Veteran star James Perch agrees new deal to stay with Mansfield Town

The 36-year-old made 23 appearances last season and captained the Stags in the Sky Bet League Two Play-Off final at Wembley in May.

Perch overcame a career-threatening skull fracture in September 2021 to gallantly return to the pitch and play a pivotal role in the side.

Speaking to iFollow Stags after signing a new contract at his hometown club, the former Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United star said: “After the gaffer said ‘I want you to stay’, I was more than happy to agree a new deal here.

“He’s been brilliant with me since he’s come to the club and I think I speak on behalf of the rest of the lads as well by saying that.

"When people ask me what he’s like and I say he’s brilliant. They say ‘How’? It’s hard to put your finger on it, but he just ‘gets’ football.

“He knows when lads need a breather, when lads need a rocket – how long lads need to train for. He understands it so well. I’ve not really had it before.

"The best thing I could say about him is that I wish I would have worked under him sooner in my career, I think I would have benefitted more in my career had that have happened.”

Perch continued: “I’ve loved being back home, in front of the home crowd.

"The fans have been brilliant, coming to One Call Stadium in great numbers.

“We’re hoping to make 2022-23 a special season for them.

"We don't want to be heading to Wembley again, we want to do it automatically. I was a little coy last season about our expectations.

“But there's no point me shying away from the fact that this season our mission is to achieve promotion. We'll need to avoid a slump like we had last season and be more consistent throughout.

“We'll need a good start, tighten up on discipline on the pitch by not picking up as many red or yellow cards. If we can do these things consistently throughout the course of a long and challenging season, we will be fine."

Striker Jordan Bowery has already signed a new contact to stay too while discussions continue with midfielder Stephen Quinn.