

United owner Eddie Thompson announced the appointment after a day of negotiations with Hegarty.

But the news has been somewhat overshadowed by a row involving another potential candidate, Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Steve Paterson.

United insist Paterson, who signed a contract extension with Caley Thistle on Tuesday, applied for the vacant post.

But the First Division side denied that, stressing that United made an unsuccessful approach to them to take Paterson to Tannadice.

Hegarty already knew that he was not Thompson's first choice to replace Smith after a very public bid to appoint Falkirk manager Ian McCall failed.

Nevertheless, Hegarty is optimistic of convincing the board that he has the credentials to do the job on a full-time basis.

"When the situation arose to manage my old club, it was too good an opportunity to turn down," said Hegarty.

"If I get the results and do as well as I did during my time at Aberdeen then I am sure the chairman will back me to the hilt.

"My aim is to get the club into a respectable position in the Premier League, to get a good cup run and produce some good performances on the park."

It had been thought that Hegarty was initially offered a short-term deal to prove his worth, possibly until the winter break.

But Hegarty has won a longer deal and that could be extended if he is successful in turning the club's fortunes round this season.

There had been suggestions that coaches Maurice Malpas and John Holt had threatened to walk out on the club unless Hegarty was given the job on a more permanent basis.

The former United defender took charge of the team after Alex Smith was sacked and has lifted them off the bottom of the league.

He has recorded two wins in his last two games after an early defeat and a draw.

Hegarty now has until May to convince Thompson to make the appointment permanent.