Nottingham Fox
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Foxes Unveil Pearson
Leicester City are this morning delighted to announce the appointment of Nigel Pearson as their new first team manager with immediate effect.
Pearson (44) arrives at the Walkers Stadium with a wealth of experience behind him having played over 450 games as a defender for Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough before moving into management in 1998.
Pearson enjoyed spells in charge at Carlisle United, West Brom, Newcastle United and England Under-21s before guiding Southampton to Championship safety last season.
However, his contract at St Mary's was not renewed at the end of the campaign much to the Saints fans' disappointment.
However, Nottingham-born Pearson is confident that he can help his new club gain promotion from League One at the first time of asking after the disappointment of relegation.
He said: "I am delighted that I have been given this magnificent opportunity to revitalise the fortunes of this great club after what has been a difficult few years.
"I have an enormous amount of respect for Chairman Milan Mandaric and Chief Executive Lee Hoos, who I worked very closely with at Southampton, and I can promise everyone connected with this club that I will be giving the job my 100 per cent commitment.
"I am privileged to have been given the chance to turn around the fortunes of a club with so much history and such a strong fan base, and I am confident that my style of management can help bring the good times back to Leicester City.
"From speaking to the Chairman, it is evident how much this club means to him and that's why I am determined not to let him or the supporters down.
"There has been far too much disappointment and negativity attached to this club in recent seasons and it is my job to change that.
"The infrastructure is firmly in place; it is now time to start performing consistently on the pitch and that is what I have been brought here to do.
"League One is a tough division to get out of but we will play the necessary football required to gain promotion and in the process give our magnificent fans something to cheer about," he added.
Pearson will meet up with his squad for the first time when the players report back for pre-season training on July 1.