Notts County owner Alan Hardy has completed his takeover of Ilkeston FC and has reverted the club's name back to Ilkeston Town FC.

Ilkeston have been bought out for an undisclosed fee from the club's liquidators, the deal being struck to secure the future of the club after it was wound up in the High Court last month.

In a statement on the Notts website, Hardy wrote: “I am absolutely thrilled to have completed my purchase of Ilkeston FC and can confirm that the club’s name will revert to Ilkeston Town Football Club with immediate effect.

“It is with great excitement that I also announce Steve Chettle as the club’s new manager following his departure from National League North side Nuneaton Town, where he was assistant manager.

“Steve is an Ilkeston and Nottingham Forest legend who I’m sure will prove to be an exciting appointment for supporters.

“He will be assisted by Ian Deakin, who brings plenty of experience and local knowledge after managing Kimberley last season.

“Having grown up in neighbouring Eastwood, I simply couldn’t allow one of the East Midlands’ finest non-league clubs’ existence to cease when I knew there was a viable method for me to take it forward.

“I am grateful to the FA for giving us the opportunity to compete in the Midland Football League Division One this season and it’s now time to move on with making Ilkeston Town a success on and off the field following a very challenging period for the club.

“I also have a very clear message to the supporters of Notts County, and to football fans in general, who I am sure would like assurances over my commitment to the world’s oldest Football League club.

“Ilkeston Town will have its own corporate governance, with separate directors, financial structure and accountability.

“Naturally, as would be the case between any professional and semi-professional football clubs, there will be an opportunity for transactions when it comes to such things as the loaning of players, sharing of expertise and so on.

“However, it is essential that any dealings between the two clubs are carried out with the best interests of their respective stakeholders in mind.

“I am absolutely committed to making Ilkeston Town not only self-sustainable, but also competitive and ambitious in aiming to claim a place in the second tier of non-league football in the medium term.

“Until this particular opportunity arose it was never my intention to acquire another football club. There are very few, if any, other clubs I would rescue. As I touched on earlier, Ilkeston are a special case for me personally and, as was the case with Notts County, it would have genuinely hurt me to see them die.

“I vividly remember my seven-year-old self-standing behind the goal, bang in the centre, lapping up every minute of derbies between Ilkeston Town and Eastwood, as well as other local matches involving the likes of Long Eaton, Heanor Town, Belper, Kimberley and Arnold. They were all blood- stirring encounters and all those memories have enabled me to carry great enthusiasm into my career in football.

“I am now looking forward to working with the people of Ilkeston to develop a club they, and their town, deserve.”

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Kevin Nolan has reassured Notts County fans by saying there will be more signings made over the coming week.

As of Thursday morning, only three signings had been made by the Magpies - Lewis Alessandra, Terry Hawkridge and Dan Jones.

Jorge Grant is said to be on his way back to Meadow Lane on loan after he was seen in the stands as Nottingham Forest beat Notts 2-0 at Meadow Lane.

The pre-season friendly performance and result were indicators that the Magpies need to strengthen in several areas, and the gaffer said there is a lot of business being carried out to ensure this is done.

“We are hopeful of adding a few names in the coming week,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.

“We are trying to do a lot of business and get these lads over the line.

“It’s important we get them in and get them up to speed with the players who are already here. We still need a few players in.”

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Kevin Nolan has played down the importance of Wednesday's friendly between Notts County and city rivals Nottingham Forest, reiterating that it's all about players getting game time ahead of the new season.

Fans of both teams are eagerly awaiting the clash at Meadow Lane as a chance to renew rivalries and see which side will claim the bragging rights come the final whistle.

Nolan, however, is keeping an eye firmly on preparations for the 2017/18 campaign as a whole, and sees this game - the third of five pre-season friendlies - as just "another test" for his charges.

He told the official club website: "It's what we need. It's another test for our lads against good opposition which will which means we can start stepping the boys up and get them more minutes into their legs.

"We will start to give them more minutes in the next few games. We have other fixtures, which are classed as reserve games, which will allow us to ensure we can spread the minutes around and make sure all of the lads get the same amount of game time.

