Nigel Pearson has been confirmed as Leicester City's new manager.

The former Southampton coach succeeds Ian Holloway, who left the club by mutual consent after the club's relegation to Coca-Cola League One at the end of last season. Pearson, 44, becomes the club's sixth manager since chairman Milan Mandaric took over at the Walkers Stadium 16 months ago.

"I am delighted I have been given this magnificent opportunity to revitalise the fortunes of this great club after what has been a difficult few years," Pearson said.

"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 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 my style of management can help bring the good times back to Leicester City."

Pearson spared Southampton from relegation last season, a feat which - despite relegating Leicester to the third tier for the first time in their history - could not save his job.

The club had been keen to speak to Paul Ince, the MK Dons manager, but the former England midfielder is expected to be named as manager of Blackburn Rovers in the next 72 hours. However, Mandaric believes Pearson's appointment sparks the beginning of a new era for the club.

"Nigel is the right man to take this club forward. He has a great mix of experience, integrity and enthusiasm," Mandaric said.

"I interviewed a number of good candidates but Nigel's drive, passion and overall knowledge of the game was impossible to ignore. We have now got a lot of hard work ahead but I am confident that come the start of the campaign we will have a squad in place that can make a serious assault on this division."