John Thompson has revealed the ambition shown by Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes and Manager Ian McParland lured him to Meadow Lane on a permanent basis.

The 27-year-old has signed a permanent contract with the Magpies until 2011 after an impressive three-month loan stint at Meadow Lane from League One promotion chasers Oldham Athletic.

His impressive displays quickly made him a popular figure at Meadow Lane, and he has admitted the ambitious plans for the club were a major factor in him committing his long-term future to Notts County.

He said: "I'm delighted to sign and stay on - it has been a great day.

"I really enjoyed my time here on loan and I'm looking forward hopefully achieving something at this club in the future.

"Notts County is a great club and having spoken to the Chairman and the Manager they were very ambitious with where they want the club to go.

"They both have a huge passion for Notts County, both love the club very much and I too really enjoy playing here.

"I'm an ambitious person as well and I was delighted with what they had to say.

"I want to play at a higher level and the Chairman and Manager want Notts County to be operating higher too.

"I've put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract so we've both shown a long-term commitment to try and get Notts County where they should be."

Thompson, who has three Republic of Ireland caps to his name, has admitted after enjoying three months of regular first-team football at Meadow Lane he wasn't relishing the prospect of returning to Oldham.

After all, he had made just eleven appearances since moving to Boundary Park in 2007 from Nottingham Forest.

However he and the Latics came to a quick agreement to cancel his contract yesterday - allowing him to put pen-to-paper on his Magpies contact last night.

"I wasn't keen to go back to Oldham because I've really enjoyed playing first-team football again," he said.

"I had one or two other options available to me but Notts County was the place I wanted to be at.

"The Club is making good signs of progress, for example the Centre of Excellence up and running again and the youth team starting next season.

"We just need to get it right on the pitch and start climbing that table - but we're moving in the right direction and the fans deserve success here."

He will however have to wait for his first game as a permanent Notts County player as he is suspended for Saturday's home game with Exeter City.

The suspension was due to be served against Aldershot last weekend, but the late postponement of that game means he must watch from the stands this weekend instead after collecting five bookings so far this season.

"I was gutted when I found out the game was called off last week because I was looking forward to playing in the Exeter game," he said.

"I enjoy playing at Meadow Lane and it would have been nice to play against Exeter, but now I have to make sure I'm ready for the Brentford game the week after and I support the lads fully on Saturday from the stands."