"It's about us making sure we build the players up to certain thresholds so we are ready to rumble come 5 August against Coventry.

"It's going to be a lovely occasion. We have a fantastic new pitch which Alan and the ground staff have sorted for us and worked tirelessly on. I have to say it looks absolutely magnificent.

"We are getting a lot of behind the scenes work done inside the stadium to take things up by another 10 notches to give us Premier League facilities which will be a big plus in making people want to come and be a part of it here."

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Kevin Nolan has earmarked Callum Saunders and Dean Hodge as two Notts Country trialists that he will take a closer look at in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Magpies defender Richard Duffy has had good words to say about Pierce Bird.

Speaking about Saunders and Hodge, Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "I've know Dean (Saunders) a while now and he's a good fella.

"Some of Callum's movement was really sharp in the game on Saturday. I thought he could have done better with his one on one, and I think he will be disappointed with himself too.

"Elliott did himself no harm at all either. We will have a closer look at them two in the coming week or so then we'll then take it from there."

Speaking about Bird, meanwhile, Duffy said: "Pierce has done really well. I was speaking to the gaffer and he told me what level he has come from.

"I was quite surprised because I hadn't realised the level of football he has been playing at.

"But to come in and settle like he has in a dressing room of big characters and big names is a credit to him.

"In the two games we've played he's done really well. But now we are playing against better class opposition we will see what he is made of."

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Richard Duffy has praised Basford United for giving Notts County a tough game in Saturday's pre-season friendly at Greenwich Avenue, but admits that the game was only really about getting match fit.

An own goal following a Dan Jones free kick and a strike from Alex Howes in the first half helped Kevin Nolan's side claim a 2-0 win over the Evo-Stik Division One South outfit.

The Magpies boss fielded a different team in each half, which saw trialists goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimmons, defender Pierce Bird and striker Callum Saunders all given a run-out.

"In the first half they had a couple of chances and I didn't see much of the second half, but it was just another 45 minutes under our belts to add to our fitness," Duffy told the Nottingham Post.

"It was a tougher game than the first friendly we had (against Rolls Royce). They are a decent outfit and they do alright in the league they play in.

"We always knew it was going to be tough. But you expect us to come out on top, and comfortably.

"We probably deserved a couple more goals but they could have scored too. So fair play to them. They gave us a good game but it was more to do with fitness than anything else."

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Kevin Nolan is hoping that Curtis Thompson's hamstring injury in Notts County's pre-season friendly win over Basford United is not too serious and will warrant just weeks rather than months of being on the sidelines.

The midfielder came on at half time for the Magpies at Greenwich Avenue but had to be taken off midway through the second period of the 2-0 victory.

Speaking about the injury to Thompson, Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "It didn't look good, but speaking to him afterwards he said that he didn't feel anything pop in his hamstring.

"He said he felt it twinge and I am hoping it's not as serious as I first thought it would be.

"I hope it's something that will lead him back on to the training pitch in a matter of weeks rather than months.

"So fingers crossed but we will only know more later in the week when we've given him a proper look over."

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Kevin Nolan has given his assessment of Notts County's performance in their pre-season friendly against Basford United, describing himself as "reasonably pleased".

The Magpies won 2-0 at Greenwich Avenue on Saturday, as Dan Jones opened the scoring when his free kick found its way through a crowded penalty area and into the net.

Notts then doubled before the break when midfielder Alex Howes skinned his man and slotted beyond the Basford keeper.

A reasonably straightforward afternoon was however hampered  y an injury to Curtis Thompson in the second half, as he felt a slight tweak in his hamstring.

"I was reasonably pleased, I feel we could have punished them more in the second half," Nolan told the Nottingham Post.

"In the first we played to their strengths by giving them too many free-kicks which allowed them to put the ball in to our final third and around the box.

"It's another clean sheet, but there are a few things we can start drilling into the lads to work on and to think about going forward.

"I just said to the lads that I'm pleased we didn't concede and we can drip feed into them a few aspects we want them to think about.

