Mansfield Town closing in on new deals with key squad players

Discussions have been ongoing with Lucas Akins, Stephen McLaughlin, Elliott Hewitt, Jordan Bowery, Anthony Nunez and George Maris since the club announced their retained list for the new season.

“I think we are about there with them all, which is good,” said Clough. “We should be able to get them confirmed this week, if not early next week, but we have agreed in principle with all of them. They are all very important members of the squad.”

It is business which Clough admits he is delighted about three of those players playing a key part in Mansfield achieving their best league finish in 39 seasons.

“People sometimes underestimate a group of players like that,” added Clough. “People can say they are not regular starters and all this but they are vital. It is not about 11 or 12 any more, those days are gone. It is about 21 players in your squad now and all making a contribution.

“The other main point about those players is you don’t have to worry, you just put them on the pitch.

“What other managers say to us a lot after games also is ‘we really like the look of your squad, we really like the experience.

“We sit down every year and they are a year older and we ask ‘where are we going to get better, that’s the issue.

“Macca (McLaughlin) must have played 70-80 games over the last two seasons, something like that. Lucas has been remarkable since he came back. He ended up with ten goals, most from right-wing back. You look around League One and ask where are we going to get better?”

Clough also confirmed that Stags are getting nearer to agreeing a deal with midfielder Jon Russell over a return to the One Call Stadium next season.

“We are still in talks. We are getting closer I think,” added Clough. “Jon is attracting quite a bit of interest. Not just because of his time with us but before that he has got a good pedigree and had a good time at Barnsley.

“He is a goalscoring midfielder and there are not too many of them around. We have made no secret of our desire to try and keep him so we are doing everything we can to do that. We are not too far away.”