Hans Backe has been confirmed as the new manager of ambitious League Two outfit Notts County, with the Swede putting pen-to-paper on a three-year deal at Meadow Lane.

The 57-year-old announced earlier on Tuesday that he was '99 per cent' certain to succeed Ian McParland, who was sacked earlier this month despite the Magpies lying in fifth place in the table.

County's director of football, Sven Goran Eriksson, was in charge of finding a new boss and he has turned to his compatriot and former assistant during his time with Manchester City and the Mexico national team respectively.

A short statement on the club's official website read: "Notts County are this afternoon pleased to announce the appointment of Hans Backe as the club's new first-team manager.

"Hans has signed a three-year contract and starts his duties with immediate effect."

Backe, who won four Danish titles with FC Copenhagen and Aalborg BK before enjoying a stint in charge of Panathinaikos, will take charge of his first game when Shrewsbury travel to Meadow Lane on Saturday.