"There are things we can get better at. We can do that when we get them on the training pitch. Apart from Curtis Thompson, we've come through unscathed."

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Terry Hawkridge has revealed he "couldn't turn down" a move to hometown club Notts County.

The 27-year-old was born and bred in Nottingham, and counts regional clubs Carlton Town and Hucknall Town among his former employers.

Hawkridge admits he found it difficult to leave Lincoln City following their promotion-winning 2016/17 campaign, but insists he couldn't help but take the chance of joining the Magpies.

"There was a bit of interest towards the end of last year and when the chance came to join Notts I took it with both hands," he told the Nottingham Post. "It's where I grew up as a kid so it was something I couldn't turn down.

"But without a doubt it was difficult to leave Lincoln because of how far I came with those boys. We'd been on a journey and there was so much we did together, not just in winning the league but with the cup runs as well.

"When you win the league with a team, to then decide to leave it is always going to be a very difficult decision.

"But I spoke with (Kevin Nolan) and (Alan Hardy) here and their ambitions matched mine.

"I know how big the club is and I just couldn't turn it down. I am happy with the decision I made.

"Obviously it would be brilliant if I could do the same at Notts as I did at Lincoln and Scunthorpe.

"This is the club where I had two years from 12 to 14 until the youth team got disbanded and that was tough to take.

"But I am back here now and there's a good vibe around the place. We are all looking forward to next season. I hope we can achieve what we want to achieve."

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Michael O'Connor has suggested that two or three more signings will see Notts County have enough quality to challenge for promotion next season.

The Magpies skipper is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury which he suffered in April last year and is likely to be out until next year.

However, he has noted the change in mood at the club, particularly following the bright end to the 2016/17 campaign, and believes the team is close to being a contender for the top seven.

"There is a really good buzz about the club, especially after how we ended the season last year," O'Connor told the Nottingham Post.

"I still think we are a couple of players short of really having a go, but the lads we already have here have shown what they can do. If you add two or three more signings to that then we will be challenging.

"But for me it's all about how you start the season. Every time I've had promotion it's always been on the back of a really good start. If you have a good start then confidence builds and you can really kick on from there."

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Terry Hawkridge believes League Two will be wide open next season, but is confident Notts County will put together good runs to enjoy a fruitful campaign.

The winger is a new recruit at Meadow Lane, having joined this summer from Lincoln City, with whom he won the National League title in 2016/17.

He acknowledges that the promotion of Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool has left the playing field more level for 2017/18.

"It's going to be tough, but the division is wide open next season," Hawkridge told the Nottingham Post.

"The big teams and the big spenders have gone up so it could be anyone's league.

"When I won the league at Lincoln last season that success was built on going on runs as many times as possible for as long as possible.

"From what I have seen so far we are capable of doing that because we have quality and experienced players."

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Alan Hardy has reiterated the need for Notts County to make the right signings for the team and insists they will continue to be meticulous in assessing potential new recruits.

The Magpies have made three additions to the team so far in Terry Hawkridge, Lewis Alessandra and Dan Jones, but some fans have questioned both the calibre of the signings and the relative lack of new arrivals.

Hardy insists both he and Kevin Nolan are very particular in ensuring new recruits will fit into the manager's system and have the right character.

In his weekly Nottingham Post column, he wrote: "Over the last few days we have been working towards adding to the squad, but it has proven to be an immensely frustrating period.

"As the manager, Kevin Nolan, explained in his question and answer session before Saturday's game against Rolls Royce, the spine of the team is very much our priority.

"A centre-back, central midfielder and centre forward are the primary targets, but they are arguably the most difficult and most expensive positions to recruit.

"There are so many players who are still out of contract, and every day we are inundated with calls from agents wanting us to take their clients.

"While it would be very easy to say 'yes, we'll take him, him and him', we don't want to settle for anybody.

"Kevin is very particular about who he wants to bring in and the research he and his staff put into potential signings is remarkable.

"We check their background with other managers and look at extensive footage to assess whether they fit the system Kevin wants to employ.

"In particular, however, we look at a player's character. The team spirit we have fostered over the last six months has been incredible so you have to know the player you are signing will fit in.

