Published Monday, 21 November 2011
His three-year appointment was ratified at a meeting of the county board in Enniskillen on Monday evening.
Canavan's former team-mate Enda Kilpatrick has been brought in as trainer and ex-Fermanagh player Ciaran Donnelly joins the panel as selector.
Former All Star Canavan, who captained the Red Hands to their maiden All-Ireland title in 2003 and also helped the team claim the Sam Maguire in 2003, emerged as the front-runner for the post last week.
It is understood that all other potential candidates, including Burren manager Frank Dawson, had withdrawn from the selection process.
Forty year old Canavan recently stepped down as manager of his old club Errigal Ciaran, he took charge in December 2008 and led them to victory in the Tyrone All County League final the following year.
Cavanagh's expected appointment follows a disastrous year for the Erne County under previous boss John O'Neill, which saw a host of players withdraw from the panel.
Fermanagh failed to escape Division 4 in the National Football League, and exited the Ulster Championship at the hands of Derry, before suffering an embarrassing All-Ireland Qualifying defeat to Championship minnows London.