Malky Mackay is back in football after Wigan confirmed the Scot as their new manager.

The 42-year-old, out of work since being axed by Cardiff last December, takes over a club in the Sky Bet Championship's bottom three.

In August Mackay admitted sending text messages deemed "disrespectful of other cultures". The FA said then they were investigating the messages between Mackay and Iain Moody, Cardiff's former head of recruitment, but so far neither has been charged.

Now Latics chairman Dave Whelan has offered Mackay a route back into the game.

Local MP Lisa Nandy last week expressed concern over Mackay's potential appointment and Whelan confirmed he discussed the text-message saga during the interview process.

"I know this appointment will draw criticism in some quarters but we go into it with our eyes open and we have nothing to hide on this subject," Whelan said. "Malky made a mistake, he knows that, we know that and we have discussed this issue at length, face-to-face.

"He apologised publicly for what happened at the time and has paid for what he did in terms of the bad publicity he has received since, and will no doubt continue to suffer.

"But I believe that it is now time to move on … The Malky Mackay I met this week, and who has been vouched for by the many different people from whom we have sought advice before making this appointment, is an honourable man."

However the Latics chairman said they had taken steps to safeguard themselves should the FA throw the book at the 43-year-old.

"I don't think there's anything really to investigate but, that is in the contract, we have protected the football club," he said.

Mackay took Cardiff to the League Cup final in 2012 before winning the Championship title in the next season.

Whelan is desperate to restore Wigan to the top flight 18 months after Premier League relegation and FA Cup triumph.

He added: "He is the man to lead us back into the Premier League, I am convinced of that having met him and discussed the demands of the job.

"He has led a team out of the Championship before and he knows this league inside out. His achievements at Cardiff City were magnificent and we need a strong leader who will command the respect of a very experienced and talented dressing room."

Wigan club captain Gary Caldwell, who played alongside Mackay for Scotland, backed the appointment, saying: "He's done a great job since he's been a manager. He's had that experience of promotion with Cardiff and we want people at the club who know how to get success and get us back to where we want to be."

Mackay has said he is not racist, sexist, homophobic or anti-Semitic but his behaviour was unacceptable.