Cotterill takes over at Magpies

Notts County have appointed Steve Cotterill as manager with chairman Ray Trew assuring fans the club will not go into administration.

Former Burnley manager Cotterill succeeds Dave Kevan who had been caretaker manager since the resignation of Hans Backe in December. The club's negotiations with creditors are still taking place, although Trew says his initial assessment of the club's finances has assured him that the club will avoid entering administration.

"We have hatched a plan and we'll succeed," he said. "With my business hat on, administration was the right thing to do. But the people who suffer are local businesses and we couldn't do that to the community."