The Scottish FA has announced Malky Mackay has been appointed as the governing body's new performance director.

A former professional player, the 44-year-old has previously managed Watford, Cardiff City and Wigan.

Stewart Regan, Scottish FA chief executive said: "From the start of the recruitment process, Malky was an outstanding candidate and by the end of that thorough process he was the outstanding candidate.

"His experiences as a player and a manager are complemented by his strategic outlook and commitment to implement many of the exciting proposals the Performance Working Group have discussed in recent months.

"Malky will spend the initial weeks and months immersing himself in these recommendations and speaking to all relevant groups to provide a future framework that is conducive to meeting our shared objective: to provide a better standard of player for the benefit of our clubs and, ultimately, our national teams."

Mackay said: "I am immensely proud and privileged to become Performance Director and I am acutely aware of the importance of this role in achieving future success for our talented young players.

"As someone who was fortunate enough to develop as a young player at Queen's Park and realise my dream of playing for my country at the national stadium, this feels like coming home. I can't wait to work in partnership with our clubs and my colleagues at the Scottish FA to help improve future generations of Scotland players."

Following his sacking by Cardiff in 2013, the Welsh club sent a dossier of information to the English FA which included allegations of text messages between Mackay and former director of recruitment Iain Moody which included racist, homophobic and sexist language.

The FA concluded after an investigation it would not bring disciplinary action against Mackay, because their policy was to not bring charges for alleged misconduct in messages which were intended to be private.

It did warn Mackay and Moody about inappropriate language, however, and the Scot voluntarily undertook equality and diversity training.

The League Managers Association made a statement claiming Mackay was responsible for only two of the messages but was then forced to issue an apology itself for referring to the texts as "friendly banter".

On his return to football with Wigan Athletic, Mackay said "I made mistakes, I'm absolutely not racist. I would ask people to judge me as they see me. I have made mistakes.

"I hope, going forward, the people of Wigan see me as I am."

The appointment led to Wigan sponsors Premier Range cancelling its deal in protest and the club were also criticised by anti-racism group Kick It Out.

Mackay started his managerial career at Watford before moving to Cardiff, leading the Welsh side to promotion to the Premier League in 2013.

A spell out of the game followed before a nine-month spell with Wigan came to an end in April 2014.