"There is a strategy and a reasoning for every signing. They all have to bring something different to the table because you don't want four players for one position."

To read the rest of Alan Hardy's column, click here.

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Michael O'Connor will be shadowing Notts County manager Kevin Nolan and the other coaches to gain knowledge and experience ahead of doing his UEFA A Licence next year.

The Magpies captain is currently out of action as he recovers from a serious knee injury suffered earlier this year at the hands of Portsmouth.

He has not put a timescale on his recovery, as it still appears to be a lengthy road back, but in the meantime, he will also be gaining valuable information about the coaching side of the game.

O'Connor told the official Notts website: "I'm going to shadow the gaffer, Mark Crossley and Richard Thomas for a while.

"I'm going to do my A Licence next year, so I'll try and learn as much as possible from them.

"The gaffer wants me to go and watch some matches for him when I can drive. He's trying to keep me involved as much as possible, which is good."

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Michael O'Connor has provided an update on his recovery from the knee injury suffered in the game between Notts County and Portsmouth in April.

The Magpies skipper is recovering from an operation to his right knee in which he damaged his anterior cruciate ligament, medial ligament and meniscus following a challenge by Pompey midfielder Gary Roberts.

Asked about his road to recovery, O'Connor told the official Notts website: "Things are going OK. The physio is happy enough.

"It's a slow process, this injury, especially at the start. The first 10-12 weeks after your operation are really important - not doing too much but trying to get the leg going again. It could be six months [before a return], it could be nine, it could be 12.

"Jimmy Spencer, who was here a couple of years ago, did his ACL and was back in six months, whereas Rob Milsom did his at Aberdeen and was back in 10 or 11 months. Everyone is different - it depends how your knee reacts."

The Nottingham Post, meanwhile, quotes O'Connor as saying it is the worst injury he has ever suffered, but he absolves Roberts of blame.

"It's the worst injury I've ever had by some distance," he said. "The worst I've had before was a groin operation I had five years ago. That kept me out 12 to 13 weeks so that's been the longest I've ever been out previously.

"But the first four or five days after the operation I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.It was so tough, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't move, my knee was 10 times bigger than what it should be and I had no quad muscle.

"It's been mentally tough. The recovery will be long, but I am not going to be stupid and rush it.

"But I hold no malice towards Gary at all. It's just one of those things. I don't hold anything against him. I am nearly 30 and I know how things work in football."

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Shola Ameobi has revealed that he was considering whether to call time on his career prior to joining Notts County, but says he knew it was "the right time to get back into the game" at Meadow Lane.

Between May 2016 and February this year, he was without a club having been released by Fleetwood Town, but was snapped up by former Newcastle United teammate - and Magpies manager - Kevin Nolan to try and help a side then in danger of relegation from the Football League.

However, five months down the line he has become a fan favourite at Notts and will be with the club going into the 2017/18 season, with quiet confidence of a prosperous season following an upturn in circumstances both behind the scenes and on the pitch.

“When I was back in Newcastle and coaching and doing other bits and bobs, you do start wondering if it the right time to stop,” Ameobi told the Independent.

“But I still felt the passion to keep training and I felt motivated, even though I didn’t have a club, so I think from my side I still felt I had something in the tank.

"I got up every day and made sure I did the right things. Ultimately, of course, it’s not really your decision but whether a club wants you.

“When the opportunity came along to play under Kevin [Nolan], I felt that was the right time to get back into the game. There was some negativity, but I never really felt any of that.

"As soon as I came here I felt almost at home. Not just the familiarity with the manager, but with the players, the staff and the fans. I felt the love right from the start.

"It helps that I’m wearing black and white stripes, because that is a familiarity I can cope with.”

To read the full Independent interview, "Shola Ameobi on football, faith and becoming a black-and-white hero… again", click here.

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Notts County are good enough to launch a League Two playoff challenge next season, according to Shola Ameobi.

The Magpies finished last season strongly, losing just once at home since Kevin Nolan took charge of the first team in January.

