NOTTS County manager Craig Short is delighted to have landed defender Liam Chilvers.

The ex-Arsenal trainee will be unveiled as the Magpies' sixth signing of the summer on a two-year deal today after passing a medical at Meadow Lane last night.

Chilvers, 28, was with the Gunners four years during which time he was loaned out to Notts for three months, between November 2001 and February 2002, making nine starts in League One and scoring one goal.

He has just been released from Preston after four years at Deepdale, where he made 97 league appearances.

Short said Chilvers will give Graeme Lee and Mike Edwards greater competition for places in central defence.

"They have been outstanding but I have always wanted another centre-half," he said, after watching his side draw 0-0 with Stoke City last night. "I know I can put (Stephen) Hunt and Thommo (John Thompson) in but I wanted a player who knows that position because it is such an important position.

"Liam is not going to walk into the side and he knows that but he will give us competition for places. It keeps players on their toes.

"I spoke to him when I first got the job but he had a few options so he was weighing them up. I didn't think I would get him, luckily we have."

Chilvers is the Magpies' second defensive signing this summer, following Jon Harley into Meadow Lane and Short hopes to sign Krystian Pearce, although he has been frustrated by talks with his agent.

Short also said it is too soon to discuss signing former Manchester United winger Keith Gillespie, who joined Notts on trial and played 15 minutes in last night's friendly.

"He wants to come and get fit and we haven't got cover on the right," said Short. "We'll see how it goes."