LONDON (AFP) - Struggling Championship side Fulham on Sunday (Dec 27)named former Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic as their new manager to replace the fired Kit Symons, the London club announced.

The 47-year-old Serb is currently in charge of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv and has been tasked with saving Fulham from relegation to the third tier of English football.

Fulham are just four places and three points above the Championship drop zone.

"While the search was time-consuming and painstaking at times, I knew that when the process was complete that Fulham would have the best man possible for this opportunity and challenge," said Fulham chairman Shahid Khan.

"Slavisa's credentials and passion for the job rose to the top through every stage of this process, and we cannot wait to welcome him to Craven Cottage to get things going in the right direction for the second half of the season."