Ameobi played a key role himself in driving the club out of relegation danger by scoring four goals following his arrival at the start of the year, and is now hoping for a top-seven finish.

"I am always looking to do the best we can," he told the Nottingham Post. "We had a great end to last season and we want to make progress from that.

"We don't want to be in another relegation fight and ideally you want to be in the top half of the league.

"You want to be fighting for those promotion and play-off spots and personally I think we are good enough to be in those positions.

"We want to be fighting for the play-offs and I know the manager will look to bring more players in that will help us try to achieve that."

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Shola Ameobi has claimed that Notts County are on the "cusp of something great" and says it influenced his decision to remain at Meadow Lane.

The former Newcastle United striker signed on a free transfer in January and played a key role in the Magpies' bid to climb away from relegation last season.

Now the 35-year-old, who penned a new deal at the club in the summer, believes he is in the correct environment to make further progress in the upcoming campaign as Kevin Nolan's team target League Two glory.

"The fans have really been behind the team and myself from the get-go," he told the Nottingham Post.

"I felt the love from everyone, not just from the guys who feed us at the club, but right to the fans as well.

"I truly believe, that for me certainly, I have to be in the right atmosphere. If you are then it puts you in the best position to win.

"I felt that from day one. The manager has helped create that with the team and the lads all being together.

"I wanted to come back because I think we are on the cusp of something great."

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Dan Jones has claimed that the high calibre of the Notts County backroom staff is conducive to players' progress.

The defender is back for a second spell with the Magpies, this time as a permanent signing after initially spending time on loan at Meadow Lane in 2009.

Jones insists that the working with the likes of Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith and Mark Crossley - all of whom players in the Premier League - along with their colleagues, is exciting and educational in equal measure.

He told the official site: "You've only got to look at the manager's career - how can you not respect that? We play football to try and get to the top level, and he's done that.

"Every day you've got to try and impress these people. If you don't want to do that, you shouldn't be playing sport. They know the game, and all the little tricks, inside out.

"It's great for me - I'm 30 years of age but I feel like I'm learning everyday. There's a real seriousness, but also a real enjoyment. Everything's intense."

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Notts County assistant manager Richard Thomas has declared himself satisfied with the team's 6-0 win over the Rolls Royce Leisure Select XI on Saturday.

He told the official site: "It's a good start by the boys. They showed a lot of what we've been looking for in the first 10 days of training.

"The most important thing is the minutes in their legs. Everyone came through - no injuries - so it was a positive first game.

I thought they (the trialists) did well, considering some of them have only been working with us for a few days.

"Each and every one of them showed why we've got them in. Some stood out slightly more than others - maybe because of the way we played, or the situation.

"But they were productive in what they did and showed they have been listening to what we're trying to work on."

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Kevin Nolan has expressed his joy with things moving forward in the 2017/18 season as the first Notts County pre-season friendly looms ever closer.

The Magpies will take on a Rolls Royce Leisure Select XI on Saturday afternoon, the first of more than 50 fixtures to take place until next May.

"It will be nice to be involved in competitive games again," Nolan told the official site. "Their players will give it their all and it's up to our lads to make sure they do a professional job.

"Everyone will get minutes against Rolls Royce to move them forward to next week's training sessions so we can carry on the work we have started since coming back.

"We know what we want and what we need to get out of our pre-season games.

"No disrespect to any team we play from now until the end of pre-season, but it is all about making sure we are prepared for the season.

"That means we have to be injury-free with the players hitting their targets in terms of minutes under their belt.

"Everything [for pre-season] has been planned for a few months now and hopefully at the end of it the players will be champing at the bit because we have a really tough start."

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Alan Hardy has hit back at Forest Green Rovers's claim that Notts County have breached FA rules in their pursuit of Liam Noble.

Rovers chairman Dale Vince had claimed that County had made "behind-the-scenes contact" with Noble, having had offers for the midfielder rejected.

However, Magpies owner Alan Hardy insisted his club had acted "in a professional and diligent manner".

"I feel compelled to set the record straight regarding a number of comments made by Dale Vince, chairman of Forest Green Rovers," he is quoted by the Nottingham Post as saying.

