Brentford gambled their League One future on youth team manager Scott Fitzgerald yesterday when they handed him the team manager's job following a four-game spell as caretaker boss that has promised much but produced only one point.

The Times understands Fitzgerald was the second choice behind another youth team coach, Oxford United's Darren Patterson, who turned down the chance to take on the role with former QPR boss Gary Waddock as his number two.

The rejection by the two ex-Luton team-mates, coupled with an apparent disagreement by Brentford board members, caused an embarrassing delay in announcing the position until yesterday - more than a month since the process began.

But the Bees have still shown great faith in Fitzgerald in opting for him in preference to several candidates with managerial experience, including Stuart Gray, Brian Little, Bobby Williamson and Kevin Wilson.

Managing director Keith Dickens and chairman Greg Dyke were swayed by the fact that Fitzgerald's professional approach and commitment have the players believing in themselves again and showing improvement, despite being bottom of League One without a win in 20 games.

Alan Reeves, Fitzgerald's former Wimbledon team-mate, who was recently assistant manager at Swindon Town, will continue as his assistant and John Griffin, who was promoted to number two by previous boss Leroy Rosenior, is expected to revert to chief scout.

Brentford fans were unaware of the backflip that took place on Wednesday, when Fitzgerald had resigned himself to resuming his role as youth team manager.

It certainly caught out the Hounslow Chronicle, who declared yesterday that "Patterson and Waddock were unveiled as Brentford's new managerial team on Tuesday afternoon"!

Fitzgerald said at the time: "I have not been told anything so I presume I won't be getting the job.

"But I will be happy to resume my duties as youth team manager and assist the new boss in helping to make sure we stay in League One.

"I'll give him 100 per cent support just as I did Martin Allen and Leroy."

Presumably Patterson, also shortlisted by Brent-ford six months ago, could not agree terms with the cash-strapped Bees.

The former West Brom, Wigan, Crystal Palace, Luton, Preston, Dundee United, York and Oxford midfielder, won 17 caps for Northern Ireland and has had two brief spells as manager at Oxford United.

He temporarily took over when Graham Rix was sacked until Ramon Diaz was appointed, and later was appointed boss in March 2006 in succession to Brian Talbot.

But the club's new owners then gave the job to Jim Smith just eight days later, making Patterson the shortest-serving manager in Football League history.

The 37-year-old Fitzgerald, another Irishman, has a similar footballing background.

He was a defender with Colchester United, Millwall, Sheffield United and Wimbledon before joining Brentford and being appointed youth team manager by Allen.

His lack of experience has meant the Bees have offered him a contract only until the end of the season.

A club statement said: "Scott, ably assisted by Alan Reeves, has stepped up in very difficult circumstances to undertake the interim role.

"In a short period of time, they have worked on fitness, organisation and team spirit and have delivered an encouraging performance improve-ment.

"We believe a continuation of this will have a positive impact on results and achieve our goal of maintaining League One status.

"In a move to add to the Fighting Chance supporters' appeal, the board have agreed to make available additional funds to enable the loan signings of a number of players in the January transfer window.

"The work that Scott has put into creating a robust survival plan formed a major part of the considerations in appointing him."

Asked if Fitzgerald had been the club's first choice, Dickens, who led the recruitment process with fellow directors Ian Jones, Jon Gosling and David Heath, said: "Well, I am not sure about the percentage of first choices who get any job but, when I asked Scott about his thoughts on this, he said, first choice or 21st choice; if you are offering me the job I really want, I'm grabbing it with both hands and I'm going to show everyone I am the right choice by keeping us up'.

"We did look at the full range of options, from experienced survival candidates, structuring management in different ways, other known-name candidates who were available and interested (and some who were not) - all of whom are not without risk and all of whom have their own price tags.

"Given our financial situation, we were unlikely to get a proven high-division manager, even though we did try to do so.

"So the four of us proposed to the board that our best option was to go for the bubbling under' talent - that is those proving themselves in non-league, youth development or an assistant somewhere who now wanted a chance to run their own show."

Fitzgerald's enormous task starts with Saturday's visit to Carlisle, following last weekend's 1-0 defeat to an 87th-minute goal at Port Vale.

Brentford insist that former Torquay and Cambridge United manager Ian Atkins, who claimed the job was "not right for me", was never offered it.

Dyke said: "I was surprised to read what Atkins said when he was not even on our shortlist."

Asked if there had been a big difference of opinon among directors, he added: "That was not the case."