Newcastle have confirmed the appointment their chairman, Brian McGuigan, leaked last week with former Dragons coach Nathan Brown taking over the reins for the next  three years.

He formally signing his contract on Wednesday after the Knights' football sub-committee made a recommendation to the board that Brown be appointed as head coach.

"The sub-committee went through a thorough process and Nathan was the preferred candidate for a number of reasons," CEO Matt Gidley said.

"We were impressed with Nathan's coaching experience and proven ability to develop talent and teams in the NRL and Super League. Nathan's technical expertise is strong and he has an understanding of Newcastle and the competitive advantages that lie in our region."

After playing 172 NRL games, Brown coached St George Illawarra from 2003 to 2008 before joining the Huddersfield Giants in 2009 and then St Helens in 2013. At St Helens, Brown coached the side to the 2014 Super League title.

He has also worked for the Melbourne Storm as a coaching consultant.

"After coaching for six years in England, which was about gaining experience to come back and get a job in the NRL, I am really excited about the opportunity to coach such a great club," Brown said.  "The board members are all successful and enthusiastic about the club doing well, and that gives the rest of the business the best chance of succeeding. The people in charge know where the club is at, and know where they want it to be.

"No doubt it is going to be a challenge, and it is one that I am quite experienced at in regards to rebuilding a club. That makes this the ideal time."

After coaching in an interim capacity for the final six games of the season, Danny Buderus will remain at the club in a new role alongside Brown.