"Firstly, in respect of his claim that we have released a number of press statements about their player, we put them to proof on this matter.

"The only statements made by the club have been those attributed to me or Kevin Nolan over the past 48 hours.

"I can confirm that a number of bids have been made by the club, and that the final bid was for a transfer fee of £100,000 payable immediately.

"Why Dale Vince would deny this when it is fact baffles me.

"Furthermore, our Football Operations Director Jason Turner, who has been handling this matter in the strictest of confidence, was told by James Mooney of Forest Green Rovers when the final bid was rejected that they would not sell him to us for double the price.

"Dale Vince also claims they have been very clear from the outset that they did not want to sell Liam.

"While this may be the case, they have also been very clear from the outset that an offer of £100,000 guaranteed would be acceptable.

"It was only when this bid was lodged that they changed their minds.

"I am more than comfortable that we have negotiated with Forest Green Rovers in a professional and diligent manner but we now move on and look forward to welcoming them to Meadow Lane in October."

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Forest Green Rovers have responded to Notts County's criticism of the Liam Noble transfer saga by describing their conduct as "megaphone diplomacy" and suggesting that they have issued false stories in the press and broken FA rules.

For weeks, the Magpies have been trying to sign their former player, but this week it was confirmed that he would not be leaving the newly promoted League Two club.

This led to Alan Hardy describing the whole saga as a "huge waste of time and effort by everybody at the club" and claimed that he and his club were messed around by FGR.

In response, chairman Dale Vince released a statement which read: "We've watched with an increasing sense of bewilderment as Notts County have released a series of press statements about their interest in our player.  It's one thing to engage in such megaphone diplomacy, and quite another to put false stories in the press.

We have received a series of bids for Liam, the first we considered to be a joke.  Their latest 'final' bid we received was not for £100k as their owner claimed in the press yesterday.  Equally, the claim made yesterday about us suggesting they could double that amount and still not get him is completely false.

We've been very clear from the outset that we did not want to sell Liam and the antics of Notts County since then have only firmed up that position.  Liam Noble - Captain of our play-off winning side - is not for sale.  We want Notts County to stop what they are doing, including the behind-the-scenes contact with the player, which we consider to be a breach of FA rules.  

Forest Green Rovers may be the newest and smallest member of the Football League family, but we know how to conduct ourselves and how to undertake a transfer negotiation the right way - quietly and respectfully club to club."

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Kevin Nolan has asked Notts County fans to show "trust and patience" in him, his staff and Alan Hardy with regards to bringing players through the door.

So far, the Magpies have recruited Lewis Alessandra, Terry Hawkridge and Dan Jones, with a number of other player signings in the pipeline and several other rumours.

The relatively slow pace of progress in the transfer window has left some Notts fans disgruntled, especially with regards to nearby clubs like Mansfield Town who have been signing players willy-nilly.

However, Nolan is confident with what's going on behind the scenes, and is urging the Black and White faithful to keep the faith.

"We have had targets for a while now and we will stick to them," he told the official Notts site.

"There have been conversations between us and other clubs but we don't want to be in negotiations for too long and not getting the players in until the final weeks of pre-season.

"We want them to be able to withstand what our players have already been going through since they came back.

"Hopefully we will bring a few more in but I don't want to put a number on it. A lot of fans will be frustrated seeing other clubs sign a number of players but we are a club in transition.

"Looking back to where we were when Alan and I first came in, we are in a fantastic position and can hopefully build this club step-by-step.

"All I can do is ask for trust and patience in myself, my staff and Alan because we are working as hard as we can to get players through the door.

"We have to do our due diligence and make sure they are the right character and that they want to come here. They have to be able to contribute to the club and hit the ground running. We want to get them in as quickly as possible but it's not always the way in football. You have to be patient.

"You never know what will pop up later in the window so we don't want to do all of our work very early on. People can suddenly become available and you think 'We would have had him', so we are not blowing our budget. We have to be shrewd so that if those one or two players pop up - as they did in January - we can go and get them."

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