The Milwaukee Brewers have scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. today to announce the hiring of Ken Macha as the team's new manager.

The Brewers have had to hold back on an announcement until the completion of the World Series, which finally came to its conclusion Wednesday night.

General manager Doug Melvin made it clear earlier in the week that he wanted to name his new manager as soons as possible after the completion of the World Series. Melvin is scheduled to leave Friday for California for next week's GM meetings.

Macha has spent the past two seasons on the sidelines after four seasons as manager of the Oakland Athletics. He was a top candidate to take the Brewers' post in 2003 but instead opted for the Oakland job, a natural move up after spending two seasons as the bench coach for Art Howe with the A's.